cholesterol It is a waxy substance found in the blood, and the body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, but its very high can cause an increased risk of heart attack, because of high cholesterol, fatty deposits can form in the patient’s blood vessels, and eventually, these grow Plaques make it difficult for enough blood to flow through the arteries, and sometimes these deposits suddenly rupture to form a clot that causes a heart attack or stroke, healthline reported.
High cholesterol can be inherited, but it usually occurs as a result of an unhealthy lifestyle, which makes high cholesterol treatable and preventable. With a healthy diet, exercise, and sometimes medications, high cholesterol can be lowered..
High cholesterol has no symptoms, and a blood test is the only way to detect your infection, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (NHLBI), the first cholesterol test should be done between ages 9 and 11, and then repeated every five years thereafter The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends cholesterol screening every year or two for men ages 45 to 65 and for women ages 55 to 65 . People over 65 years of age should have their cholesterol checked annually.
If your test results aren’t within desirable ranges, your doctor may recommend more frequent measurements, and your doctor may also suggest more frequent tests if you have a family history of high cholesterol, heart disease, or other risk factors, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. blood pressure.
Cholesterol travels through the blood bound to proteins. This compound, which combines cholesterol and protein, is called a lipoprotein. The types of cholesterol differ depending on what the lipoprotein carries. They are as follows:
Low-density lipoprotein. Low-density lipoprotein, or “bad” cholesterol, transports cholesterol particles to all parts of the body. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol builds up in the walls of the arteries, making them hard and narrow.
high density lipoprotein HDL (“good” cholesterol) picks up excess cholesterol and returns it to the liver.
A lipid profile is also usually used to measure triglycerides, a type of fat found in the blood. High triglyceride levels may also increase the risk of heart disease.
Factors that you can control, such as inactivity, obesity and an unhealthy diet, contribute to high levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides, as can many factors that you cannot control. For example, your genetic makeup may make it more difficult for the body to get rid of LDL cholesterol or to break it down in the liver..