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Overview
Cholesterol is a prominent constituent of steroids. It is considered as wax-like substance that is found in the cells of living organisms. All cells of living organisms contain body fluid of free cholesterol that is either found in free form or in storage form. The measuring unit of cholesterol is mg of cholesterol per dL of blood. The average level of cholesterol is around 200-300 mg/dL. It is found as insoluble material in the blood as blood is considered as water-based fluid and cholesterol is considered as oil-based fluid. When cholesterol enters the bloodstream it would solidify into solid material called plaque. It is a waxy substance that is primarily made up of fat that is released from the liver or is found in an individual’s diet. Cholesterol is found in animal or plant-based diets like milk, milk products, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
Cholesterol is divided into two groups HDL and LDL:
HDL: It is a good cholesterol and a high level of cholesterol in one's blood is considered to be playing a protective role against heart attack and stroke.
LDL: It is considered as bad cholesterol and a high level of LDL increases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease.
Factors that are considered to be associated with high cholesterol are one’s age, weight, genetic composition, sex, diseased condition, and lifestyle factors.
Consulting Doctor
General physician.
Symptoms
Loss of balance or coordination that is sudden in onset.
-Feeling suddenly dizzy.
-Eyelids and mouth dropping on one side of the face.
-Unable to move one side of the body.
-State of being confused.
-Slurred speech.
-Numbness in the face, arms, or legs that exist on one side of the body.
-Blurry, blackened, or blurred vision.
-Sudden onset of headache.
-Feeling of tightness, squeezing, pain, and ache in chest and arm region.
-Unable to breathe properly.
-Feeling anxious and nervous
-Feeling nauseous.
-Indigestion with heart burn.
-Feeling tired.
-Cramps and aches.
-Intermittent claudication which is also known as pain in legs while exercising.
-Feeling of discomfort in lower limbs.
-Appearance of paleness in lower limb.
-Gangrene which is known as tissue death in lower limbs.
-Ulcers in lower limbs.
-Thickned toe nails.
-Blue toes.
-Less hair growth on lower limbs.
-Decreased foot temperature in one leg.
Causes:
Causes
Chronic kidney disease
-Diabetes
-HIV/AIDS
-Hypothyroidism
-LUPUS
-Medication for Acne
-Medication for Cancer
-Medication for hypertension
-Medication for HIV/AIDS
-Medication for irregular heart rhythm.
-Medication for an organ transplant.
-Imbalanced diet
-Obesity
-being physically inactive.
-Alcohol intake
-Age over 40 years old.
-Dietary intake and daily lifestyle.
-Diabetes. Hypothyroidism and metabolic syndrome.
Prevention
One should maintain a low amount of salt along with an intake of vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
-One should limit intake of animal-based fats and should use sources of good fat. Fat should be used in moderation.
-One should maintain a healthy weight and should work on losing extra pounds.
-One should try to quit smoking if you are a current smoker.
-One should exercise almost every day for atleast 30 minutes.
-Moderate level of alcohol intake should be maintained.
-One should work on managing one’s everyday stress level.
Treatment
Cholesterol is treated with execution of treatment plan which is made on the fllowing basis:
-Results of blood cholesterol level.
-Family history, heart problem and age.
-State of diabetes, hypertension and heart conditions.
-If someoe is able to stick dietary changes and follow uo with pills everyday or being able to deal with side-effects.
-Risk of heart disease or stroke.
-Prior diagnosis of heart disease, heart attck or stroke.
A doctor might suggest healthy life style changes with proper dietary modifications ane exercise. In case lifestyle changes are not enough, medications are prescribed.
1. Statins: These are more common medication that are used for cholesterol treatement which is used to reduce amount of cholesterol that is present in liver. Statins also significantly reduce riks of heart attacje as well as stroke. This includes atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simva statin, fluvastatin, lovastatin and pravastatin.
2. Ezetimibe: This is the drug that would lower absorbtion of cholesterol and it can be prescribed by statin.
3. Fibrates: This would reduce amount of triglycerides and would boost blood HDL level. They include clofibrate, fenofibrate and gemifibrozile.
4. Niacin: This would help to lower fat levels athat are produced by the liver to lower triglyceride and LDL levels.
5. Omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters: This is a fish oil and this supplement would help to lower troglyceride level.
6. PSCK9 inhibitor: These are drugs that would bind and block protein levels and would reduce LDL cholesterol including alirocumab and evolocumab.
7. ACL inhibitor: They are cholestero drugs that are prescribed with statin along with life style modifications. ACL inbitor including bempedoic acid and ezetimibe are prescribed.
Tests Required for Diagnosis
One can easily have high cholesterol levels through a blood test known as a lipid panel. Blood samples are collected and provided to the laboratory for proper diagnosis. Eating and drinking 12 hours prior to the test is prohibited for accurate results.
The lipid panel is used that measures the total amount of cholesterol level in the blood along with your LDL, HDL, and triglycerides level.
LDL cholesterol should be maintained at less than 100 mg/dL
HDL cholesterol should be at 40 mg/dL or higher.
The level of triglycerides should be less than 150 mg/dL.
References
Nazario, B. (2021, June 9). Cholesterol Treatment: Medication and Lifestyle Changes. Webmd. Retrieved May 26, 2023, from https://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/cholesterol-treatment-lifestyle-medication
2. Nazario, B. (2023, January 1). CHOLESTEROL. Byjus. Retrieved May 26, 2023, from https://byjus.com/biology/cholesterol/
3. Mayoclinic (2023, January 1). High cholesterol. Mayoclinic. Retrieved May 26, 2023, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/symptoms-causes/syc-20350800
4. Bell, A. (2023, April 21). Symptoms of High Cholesterol. Healthline. Retrieved May 26, 2023, from https://www.healthline.com/health/high-cholesterol-symptoms#diagnosis
5. Berstein, S. (2021, June 9). Cholesterol Treatment: Medication and Lifestyle Changes. Webmd. Retrieved May 26, 2023, from https://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/cholesterol-treatment-lifestyle-medication
