Many patients are worried when at the reception after the examination the doctor says the words: "Atherogenic coefficient is increased." "What it is?" - the question immediately arises. This indicator helps in time to determine the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis. If it turns out that the index is normal, then the patient may not worry about the occurrence of this disease.
Which means an increased rate of atherogenicity in the blood
Being interested in studying the issue, it is important to understand the concept itself. It is desirable for each person to possess basic knowledge and undergo examinations on time. It is especially important to understand a situation where the atherogenic coefficient is increased. What is it and what threatens? This indicator characterizes the amount of "good" (HDL) and "bad" (LDL) cholesterol. When LDL accumulates on the walls of blood vessels, harmful plaques form that can lead to blockage of blood vessels. Subsequently, this leads to serious heart problems and atherosclerosis.
What is cholesterol?
Initially, cholesterol was found in stones formed in the gallbladder. But in fact, this substance is present in all tissues of the human body. It is of great importance for our life, as it takes part in many processes: it helps to form cell membranes, promotes the production of bile and a full metabolism, enriches tissues with antioxidants, helps the brain and nervous system, supports immunity. If the cholesterol coefficient of atherogenicity is increased, then it is required to take measures, which we will talk about later. 80% of cholesterol is produced by the body on its own, the remaining 20 we get from food. The liver is responsible for regulating blood cholesterol.
Why do I need to take an analysis
Very often, patients have an increased atherogenic coefficient. What it is? This is an important part of a comprehensive survey, which allows you to identify a number of problems:
- diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract.
- the dynamics of changes in cholesterol during drug treatment.
- preventive examination in order to timely identify an existing problem and prescribe an early treatment if necessary.
Norm for a healthy person
In medicine, each examination has its own indicators. The atherogenic coefficient should be equal to a number from two to three units. It is worth noting that with age it happens that the atherogenic coefficient is increased. Reasons, treatment should be clarified in the doctor’s office. But even in old age, the index should not exceed 3.5 units. Interestingly, in infants, the coefficient is 1. There is a separate category of people who have a reduced rate. This suggests that the individual is not threatened with heart problems due to high cholesterol.
The effect of nutrition on cholesterol
You need to monitor your health from a young age. But trendy fast foods, a vibrant lifestyle, and diet without a regime have serious consequences for life. Uncontrolled consumption of delicious foods containing animal fats can affect the general background of personal well-being, if you do not check the cholesterol level and switch to proper nutrition on time.
The need for regular examination
Despite the important role for the body, excess cholesterol is harmful to health. To find out your indicator, you need to donate blood from a vein on an empty stomach. Each patient who has reached the age of 20 is advised to undergo an examination to determine the total cholesterol level.
If permissible limits are exceeded, the substance can be deposited on the walls of blood vessels, creating atherosclerotic plaques that restrict blood flow. This factor can cause a stroke, heart attack. External manifestations of atherosclerosis are expressed in body fat in the region of the eyeballs and joints. With average values of the atherogenic index, external indicators may not appear.
Symptomatology
Many people are not aware of the existing problem until they pass the analysis. Often, high cholesterol in the blood does not have pronounced external manifestations. Particular attention should be paid to their well-being. Possible signs: pain in the legs when walking fast, the appearance of yellow spots on the skin and unnatural fatty deposits, pain in the heart area. So, the analysis showed the result that the atherogenic coefficient is increased. What is it for the body? This is a disease that needs to be treated. About the group of people most susceptible to the development of the disease, read on.
Risk factors
The total number of people always has different resistance to diseases due to differences in lifestyle and nutritional rules. There are factors that automatically put a person on a dangerous list. If the atherogenic coefficient is increased, how to reduce it? It is enough to change your lifestyle and try to get out of the risk group, which is inherent in:
- Overweight.
- Improper nutrition (a large number of foods containing animal fats in the diet).
- Bad habits (alcoholism and smoking).
- Liver disease.
- Hypertension and diabetes.
- Hereditary predisposition.
If you find indicators that exceed the norm, do not panic. In order to avoid health problems, urgent measures should be taken to lower cholesterol and maintain it normal.
How to lower cholesterol to normal
The index rises in those people who sin by eating large quantities of products of animal origin (sausage, fatty milk, margarine, butter, pork). First of all, it is recommended to review your diet. A diet with an increased atherogenic coefficient in combination with a lifestyle change provides the following rules:
- To live an active lifestyle.
- Control food, follow a diet with strict restriction of products containing animal fats (fatty meat, lard, sausages, eggs, cream, flour and confectionery, cheese and the like).
- Love low-fat dairy products and feta cheese.
- Monitor blood pressure and blood sugar.
- Stop smoking and excessive drinking.
- Eat more plant foods, oily sea fish, fiber, honey.
- Regularly take fish oil in its purest form.
- Believe in yourself and wish to be a healthy person.
If you follow the basic rules of eating behavior, you can successfully keep your cholesterol under control.