What happens if you have high cholesterol in your blood?

What happens if you have high cholesterol in your blood?

Cholesterol in your bloodstream can build up in blood vessel walls, causing blockages that can lead to: reduced blood flow to the heart and increased risk of heart attacks. decreased blood flow to the brain and increased risk of stroke.

What should you do if your LDL cholesterol is high?

(The latest American Heart Association guidelines endorse this more integrated approach.) Talk to your doctor about your LDL cholesterol level as well as other factors that impact your cardiovascular health. A diet high in saturated and trans fat is unhealthy because it tends to raise LDL cholesterol levels.

What kind of heart disease is caused by high cholesterol?

This is called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). The severity of FH is related to the duration and degree of LDL cholesterol in the blood. FH is dangerous because it can cause premature atherosclerotic heart disease.

Why are high HDL and triglycerides bad for Your Heart?

Finally, total cholesterol includes a triglycerides count. These are another type of fat that can build up in the body and are considered the “building blocks” of cholesterol. High levels of triglycerides and low levels of HDL raise your risk for heart disease.

What effect does high cholesterol have on the body?

However, the two largest effects that a high cholesterol can have on your body are the increased chance of a stroke or a heart attack. If there is a clog in one of your coronary artery, your heart doesn’t receive enough blood or oxygen. This ends up weakening your heart and creates long term damage.

What are the health risks of high cholesterol?

The main risk associated with high cholesterol is coronary heart disease (CHD). Your blood cholesterol level has a lot to do with your chances of getting heart disease. If your cholesterol is too high, it builds up on the walls of your arteries.

What foods affect cholesterol levels?

This includes baked goods, such as cookies, cakes, muffins, pastries, candies and other packaged foods that contain added sugars. Also, sweetened beverages lead to weight gain and inflammation, which can negatively impact your cholesterol levels.

What causes high cholesterol in women over 50?

Perhaps the two leading preventable causes of high cholesterol levels in women over 50 are lifestyle and eating habits. Anyone eating a diet rich in fats which are known to raise levels of low-density lipoprotein who lives a sedentary lifestyle is placing herself at risk.