HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

High level of Cholesterol

Cholesterol is produced by the liver and is only found in animal-based foods.
Our bodies need some cholesterol to work properly, to make hormones, vitamin D and to keep on building healthy cells.
Our bodies produce all the cholesterol it needs and do not need supplement through diet.

TYPES
Cholesterol is attached to proteins and carried through our blood, this combination of proteins and cholesterol is called a lipoprotein.
• HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is called "good" cholesterol because it carries cholesterol from other parts of our body back to the liver which then removes the cholesterol.
• LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is called "bad" cholesterol because a high LDL level leads to the buildup of plaque in the arteries.
• VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) is also “bad” cholesterol because it too contributes to the buildup of plaque in the arteries. VLDL carries triglycerides and LDL carries cholesterol.

CAUSES
• Unhealthy eating habits: Saturated fat, found in animal products; dairy products, chocolate, deep-fried and processed foods. Trans fats, found in some commercially baked cookies and crackers, some fried and processed foods can raise your cholesterol level.
• Weight: Being overweight or having obesity raises your cholesterol level
• Large waist circumference: Men with a waist circumference of at least 102 centimeters or women with a waist circumference of at least 89 centimeters are at higher risks.
• Lack of exercise: Exercise helps boost body's HDL.
• Smoking: Cigarette smoking damages blood vessels’ walls, making them likely to accumulate fatty deposits. It also lowers HDL level.
• High Blood Pressure and Diabetes: High blood sugar contributes to higher LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol. It also damages arteries’ lining.
• Genetics: High blood cholesterol can run in families.
• Other medical conditions and certain medicines may also cause high cholesterol.

FAT
Research shows that there isn't really a link between how much fat we eat and risks of disease. The type of fat we eat is the one that increases the risks.
Saturated and trans fats are two unhealthy fats which increase the amount of cholesterol in blood cholesterol and increase heart disease risk.
However, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats do just the opposite. In fact, cutting back on saturated fat and replacing it with mono and polyunsaturated fats can help lower the level of LDL cholesterol in your blood.

COMPLICATIONS
High cholesterol can cause atherosclerosis, a dangerous accumulation of cholesterol and other deposits on the walls of arteries. These plaques can reduce blood flow through the arteries, which can cause complications.
• Chest pain.
If the arteries that supply the heart with blood (coronary arteries) are affected, we may have chest pain (angina) and other symptoms of coronary artery disease.
• Heart attack.
If plaques tear or rupture, a blood clot may form at the plaque-rupture site blocking the flow of blood or breaking free and plugging an artery downstream.
The obstruction of blood flow towards the heart will lead to a heart attack.
• Stroke.
Similar to a heart attack, if blood flow to part of the brain is blocked by a blood clot, a stroke occurs.

TREATMENT
The specific choice of medication or combination of medications depends on various factors, including individual risk factors, age, current health and possible side effects.
Statins block a substance the liver needs to produce cholesterol. This causes the liver to remove cholesterol from blood.
Statins may also help our body reabsorb cholesterol from built-up deposits on the artery walls,
Bile-acid-binding resins prompt your liver to use excess cholesterol to produce more bile acids, which reduces the level of cholesterol in our blood.
Cholesterol absorption inhibitors helps reduce blood cholesterol by limiting the absorption of dietary cholesterol.
Injectable medications can help the liver absorb more LDL cholesterol.

Credit: Cleveland Clinic, Mayo clinic, Mediline, WebMD, nhs.