High Cholesterol
What is High Blood Pressure?
Cholesterol, a yellowish fatty substance, is one of the essential components of the body.Cholesterol is a building block of the outer membrane of cells. It is the principle ingredient in the digestive juice bile, in the fatty sheaths that insulate nerves and in sex hormones. It performs many functions such as transport of fat, providing defense mechanism, protecting red blood cells and muscular membrane of the body.
Most of the cholesterol found in the body is produced in the liver. About 20-30 % generally comes from the food we eat. Some cholesterol is also secreted into the intestinal tract in bile & becomes mixed with the dietary cholesterol. The body excretes the extra cholesterol from the system through bowels & kidneys. Normal level of cholesterol varies between 150-250 mg per 100 ml.
The heart disease is directly linked to the level of cholesterol in the blood & that lowering cholesterol level significantly reduces the incidence of heart attacks. It has been estimated for every one percent reduction in cholesterol, there is a decrease in the risk of heart attacks by two percent. Causes of high cholesterol
Hypercholesterolaemia or increase in cholesterol is mainly digestive problem caused by rich foods such as fried foods, excessive consumption of oily foods like butter oil butter & cream, white flour, sugar, cakes etc.
Other causes of increase in cholesterol are irregularity in habits, smoking & drinking alcohol. Stress has been a major cause of increased level of cholesterol. Adrenaline & cortison are both released in the body under stress. This, in turn, produces a fat metabolizing reaction.
E xecutive type adrenal glands: aggressive persons produce more adrenaline than the easy going men. Consequently, they suffer 6-8 times more heart attacks than the relaxed men.
High Cholesterol Symptoms
You may not have any high cholesterol symptoms until it is too late. That's why it is important to check your cholesterol level before you have a heart attack or stroke. If any of the following applies to you, you may be living a high cholesterol lifestyle:- You eat prepared or fast food.
- You eat regular cheese and buy whole milk.
- You smoke.
- You indulge in fatty meats - ribs,bacon or porkchops.
- You get little exercise.
- You are overweight - if so, your body stores more fat and cholesterol.
- You do not check your cholesterol level.
