High cholesterol continues to be a big problem and is one of the most serious health concerns, along with smoking, when it comes to cardiovascular disease.
In this article we will break down cholesterol itself into simple terms and discuss what happens once this waxy, fat-like substance accumulates in our arteries.
The truth is your body needs a certain amount of cholesterol to make vitamin D and certain hormones as well as aid in the digestive process.
It is also true that cholesterol is found in every cell throughout our body.
When we don't get enough cholesterol our body can't function as well as it should with one of the many noticeable symptoms being muscles aches and pain, In the late 1990's a drug by the name of cervivastatin (Baytril) was introduced into the blood cholesterol reduction market.
This drug not only worked, but worked too well, depriving cells of necessary amounts cholesterol.
The result was cell death which in turn caused the kidneys to be flooded by bloodstream debris, sometimes failing; a condition known as rhabdomyolysis.
Once the drug had been pulled in 2001 thousands of lawsuits had been filed and 31 deaths reported.
While an extreme example you can see that dangerously low cholesterol levels can lead to serious and sometimes life threatening problems.
On the other hand if too much cholesterol is traveling through the bloodstream we may not have those cholesterol deprived aches and pains but are at greater risk of heart attack or stroke.
In fact, one recent study found that over 70 percent of heart attack victims had high cholesterol.
As you can see it is all about balance and keeping cholesterol readings in a healthy range which generally is around a reading of over 55 mg/dl for good cholesterol (HDL) and under 110 mg/dl for bad cholesterol (LDL).
That said, these numbers can vary depending on risk factors (smoking, diet, inactivity, diabetes, high blood pressure, genetics, etc...
).
It is LDL (low density lipoproteins) that leads to a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries.
While this is a widely accepted fact what is not so clear is why certain people are more predisposed to cholesterol buildup in the arteries.
Some studies suggest it could be inflammation, others suggest it could be linked to high levels of amino acids such as homocysteines in the bloodstream, and still others put forward the idea that it is a combination cholesterol molecule size and genetics.
But while there may some disagreement as to the specifics what we know for sure is that prolonged high cholesterol levels are a dangerous cardiovascular risk that must be managed.
Once cholesterol deposits form and start to grow the next step is often coronary heart and artery disease.
Coronary heart disease is a condition in which plaque builds up inside the hearts (coronary) arteries.
Plaque consists of cholesterol, fat, calcium, dead cells, and other substances found in the blood.
A buildup of plaque in the arteries causes artery hardening known as atherosclerosis.
Over time plaque hardens, continues to build, and slowly narrows the coronary arteries.
This limits the amount of blood reaching the heart which in turn reduces the amount of blood being supplied to the muscles and vital organs such as the kidneys and liver.
Eventually, an area of plaque may break open.
The body then responds to rupture by forming a blood clot, which if large enough, can mostly or completely block blood flow through a coronary artery.
If total blockage occurs a heart attack is the most likely outcome.
If only partial blockage occurs fluid buildup (angina) along with chest pain are likely outcomes.
Other symptoms of angina are pain in the arms, neck, back, jaw, and shoulders.
Some have even reported angina feeling like indigestion.
Angina is considered to be a warning sign of serious cardiovascular problems down the road and should not be ignored.
In conclusion, cholesterol can be friend or foe and failure to effectively manage high cholesterol levels can lead to serious, even life threatening, health problems.
If you are struggling with high cholesterol don't hesitate to talk to your doctor about possible solutions.
In this article we will break down cholesterol itself into simple terms and discuss what happens once this waxy, fat-like substance accumulates in our arteries.
The truth is your body needs a certain amount of cholesterol to make vitamin D and certain hormones as well as aid in the digestive process.
It is also true that cholesterol is found in every cell throughout our body.
When we don't get enough cholesterol our body can't function as well as it should with one of the many noticeable symptoms being muscles aches and pain, In the late 1990's a drug by the name of cervivastatin (Baytril) was introduced into the blood cholesterol reduction market.
This drug not only worked, but worked too well, depriving cells of necessary amounts cholesterol.
The result was cell death which in turn caused the kidneys to be flooded by bloodstream debris, sometimes failing; a condition known as rhabdomyolysis.
Once the drug had been pulled in 2001 thousands of lawsuits had been filed and 31 deaths reported.
While an extreme example you can see that dangerously low cholesterol levels can lead to serious and sometimes life threatening problems.
On the other hand if too much cholesterol is traveling through the bloodstream we may not have those cholesterol deprived aches and pains but are at greater risk of heart attack or stroke.
In fact, one recent study found that over 70 percent of heart attack victims had high cholesterol.
As you can see it is all about balance and keeping cholesterol readings in a healthy range which generally is around a reading of over 55 mg/dl for good cholesterol (HDL) and under 110 mg/dl for bad cholesterol (LDL).
That said, these numbers can vary depending on risk factors (smoking, diet, inactivity, diabetes, high blood pressure, genetics, etc...
).
It is LDL (low density lipoproteins) that leads to a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries.
While this is a widely accepted fact what is not so clear is why certain people are more predisposed to cholesterol buildup in the arteries.
Some studies suggest it could be inflammation, others suggest it could be linked to high levels of amino acids such as homocysteines in the bloodstream, and still others put forward the idea that it is a combination cholesterol molecule size and genetics.
But while there may some disagreement as to the specifics what we know for sure is that prolonged high cholesterol levels are a dangerous cardiovascular risk that must be managed.
Once cholesterol deposits form and start to grow the next step is often coronary heart and artery disease.
Coronary heart disease is a condition in which plaque builds up inside the hearts (coronary) arteries.
Plaque consists of cholesterol, fat, calcium, dead cells, and other substances found in the blood.
A buildup of plaque in the arteries causes artery hardening known as atherosclerosis.
Over time plaque hardens, continues to build, and slowly narrows the coronary arteries.
This limits the amount of blood reaching the heart which in turn reduces the amount of blood being supplied to the muscles and vital organs such as the kidneys and liver.
Eventually, an area of plaque may break open.
The body then responds to rupture by forming a blood clot, which if large enough, can mostly or completely block blood flow through a coronary artery.
If total blockage occurs a heart attack is the most likely outcome.
If only partial blockage occurs fluid buildup (angina) along with chest pain are likely outcomes.
Other symptoms of angina are pain in the arms, neck, back, jaw, and shoulders.
Some have even reported angina feeling like indigestion.
Angina is considered to be a warning sign of serious cardiovascular problems down the road and should not be ignored.
In conclusion, cholesterol can be friend or foe and failure to effectively manage high cholesterol levels can lead to serious, even life threatening, health problems.
If you are struggling with high cholesterol don't hesitate to talk to your doctor about possible solutions.