Information On Cholesterol And The Associated Risks

Every person has some amount of cholesterol within their bodies. It is a fat like substance that is known as a lipid. For your body to function correctly you need to have cholesterol. It is produced by the liver mainly from consumption of fatty foods. It is important to have the correct cholesterol balance as a high quantity of lipids in the bloodstream can contribute to an increased risk of narrowing of the arteries, which in turn results in less blood to the heart and brain and increased chances of stroke, and heart attack.

Cholesterol is an essential substance in all our bodies. It helps to create the outer layer of all our cells and also is needed to produce hormones and bile acids as well as insulating nerve fibres.

There are a number of factors that are known to increase the risk of heart problems and stroke when combined with a high cholesterol level. Some of these can be changed while others cannot. They can be broken up into three categories – lifestyle, treatable, and fixed factors:

Lifestyle: An unhealthy diet can cause major problems with the level of cholesterol present in the blood stream. It is apparent that foods that contain saturated fat produce the greatest risk – these include red meats and dairy produce. Another lifestyle factor is inactivity; without adequate exercise the cholesterol levels can build up to a dangerous level. The amount of alcohol consumed can also have an effect; large volumes will create an increase in cholesterol.

Treatable: If you have diabetes or high blood pressure your GP may have already spoken to you about the risks these pose when combined with high cholesterol. Today it is possible to control both these factors with the correct usage of medications.

Fixed: There are of course factors that cannot be removed or modified. Genetics are one such case; if your parents or siblings have had problems such as coronary heart disease then you may be also at risk of developing high cholesterol levels. Studies have shown that men are at greater risk of having a higher blood cholesterol level than women. Age can also have a role, as the older we get the greater risk we have. Another fixed factor can be race; people of South Asian descent are more likely to have recurring problems with regard to cholesterol levels.

It is important that if you fall into one or more of the fixed factor categories that you take steps to eliminate other risk factors as early as you can in your life.