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The cholesterol It is essential for the proper functioning of our body. It is a fat or lipid that is part of the cell wall and some hormones essential for life. However, an excess of this substance can have fatal consequences.
As explained by Dr. Luis Rodríguez Padial, cardiologist and head of the Toledo Cardiovascular Medicine and Prevention Clinic, “when cholesterol is high and exceeds the ability of cells to remove it, it can be deposited on the wall of the arteries, where it triggers a inflammatory process leading to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis obstructs the lumen of the arteries, which means that the blood cannot reach the different organs, such as the heart and the brain, among others.
The most frequent consequences are myocardial infarction and stroke».
According to the latest data from the Study of Nutrition and Cardiovascular Risk in Spain (ENRICA), more than half of Spaniards have cholesterol above desired levels, but more than half of them do not know it. The only way to know what our cholesterol levels are is to take a fasting blood test. However, our body can give us a series of warnings that may indicate that our cholesterol is too high.
high cholesterol symptoms
High cholesterol can manifest itself in different ways. Some of the most common symptoms of a high cholesterol level are the following:
- Eyelid Xanthelasma: Small benign tumor or fatty lift also known as cholesterol stress
- limb swelling
- Feeling pasty or dry mouth
- Halitosis
- indigestion or stomach heaviness
- Difficulties in the intestinal rhythm
- Urticaria
- Chest pain
- Blurry vision
- Headache
To avoid high cholesterol levels, the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC) recommends practicing physical exercise on a regular basis, limiting the intake of saturated fats and processed products, and avoiding tobacco.