Thanks to various propaganda of a healthy diet, it is a well-known fact that cholesterol is the main threatening factor for the development of such a formidable disease as atherosclerosis. However, how much truth is this phrase from a medical point of view? Let's try to figure it out.
Introduction
So, atherosclerosis is a serious disease of the cardiovascular system that affects almost 100% of the population by 50 (in men) -60 (in women) years. It develops gradually and is dangerous for human life, not so much by its presence, but by the complications that form against its background. And the high blood cholesterol found in all patients with this disease is not at all its cause. The fact is that all pathological changes in the vessels cannot fundamentally develop if they are initially healthy. And if a person has been diagnosed with arterial hypertension or diabetes for a long time, if the patient abuses smoking or alcohol, leads a sedentary lifestyle or is obese, then based on existing violations of the vascular wall, all changes characteristic of atherosclerosis will gradually begin to occur. And if initially the blood cholesterol is elevated, then only all this together will cause the development of the disease.
Risk factors
In addition to those already mentioned, there are other risk factors for atherosclerosis. First of all, it is gender and age category of patients. It is scientifically proven that atherosclerosis often affects men, especially those over the age of 50-55 years, in women - less often, older than 60-65. This is explained by the different amounts of production of estrogens, female sex hormones, available in both sexes, but prevailing at times, of course, in women. The action of these biologically active substances is manifested in the utilization in the fat depot and liver of all excess lipids and cholesterol from the blood stream using special transporters - high density lipoproteins. By the way, their education is also increased under the influence of estrogen, which leads to a later development of the disease in women. However, after menopause, the amount of hormones begins to decline, and then ladies will be atherosclerosis on a par with men, especially if initially the blood cholesterol is elevated. But this may already be due to nutritional deficiencies, that is, the use of fatty meat, fried, high-calorie foods.
Pathomorphology of Atherosclerosis
So, what kind of changes are taking place in the vessels that eventually show signs of high cholesterol in the blood? And the answer is not so complicated. The fact is that normally the wall of the arteries is smooth, shiny, easily extensible due to the muscle layer and elastic fibers, and under the influence of special factors, it can either expand or contract.
And if it was originally damaged by the above atherogenic factors (smoking, alcohol, diabetes, hypertension, advanced age), then it begins to become saturated with fats in the bloodstream. So the first stage develops - lipid bands and spots.
Developmental stages
Then the condition is aggravated, then total cholesterol in the blood is already becoming elevated. The thing is that the number of its transporters is also increasing, which normally carry it precisely to the vessel wall - the so-called low and very low density lipoproteins. And gradually, the arteries are more and more saturated with fat and cholesterol, until these spots begin to protrude above the surface of the wall, i.e. an atherosclerotic plaque is formed, which gradually increases, becomes covered with a fibrin lid and thereby stabilizes. However, if at this stage a person continues to harm his health, then this calm plaque begins to become damaged. It ulcerates, the lid can come off completely, and the same pathological changes occur in other parts of the vessel wall.
The result of the disease
Blood cholesterol is elevated several times, its transporters only manage to remove it in the tissue, and the liver can not cope with its excesses. Due to all these injuries, the vessels lose their extensibility, become more sensitive to vasoconstrictors (factors that narrow them), arterial hypertension increases, and the main "pump" begins to suffer. Atherosclerosis also damages vessels of ever smaller caliber, the most important of which are coronary (own arteries of the heart) and brain. Plaques blocking the blood flow and narrowing the lumen of the arteries all grow, and ultimately there is a sharp ischemia of the organs. The most threatening conditions against this background are myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke of the brain.
General recommendations
At any stage of the development of atherosclerosis, the stabilization of the state and the prevention of the development of dangerous complications primarily depend on the patient's consciousness. If the cholesterol in the blood were not initially elevated, if the patient had not aggravated his condition by abuse of toxic substances, tobacco and alcohol, led a mobile lifestyle and would have brought his weight at least a little closer to normal, then the progression of this life-threatening disease would have stopped. Therefore, the doctor should first of all recommend the patient to establish his regimen and diet, to engage in physical culture, if possible, to spend his weekend in nature, and not on the couch in front of the TV. Stop smoking and taking alcohol-containing drinks, consume more vegetables, fruits, natural juices, fish, lean meat, cook food mainly using steam or boiled method. Thus, it is necessary by all means to eliminate the causes of high cholesterol in the blood, and then treat the existing background disease. In extreme cases, special drugs are used to stabilize its concentration - statins.
The main reason is malnutrition
Now let's see why blood cholesterol is elevated . The main reason for this is, of course, the irrational nutrition of a person, because of which this substance, which is necessary for the synthesis of many hormones and the formation of the cell membrane, is not disposed of correctly and circulates in the blood as part of its transporters. And, most importantly, there is in excess. So, products that increase blood cholesterol are secreted. First of all, it is, of course, fatty meats - beef and pork. Moreover, it should be remembered that even in their fillet, enough cholesterol is hidden. Further, this is poultry meat - geese, ducks, turkeys.
Other products
Thirdly, these are eggs, mayonnaise made on their basis and high-calorie dairy products - cream maso, sour cream (especially homemade), cheese, fatty yogurt. However, it should be remembered that cholesterol is concentrated specifically in the yolk, but egg white is mandatory for humans, because it contains essential amino acids and is 100% digestible, so you can use only the white part of the egg or limit the amount to one or two pieces per week. And the top of the list of harmful food is not only the atherogenic effect - semi-finished products, industrial baked goods and fast food. Other foods that raise blood cholesterol are processed meat products. That is, sausages, sausages, boiled pork, ham and other types of smoked meats.
What to do?
Of course, the main question that worries patients if high blood cholesterol was found in their biochemical blood test: "What should I do?" Firstly, pass it (analysis) to your doctor so that he will conduct other laboratory and instrumental studies to make your diagnosis and prescribe corrective treatment. However, it is within your power to greatly help him in this. Namely, to reduce this very high cholesterol. What to do with your diet in order to achieve normalization of indicators, you will be prompted by a therapeutic diet (table) No. 10s. It is indicated for all patients with coronary heart disease and hypertension due to atherosclerotic vascular disease.
Diet number 10-C
Its goal is to prevent the further development of the disease, namely: reduce excess weight, provide all energy needs without overloading internal organs, improve metabolism and blood circulation of the heart and brain, so that heart attack and stroke are excluded. Since the treatment of high cholesterol in the blood mostly depends on nutrition! In it, first of all, the content of animal fats and those carbohydrates that are easily absorbed is sharply reduced. In addition, the amount of consumed water and salt, and, of course, cholesterol, is limited. And, on the contrary, the content of essential microelements (potassium, magnesium), vitamins (B and C), and dietary fiber is increased. Food is mainly prepared by boiled and stewed methods. In addition, fractional frequent meals are recommended - in 4-5 meals per day.
Main part
Speaking in detail, with this diet, products from muffin or puff pastry, any broths (except vegetable, but not legumes), fatty meats and poultry, as well as canned goods, sausages, smoked meats and brains are completely excluded from the patient’s diet. salted or smoked fish and caviar, dairy products of high fat content (cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese, cream). In addition, it is very important not to use chocolate, ice cream and confectionery with cream, mustard and pepper, fish, meat and mushroom sauces, strong coffee, tea or cocoa. On the contrary, it is recommended: soups (in milk or vegetable broth), boiled or baked dishes from low-fat varieties of meat, fish and poultry, similar types of cheese, cottage cheese or sour cream, cereals (buckwheat, oatmeal, millet, barley), cabbage is very welcome in any form, as well as zucchini, eggplant, pumpkin, potatoes or green peas.
Snacks & Desserts
Salads are recommended with oil dressing: vinaigrettes, seaweed, seafood. And in raw form, it is better to eat salad, cucumbers, tomatoes and herbs, various fruits, except those that contain glucose in excess. Of the drinks, dried fruit compotes and fresh juices are most welcome. Of course, it is extremely difficult to switch to a diet so sharply, but deviation from it and errors can dramatically worsen the patient’s health. Therefore, in order to stop the symptoms of high cholesterol in the blood and adhere to therapeutic nutrition, there are several simple tricks.
Special tricks
Firstly, you should remove from the eyes all those products that are strictly prohibited in the diet. Better yet, if you stop buying them. The fewer they are in the refrigerator, the less risk they eat. Secondly, learn how to walk to the grocery store. Always make a list at home and strictly follow it, and in the supermarket try to stay close to the walls, because in the center are usually all processed foods: sausages, canned food, fast food and more. And when you buy something, first of all carefully read the composition and calorie content. Also, with every trip to the store, be sure to buy those vegetables or fruits that you have not bought for a long time, and eat them fresh at home or prepare healthy dishes from them. Try to switch from the usual animal fats to those found in marine fish, nuts and olive oil. They will not only not damage your diet, but, on the contrary, will lower the level of cholesterol in your blood due to their structure. In no case do not exclude meat from your diet. It is vital, just learn how to choose it. Prefer low-fat bird (chicken, turkey) and lean beef or rabbit. Often cook dishes of sea fish, bake it in the oven, soak with vegetables, add to salads and snacks. Snack at work not with a sandwich with sausage, but with a fresh banana or a couple of apples, this will saturate you better and charge you with energy and vitamins until a full dinner. It is advisable to write down in a special notebook everything that you ate during the day, because reducing excess weight is the first and most important step to keep your body healthy!