High cholesterol update 2016: Recent stories and studies on cholesterol and the associated health complications, such as vision problems, tendon injuries, and heart health risk.
High cholesterol is a serious problem as it can increase one’s risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. The good news is, knowing which foods to eat and which foods to avoid, you can effectively manage your cholesterol levels.
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Cholesterol is produced in the body and is also found in the foods we eat. Consuming foods high in LDL (bad) cholesterol, along with foods high in saturated and trans fats, can bring your cholesterol levels up, along with some serious health risks. You should opt for foods low in cholesterol and unhealthy fats in order to boost your HDL (good) cholesterol for the optimal health of your heart.
Cholesterol contributes to vision problems
By now you know the risks associated with high cholesterol and why it’s so important to keep your numbers within a healthy range. Cholesterol can take a toll on your heart health and set you up for a cardiovascular event like heart attack or heart disease.
When cholesterol is stuck to the artery walls, passing through becomes far more difficult for blood – and the heart has to work harder, too. Just for these reasons alone, it’s important you maintain healthy cholesterol numbers.
But research suggests high cholesterol isn’t threatening your heart only. In fact, it may also impact your vision. Continue reading…
High cholesterol levels linked to tendon injury and pain risk
Chronic low inflammation prompted by high cholesterol levels has been linked to tendon abnormalities and pain. Tendons connect muscles and bones within the body. Obesity, fat distribution, and overuse, either through exercise or work, put extra stress on the tendons. Research suggests, however, that these factors do not attribute to the rising number of cases of tendon injury and pain.
The researchers found that those with familial hypercholesterolemia – genetically determined high cholesterol – were more likely to suffer from tendon injury and pain, compared to those who did not.
The researchers went through six medical research databases to collect their information and came up with 1,607 articles. Seventeen of them involved 2,612 participants.
They found that those with abnormal tendon structures were more likely to have high blood fat. These individuals also had higher LDL (bad) cholesterol. Continue reading…
Heart risk higher in those with inherited high cholesterol
Patients with inherited high cholesterol have an increased risk of heart-related problems. The condition is known as heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and affects roughly 1.5 million Americans.
The genes associated with this condition prevent the liver from removing LDL cholesterol from the blood, allowing for bad cholesterol to accumulate.
The researchers reviewed data from six groups of people involved in previous studies. Compared to people with average LDL levels, those with the inherited kind had five times the higher risk for heart disease. Continue reading…
The dangers of high cholesterol you didn’t know
There is a very distinct line separating good cholesterol and bad cholesterol, and by now you clearly know the difference. In case you don’t, let us reiterate. LDL cholesterol is the “bad” cholesterol, which increases your risk of stroke and heart attack. This is the type of cholesterol that builds up in your arteries, making it harder for blood to pass through.
On the other hand, HDL cholesterol is considered “good,” because it can push away LDL cholesterol and lower your risk of heart disease. In theory then, it may seem obvious that more HDL cholesterol is best, but new findings suggest there is such a thing as “too much of a good thing,” especially when it comes to cholesterol. Continue reading…
Cholesterol levels: Signs, symptoms, and complications of high and low cholesterol
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Although we generally see cholesterol as something evil, in reality, it is a necessary one. That’s because it comes in a good form and a bad form. HDL is commonly known as the good cholesterol that keeps us healthy.LDL cholesterol is the bad form that builds up along artery walls, making them stiff and narrow and thus increasing the risk of cardiovascular events.
Cholesterol is naturally occurring in our bodies and can also be ingested through the foods we eat. A proper balance between HDL and LDL cholesterol is essential for good health.
If cholesterol levels are not well managed, complications can arise, particularly, an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke. Here we will outline the signs, symptoms, and complication of high and low cholesterol. Continue reading…
