Increased blood cholesterol levels may indicate the development of pathological processes in the body that do not allow internal organs and systems to function normally. Such a violation often leads to the development of serious diseases. Why did cholesterol rise? How to deal with it?
What you need to know about cholesterol
Before answering the question of why cholesterol has increased, it is worth clarifying what it is. This substance is very important for our body. Cholesterol is of organic origin and is a fat-soluble natural alcohol. The substance is part of the cell walls, forming their structure. Cholesterol is present in many living organisms. The compound is actively involved in the transport of substances into and out of cells.
Why did my cholesterol rise? Many factors influence the production of this substance. However, cholesterol is very necessary for the human body for:
- transportation of certain substances through special mechanisms inside cells;
- improvement of cell plasticitywalls;
- vitamin D production;
- synthesis of sex hormones, which include cholesterol;
- bile acid production;
- digestion improvement and so on.
Varieties of cholesterol
There are many causes of high blood cholesterol. How to treat such a violation? First of all, it is worth clarifying what content standards exist and what cholesterol can be. This substance constantly circulates along with the blood throughout the human body, moving from tissues and cells to the liver for further excretion. There is a type of cholesterol that is produced by the person himself. It spreads through the tissues. This is done thanks to lipoproteins. In other words, compounds of cholesterol and protein. The following varieties are known:
- VLDL (triglycerides) are very low density lipoproteins that transport endogenous cholesterol;
- LDL - low density lipoproteins that carry cholesterol through tissues from the liver;
- HDL - lipoproteins with a high density and involved in the transportation of excess free cholesterol to the liver from all tissues for its processing and further excretion from the body.
The higher the content of the latter type of compounds, the lower the likelihood of developing such an ailment as atherosclerosis. If the level of other varieties increases, then the risk of disease increases. Often, with such a violation, the vessels are alreadydamaged by atherosclerosis. The content of triglycerides in large quantities in the blood is also dangerous, as there is a destruction of compounds such as VLDL and the release of cholesterol.
What is the norm
So, what is the norm of cholesterol in the blood at 50 years old, at 30 or 20 years old? The content of this compound can vary from 3.6 to 7.8 mmol/liter. Deviation from the norm allows you to determine which disease is gradually developing in the body. If the cholesterol level is 5 mmol / liter, then this indicates high cholesterol. In addition, the ratio of all lipid complexes is taken into account.
The more HDL present in the blood, the better. If the amount of bad cholesterol, for example, LDL or VLDL, increases, then you should reconsider your lifestyle and visit a doctor. The table of cholesterol norms by age allows you to more accurately determine how much this substance should be in the blood.
Who should check
To answer the question of why cholesterol has risen, it is worth taking an analysis. Blood is taken from a vein and only on an empty stomach. A day before the appointed date, alcohol and fatty foods should be excluded from your diet. In addition, you should refrain from smoking.
It is recommended to pass such tests:
- if there is a genetic risk;
- for hypothyroidism and diabetes;
- on reaching a certain age;
- if you have bad habits;
- obese;
- with long-term use of hormonalcontraceptives;
- at menopause;
- for men over 35;
- if there are symptoms of atherosclerosis.
Causes of high blood cholesterol
How to treat high cholesterol? To begin with, it is worth identifying the main reason for its development. Some believe that the problem lies in the excessive consumption of unhe althy foods, including cheese, processed meats, shrimp, canned food, margarine and fast food. However, the reason is often more serious. Among them it is worth highlighting:
- obesity;
- hypertension;
- old age;
- coronary heart disease;
- diabetes mellitus;
- deterioration of the thyroid gland;
- genetic predisposition;
- gallstone disease;
- wrong diet and lifestyle;
- alcohol abuse.
If HDL cholesterol is high
What does high cholesterol mean? HDL is considered "good cholesterol". It helps the body get rid of compounds that are more harmful to the body. In this case, the substance has a positive effect on the state of the body. HDL does not allow cholesterol plaques to accumulate and form, transports cholesterol to the liver, cleanses the arteries, thereby preventing their blockage. In some cases, an increase in HDL levels may indicate the development of certain diseases, including:
- chronic hepatitis;
- primary liver cirrhosis;
- hereditary hyperalpha-lipoproteinemia;
- alcoholism;
- stress condition;
- drastic weight loss.
For reliability and an accurate diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe a second test. If the indicators exceed the norm, then a more thorough examination will be required. This is the only way to choose the right therapy and avoid the development of negative consequences.
Pregnancy cholesterol levels
High cholesterol during pregnancy is not the norm. Therefore, if there are any deviations in the analysis, you should consult a doctor. Certain diseases and disorders that occur in a woman's body can provoke an increase in cholesterol during pregnancy. Among these pathologies, it is worth highlighting:
- violation of metabolic processes;
- kidney disease;
- diabetes mellitus;
- hypertension;
- liver disease.
High cholesterol during pregnancy is monitored regularly in the late and early stages. To do this, a woman must regularly take a blood test for 9 months. In addition to diseases, an increase in cholesterol during pregnancy can be triggered by the use of foods that affect the amount of this compound in the body. Therefore, a pregnant woman should strictly follow the rules of a he althy diet.
What can you eat with high cholesterol
If the level of cholesterol in the blood is elevated, then you need to properly adjust yourdiet. To do this, you should adhere to the following rules:
- Omega-3 fats help lower blood cholesterol levels. Therefore, it is recommended to include foods such as lamprey, salmon, eel, sturgeon and stellate sturgeon in the diet.
- Vegetable oils. However, they should not be used for heat treatment of products, but for dressing cereals and salads.
- Nuts. Such foods are a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids that can lower the level of "bad cholesterol" in the blood. It is recommended to consume up to 10 grams of hazelnuts, almonds, cashews per day.
- Vegetables and fruits. These foods must be present in the diet. In this case, there are no restrictions. However, legumes, sorrel, broccoli, spinach, cabbage remain in priority.
- Drinks. Herbal tea, coffee without creamer, mineral water, fruit drink, fresh natural juices can be included in the diet.
- Porridge. They must be whole grains. Ideal for buckwheat and oatmeal. They are best consumed for breakfast, seasoned with vegetable oil.
What to eat with care
What can you eat with caution if you have high cholesterol? These products include:
- Dairy products. You don't have to give them up completely. However, you need to choose such products correctly. With high cholesterol, you should use those that contain a minimum of fat.
- Meat. It should be low-fat varieties. Perfect for rabbit, turkey and chicken.
- Bread. If this product is not possibleexcluded from your diet, then you should give preference to products made from wholemeal flour. This rule also applies to pasta. It must be made from durum wheat.
- Sweet. Most of the desserts with high cholesterol are prohibited, as they contain a lot of fat. For this disorder, homemade jams, marshmallows, marmalade, and popsicles are preferred.
What affects blood cholesterol levels? First of all, these are violations occurring in the body, the diet, as well as how the products were prepared. With such a pathology, fried foods are strictly prohibited. With high cholesterol, it is better to cook in the oven or steam.
List of foods that increase cholesterol
To lower your blood cholesterol, you should give up a number of products. First of all, this applies to those that contain too many trans fatty acids. They also affect the level of cholesterol in the blood. Their absence reduces the risk of developing coronary artery disease. With high cholesterol from the diet should be excluded:
- french fries;
- chocolate;
- butter;
- crackers and chips;
- confectionery such as cakes, buns, biscuits, waffles and so on;
- alcoholic drinks;
- fatty meals;
- bacon and lard;
- pork, brisket and ribs;
- sausages and sausages of all varieties.
The diet should be adjusted to include more foods that are allowed for high cholesterol.
Sample menu
What should be the diet for high cholesterol? It is better to make a menu for a week together with a nutritionist. After all, adjustment is a complex process. A sample menu for the day is as follows:
- Breakfast: buckwheat porridge seasoned with vegetable oil -170 g, apple or ½ orange, coffee or tea without sweeteners.
- Second breakfast: tomato and cucumber salad with butter - 260 g, fresh carrot juice - 200 ml.
- Lunch: low-fat vegetable soup - 300 ml, steamed chicken cutlets - 150 g, grilled vegetables - 150 g, natural orange juice - 200 ml.
- Snack: oatmeal - 130 g, apple juice - 200 ml.
- Dinner: fish cooked in the oven without batter - 200 g, stewed vegetables - 150 g, bran bread - 1 slice, tea or coffee without sweeteners.
This is a sample menu. The composition of some dishes can be changed. It all depends on personal preference. The main thing is that any replacement should comply with the rules of the diet.
Traditional medicine against high cholesterol
How to quickly lower blood cholesterol? To begin with, it is worth visiting a doctor and finding out the cause of such a pathology. Many people are in great demand for alternative medicine. If the attending physician allows their use, then you can safely begin therapy. As for self-medication, it can aggravate the general condition and be harmful. Therefore, it is not recommended to use any drugs on your own, even based on herbs. Worth it anywayconsult a doctor. In addition, herbal components of medicines can cause intolerance and allergies in some people.
Infusion of dill and valerian with honey
This is one of the most popular remedies for high cholesterol. To prepare it, you need to mix one glass of dill grains and honey. To the resulting mixture, add a tablespoon of chopped valerian roots. The resulting mass must be poured with a liter of boiling water and left to infuse for a day. Keep the mixture refrigerated.
You can take this infusion three times in knocks, one tablespoon about 20 minutes before meals.
Using Garlic
Garlic-based preparations will help reduce blood cholesterol levels. For therapy, you can use the usual infusion and alcohol tincture.
To prepare the medicine, you need to peel 10 cloves of garlic and pass them through the press. The resulting mass should be added to two glasses of olive oil. It is worth insisting such a drug for a week. The infusion is used as a dressing for salads and other dishes.
Alcohol tincture is prepared as follows. 300 grams of peeled garlic should be chopped and poured with 200 milliliters of alcohol. Infuse the remedy for two weeks. You need to start taking with one drop. The dosage should be gradually increased (1 drop at each next dose) up to 20. It is recommended to take the drug three times a day.
Drug therapy
To fight high cholesterol usuallydrugs are used that can destroy lipids and synthesize new ones. Such drugs belong to the group of statins ("Vazilip", "Torvacard", "Hofitol"). It is these medicines that help maintain blood cholesterol levels.
To aggravate the absorption of the compound in the intestines, the doctor may prescribe absorption inhibitors. Such therapy will be effective provided that the cause of the increase in blood cholesterol is the abuse of foods high in this substance. It should be noted that the intake of this compound in the body with food is only a fifth of its total amount. The rest is produced by internal organs. These medicines are not designed to lower blood cholesterol levels.
Omega-3 and fibrates allow you to increase the amount of "good" substance. They allow you to reduce the concentration of triglycerides.
Only the attending physician should prescribe any drug. Self-medication is not recommended.
