hypercholesterolemia
Written by:Hypercholesterolemia has a direct incidence in cardiovascular diseases. Cholesterol is a fatty molecule that is found in the blood and in the cells and depending on the type of lipoprotein there is "good" cholesterol and "bad" cholesterol.
The good cholesterol is the one that travels towards the liver. When it reaches the liver it will be metabolized. This means that the body is expelling cholesterol from the blood , hence higher values are positive. In contrast, the cholesterol commonly known as "bad" circulates in the direction of cells and is used by cells when they need cholesterol.
The sum of both types gives rise to Total Cholesterol. It is said that a person has hypercholesterolemia when the total cholesterol is above 200mg / dl.
There are several causes that cause high blood cholesterol levels. The main one is genetic inheritance. It is a family hypercholesterolemia and occurs when the body autonomously generates more cholesterol than recommended. Bad eating habits are another of the most frequent causes. Eating a diet based on saturated fats and sugars leads to an increase in cholesterol. Other factors are suffering diabetes, obesity or being a smoker.
Having high cholesterol is dangerous
The problem of having high cholesterol in the blood comes when there is much more than the cells need, then cholesterol has to accumulate inside the arteries. When this happens we talk about the formation of "atheroma plaque". This causes the walls of the arteries are stiffer and thicker, making it difficult for blood to pass and causing an increase in blood pressure.
The dangers of having high cholesterol in blood are diverse, from the formation of thrombi to cause cell death by necrosis of tissues that have stopped receiving blood. But, undoubtedly one of the biggest consequences of having high cholesterol is myocardial infarction or heart attack.
Treatment, adequate nutrition
To avoid negative outcomes, high cholesterol should be addressed immediately and from different fronts. In the first place, habits must be changed that favor the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases, that is, smoking, drinking alcohol, having overweight or obesity problems and taking care of what is eaten.
Food is one of the key pillars when it comes to fighting the disease. Every diet to reduce cholesterol must be rich in fiber (since it decreases the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine), unsaturated fatty acids (increase the good cholesterol) and antioxidants (especially vitamin C and E).
It is also recommended to moderate the consumption of eggs and sugar, avoid fried and fat consumption and completely eliminate all types of industrial pastries.
