High LDL cholesterol and diseases caused by it
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the body that is produced by your liver. However, there are many foods such as meat and dairy products that too contain cholesterol and when taken in large quantity, it increases the cholesterol level. The increase in your cholesterol level also increases the risk of getting heart diseases and other circulatory diseases and makes you prone to stroke and heart attack. However, you can undergo high cholesterol treatment through weight loss, regular exercise, eating a low-fat heart-healthy diet, and sometimes, medication.
LDL cholesterol is considered bad cholesterol because it collects cholesterol in your arteries, which leads to plaque known as atherosclerosis. This leads to blood clots in the arteries, which further results in a stroke or heart attack. Before starting any high cholesterol treatment, you must remember that your LDL should not be more than 130 mg/dL. If it increases more than this level, then it can cause some of the below-mentioned problems.
Angina
High LDL cholesterol increases the chances of a heart disease. It can narrow your arteries and blood vessels, which result in chest pain.
Stroke
Lack of oxygen can lead to stroke. Excess LDL cholesterol blocks arteries that supply blood to the brain. This cuts the supply of oxygen, which in turn causes brain cells to become non-functional. Such a situation can give rise to a stroke.
Heart attack
Excess LDL cholesterol can make a plaque in the arteries and form clots, thereby leading to heart attacks. Chest pain, upper body discomfort, and shortness of breath are some of its starting symptoms.
Type 2 diabetes
As diabetes affect the cholesterol levels, it can also increase your LDL cholesterol levels. So people who are diabetic must take some extra care.
High LDL cholesterol treatment is possible if you stop consuming the below-mentioned food on a regular basis.
- Fried foods and junk food
- Red meat
- Full-fat dairy products
- Tropical oils
Sometimes even after making appropriate lifestyle changes, they are not enough in high cholesterol treatment. In such cases, you need to consult a doctor and take medicines according to his or her prescription.
