Cardiovascular disease can be compared to an epidemic that managed to take over the entire planet. They are in first place in the number of deaths, leaving even cancer behind. Doctors unanimously declared high cholesterol the main culprit. The reasons for the excess of this element, necessary for all cells of the human body, can be different - from malnutrition to disease.
Norm and deviations
Determining whether the cholesterol level is normal, doctors take into account the gender and age of the person. The concentration of this substance in the blood will vary in men, women and children. Changes in tests and pregnancy, because the healthy development of the fetus requires an increased content of cholesterol in the body of the expectant mother.
Norms depending on age and gender:
- If a cholesterol test is performed for a child, weight and age are taken into account when determining the norm. On average, the normal indicator is in the range from 2.8 to 5.2 mmol. It is also necessary to remember the continuous growth of the child's body, and the more active production of cholesterol by the liver.
- Normal values for a healthy man are 2.24-4.9 mmol.
- Cholesterol in women should not go beyond the range of 2.0-4.6 mmol. During pregnancy, the figure is able to double, and this is absolutely normal.
Causes of Bad Cholesterol
Factors leading to a deviation of cholesterol from the norm can be internal and external. Most often, the following are accused of a high concentration of this substance in the body:
- diseases (genetic and acquired);
- sedentary lifestyle;
- overweight ;
- malnutrition;
- taking a number of drugs;
- bad habits;
- age.
Age is not a factor that directly affects the appearance of a problem such as high cholesterol. The reasons why people over 45 are put at risk are more related to the chronic diseases they have a history of.
Disease and treatment
Among the hereditary diseases with which high cholesterol is most often associated are nephropathies, arterial hypertension, cardiac pathologies, and diabetes mellitus. Analyzes are recommended to be passed to people in whose family violations of the endocrine system have already been observed, failures of the cardiovascular system.
Liver pathologies are also dangerous, which can be acquired or genetic. The liver is actually a filter responsible for processing beneficial and harmful elements, among which cholesterol is present. Violation of metabolic processes can result in an increase in low-density lipoproteins.
If a person has high cholesterol, the reasons may lie not only in diseases, but also in treatment with medications. Potential threats are beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, oral contraceptives. All these funds can be taken only after agreement with the attending physician.
Nutrition and Weight
High cholesterol will be forced to face people leaning on "industrial" food. These are a variety of sausages, sausages, smoked meats, sweet carbonated drinks, chocolate bars. The danger is fatty, fried foods. Before buying products, you should definitely pay attention to the label. Trans fats are more harmful to the body than banal fat, which has animal origin.
Meat food also requires caution. It is best to abandon dishes of fat mutton and beef, pork, goose, duck. In limited quantities, the use of lean beef and veal is allowed. The least threat is represented by hare, turkey, chicken, rabbit. It is advisable to stew or cook the meat, rather than fry or bake. Doctors recommend that people at risk do not get carried away with eggs.
Blood cholesterol in people who are overweight also often exceeds normal values. Cardiovascular system, liver, kidneys are exposed to risky load.
Wrong lifestyle
An increasing number of people lead a sedentary lifestyle. Refusal of walking, sedentary work, hours spent watching TV and computer games - the result is the deposition of fats, salts on the vascular walls, stagnation of blood. Only regular physical activity (at least twice a week), long walks will help to cope with this.
Of the bad habits, smoking is most dangerous. Nicotine increases blood viscosity, causes narrowing of the arteries. As a result, blood cholesterol is outside the normal range. This dangerous addiction should be abandoned in the first place, otherwise the development of heart disease is possible.
Controlling cholesterol
Regular measurement of cholesterol at home is gaining in popularity. This allows people to control its concentration in the blood without unnecessary time costs, taking timely measures in the form of drugs, diets. The main advantage provided by modern measuring instruments is the ability to find out the exact result in a minute without visiting the hospital.
The kit, designed for home control, includes special test strips treated with chemical compounds that provide a high-precision result.
Measuring instruments
Among the most popular devices there is an Easy Touch analyzer, using which you can set not only the concentration of cholesterol, but also the content of hemoglobin, glucose. Doctors recommend the device to patients suffering from lipid metabolism disorders. Blood sampling is minimal, indicators are ready in a few seconds.
Portable models are also available, which have miniature dimensions, for example, the Accutrend GC instrument, which provides convenient and high-precision cholesterol measurement. Up to 20 results can be stored in memory; the analysis time and the date of the analysis are remembered.
We are treated with pills
A person who has high cholesterol has not always been able to eliminate the causes and consequences by a diet alone. Prescribing medications without going to the doctor is strictly not recommended.
Remedies for high cholesterol:
- Satin. These drugs stop the production of enzymes necessary for the production of this substance in the blood. Depending on what dose is assigned to the patient, on the characteristics of the body, these drugs can reduce performance by 60%. The most popular satins for cholesterol are Lovastatin, Fluvastatin, Cerivastatin tablets. Their use can cause side effects - pain in the muscles, liver, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Fibroic acids. They activate the oxidation of fatty acids in the liver, reduce the concentration of triglycerides, LDL. These drugs include Gemfibrozil, Fenofibrate, Clofibrate. They can cause indigestion, other consequences are possible.
It is much easier to prevent an increased concentration of cholesterol in the blood than to get rid of this problem. Proper nutrition, a moving lifestyle, abandonment of dangerous habits, careful attention to health are effective preventive measures.