06:02 PM
Saturday 04 March 2023
I wrote – Shaima Morsi
High cholesterol may not show specific signs and symptoms at first, which is why many people leave it untreated until they are at high risk of heart attack or stroke.
However, in severe cases, symptoms of high cholesterol may appear due to an enlarged liver and spleen.
Triglycerides and cholesterol are two major types of fats that the body relies on for energy and to protect the body from the cold.
And these fats and proteins that circulate in the bloodstream form their own lipoproteins, which help distinguish between bad and good cholesterol.
One of them is low-density lipoproteins (LDL), known as the “bad” cholesterol because it increases the risk of a heart attack.
When there is too much cholesterol in the bloodstream, the body is prone to build up more fatty deposits in the blood vessels.
Eventually, these deposits stick to the inner walls of the arteries and narrow the passages, limiting the amount of blood the vessels can hold.
There are no symptoms of high cholesterol unless the condition is severe.
In such cases, fat deposits form in the tendons and skin or even cause severe stomach pain due to an enlarged liver or spleen.
Unexplained abdominal swelling or pain may occur when vascular triglycerides are close to or greater than 800 mg.
These high levels may also cause symptoms such as severe abdominal pain and frequent bouts of nausea.
The liver is related to cholesterol in that it is responsible for producing and removing excess amounts of cholesterol.
And when the diet is high in cholesterol, it tends to build up fat around the liver, which sets the stage for liver damage and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
This leads to liver dysfunction and the ability of the organ to produce or get rid of cholesterol, which leads to more accumulation.
So the (National Health Service NHS) states that high blood cholesterol is caused by eating fatty foods, not exercising enough, being overweight, smoking, and drinking alcohol.
Although it also runs in families, most people can lower their cholesterol by eating healthy and getting more exercise.
In addition, high cholesterol can often remain silent, but if not treated, it can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
But in many cases, cholesterol levels can be rebalanced through lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercising.
To check whether a person’s cholesterol reading is within the healthy range, doctors will need to do a blood test called a lipid profile.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise healthy adults to have their cholesterol checked every four to six years.
Those with a history of heart disease or diabetes are also advised to have their levels checked regularly.
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