What Actually Causes High Cholesterol?

A certain amount of cholesterol is necessary to maintain healthy body. However, too much of the wrong cholesterol can lead to a number of health conditions. Cholesterol is a naturally occurring component of cell walls, meaning that all areas of the body contain this important element. It is used to manufacture many hormones and vitamins that are essential in the body. The problem is met when an individual has high cholesterol levels.

As the amount of circulating cholesterol increases, excess accumulation can be found as plaque in vessel walls of arteries. Arteries are the vessels that carry oxygenated blood to all areas of the body including the major organs like the heart and brain. As these accumulations of cholesterol continue to grow, the opening of the arteries decrease which limits the amount of blood that can get to the various areas of the body.

Without sufficient blood flow, tissue in the body begins to die leading to heart attacks, strokes or other medical concerns depending on the effected area of the body. There are a number of factors that can leave one with high cholesterol. Some elements we have no control over like heredity, age and gender. There are some families that carry a gene that causes one to have a condition called hypercholesterolemia.

This disease can lead to cardiovascular disorders at an early age. This condition normally requires a combination of therapies coordinated by your health care provider. Another set of unchangeable factors includes our age and gender. In general, younger women tend to have lower cholesterol levels than men. However, after age 50 women may see higher levels than their counter part. There are also, in rare instances, disorders that affect the kidneys and/or liver that can lead to high cholesterol totals.

Then there are those elements of our lives that we can control for instance weight, exercise, diet and mental stress. Excess weight can cause an increase of total cholesterol. Consuming a diet low in saturated fats as well as high fiber foods can assist in lowering your LDL (bad cholesterol) and increasing your HDL (good cholesterol). Moreover, exercising and/or regular activity can also be beneficial by lowering triglycerides and at the same time increasing your levels of HDL.

One element that may not be as well known when battling high cholesterol is extreme mental stress. Many stress sufferers find that they rely on food even more during hard times for comfort. However, in addition to eating more experiencing long-term stress alone can cause an increase in overall blood cholesterol levels. Due to the adverse effects that high cholesterol can have on ones health, it is recommended that those over twenty years old have the necessary blood work done to check their individual cholesterol levels at least every five years.

As one ages, it is advised that this test become an annual event. Elevated cholesterol is a treatable condition through diet, exercise and in some cases medication. Regardless of the necessary treatment, lowering your cholesterol will eliminate at least one cardiovascular risk.