You’ve probably heard that high cholesterol isn’t good. Actually your body needs cholesterol to function correctly for cell membranes, hormones, and vitamin D. But when your cholesterol stays unhealthy too long, you’re at high risk of having serious health problems.
👉 There are many causes of high cholesterol. For some people, genetic conditions such as familial hypercholesterolemia cause high cholesterol no matter how healthy their diet, exercise habits, or other lifestyle choices are.
There are some medical conditions that can also affect your cholesterol levels:
👉 An unhealthy diet with high levels of saturated fat (red meat, cream and other full-fat dairy products, butter, cheese, cookies, cakes, and other baked goods)
👉 Fried foods
👉 Smoking
👉 Diabetes
👉 Obesity
👉 Alcohol use
👉 Lack of exercise
👉 Age
👉 High blood pressure
👉 Family history of stroke or heart disease
👉 Chronic kidney disease
👉 HIV/AIDS
👉 Hypothyroidism
👉 Lupus
👉 Birth control pills
Possible symptoms of high cholesterol:
👉 High blood pressure
👉 Blood clots
👉 Stroke
👉 Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
👉 Coronary heart disease
✅ Be sure you’re seeing your doctor for regular checkups. If your cholesterol is increasing too much, you may have to control it with lifestyle changes. Your doctor might suggest you:
👉 Drop extra pounds
👉 Get more exercise
👉 Stop smoking and using alcohol products
👉 Lower the stress in your life
👉 Lower your cholesterol by eating healthily (less salt, reduce animal fats in your diet, more unsaturated fats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains)
If lifestyle changes don’t lower your numbers enough, your doctor may recommend you take cholesterol-lowering medications:
👉 Statin drugs
👉 Hormone replacement therapy for menopause
👉 Other medications to lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides
