High Cholesterol
High cholesterol is a ‘silent’ condition as there are usually no obvious signs until it leads to serious health complications. Routine screening is thus very important to allow for timely intervention and implementation of lifestyle changes and medications if necessary.
HEALTH COMPLICATIONS OF HIGH CHOLESTEROL
Excess Cholesterol in your arteries usually builds up and causes blood flow to be compromised. This can be very dangerous if the cholesterol accumulates in arteries that supply blood to vital organs such as the brain and heart.
COMPLICATIONS MAY INCLUDE
- CHEST PAIN (angina) – This happens when your heart muscles are not getting enough oxygen and nutrients due to inadequate blood flow. The pain is often described as tightness, pressure or squeezing pain.
- HEART ATTACK
- STROKE – This is usually due to reduces blood flow to the brain
- KIDNEY DISEASE
- GALLSTONES – These are like little pebbles or stones that can form in your gallbladder, a little organ under your liver. The ‘stones’ are usually made from cholestrol found in bile.
CAUSES OF HIGH CHOLESTEROL
UNDERSTANDING ‘GOOD’ VS ‘BAD’ CHOLESTEROL
Understanding the different types of cholesterol is crucial in making informed decisions on your dietary health. Contrary to popular belief, cholesterol is generally a type of fat essential in your cells and even hormone composition.
However, cholesterol can be grouped into two main types, Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) ‘bad’ and High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) ‘good’ cholesterol. The ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol is actually a type of protein in the body that transports cholesterol to your cells as part of cellular structural composition.
Thus, in hindsight it’s not really “bad” unless it’s in excess and the rest accumulates in your arteries. That’s when it generally becomes really dangerous as it causes your artery walls to narrow and reduce blood flow to an organ such as the heart or even the brain. Reduced circulation to that organ can cause damage to the cells of that organ leading to dysfunction and in severe cases, death.
The HDL, is thought of as the good cholesterol as it is a type of protein that transports cholesterol from your arteries to your liver and prevents cholesterol buildup in the arteries. At healthy levels, it can therefore protect against stroke (reduced blood to the brain) or heart attack due to reduced blood to the heart.
To asses your cholesterol levels, doctors usually need to take your lipid ‘fat’ profile. This is a blood test that shows the different levels of your good and bad cholesterol. The test is efficient in determining your risk of heart problems.
Maintaining a good lifestyle such as a healthy diet and exercise is important in keeping your LDL and HDL at safe levels . In some cases medications may be used to manage the cholesterol particularly if they are out of balance.
TYPE 2 DIABETES – INSULIN RESISTANCE
Type 1 diabetes mainly presents in childhood, thus is referred to as juvenile onset diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type, presents in adulthood and is thus referred to as adult-onset diabetes mellitus. The third type, gestational diabetes, presents during pregnancy in a woman that had no prior history of diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes affects 90% of all diabetic patients. It begins in adulthood as a result of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance comes about when you take in too much sugar for a sustained period of time. If this continues, a chronically high level of insulin results and the cells become resistant to insulin in that they no longer respond to it. Their blood sugar level remains chronically high and they are at risk of developing diabetes.
WHAT IS INSULIN
Insulin is the hormone that regulates the amount of sugar in our blood. It does this by binding to receptors on tissues which then send signals that allow glucose in blood to enter the cells where it is either utilized or stored. By doing this, it reduces the level of glucose in the blood. In a person with insulin resistance, the receptors don’t respond to insulin, therefore, glucose remains in the blood resulting in a high blood sugar level. If left unchecked, this eventually leads to diabetes.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF INSULIN RESISTANCE IN THE BODY
1) Polyuria (increased urination), Polydipsia (increased thirst) and Polyphagia (increased hunger)
2) High Blood Sugar
3) Swollen Feet
4) Increased waist circumference – 94cm or higher in men and 80cm or higher in women
5) Difficulty sleeping
6) Weight gain
7) Sugar cravings
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
Eat healthy and exercise regularly. Reduce the amount of sugars and carbs in your diet. Take meals that are higher in proteins and fat than they are in carbohydrates. The proteins and fats keep you feeling full for longer and do not significantly increase insulin levels.
Getting active by regularly exercising is the best way to fight insulin resistance. So go for those gym sessions, take a brisk walk, take the stairs, go for a jog or go swimming.
Your body is your home, take care of it and it will take care of you.