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Cholesterol
What cause high cholesterol levels?
Cholesterol levels can run in families. If the inherited cholesterol levels are very high,
this is called familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) or familial combined hyperlipidaemia
(FCH) where the triglyceride levels are very high as well. Levels can also be influenced
by the part of the world you live in: cholesterol levels in northern European countries are
higher than in southern Europe and much higher than in Asia.
It is known that the relationship to food is significant, but there is no doubt that genes also play a part.
High cholesterol is also seen in connection with other diseases, such as reduced metabolism
(due to thyroid hormone problems, for example), kidney diseases, diabetes and alcohol abuse.
What are the symptoms of high cholesterol in the bloodstream?
You cannot tell if you have a high cholesterol level, but a high level in conjunction with other adverse factors increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
Atherosclerosis results in narrowing of the arteries. This does not occur suddenly, but builds up over many years during which cholesterol and fat have been deposited in the artery walls. The result is that the arteries become constricted and hardened, their elasticity disappears and the volume of blood able to travel through them is reduced.
The symptoms are therefore the consequences of cardiovascular disease. They depend on the degree of narrowing, the likelihood that the plaque is going to rupture (vulnerability), and the organ supplied by the affected arteries.
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- In the brain, an atherosclerotic carotid or cerebral (brain) artery might block with clotted blood (thrombus) or a smaller intracerebral vessel may rupture causing a local hemorrhage. Both these circumstances result in a stroke (cerebrovascular accident or CVA).
- In the heart, narrowed coronary arteries cause angina, and ruptured plaques cause coronary thrombosis (myocardial infarct), which may lead to reduced heart function (heart failure) if a significant amount of heart muscle is damaged.
- Carotid arteries in the neck can become narrowed and may lead to clots forming in the neck and floating downstream into the brain, causing a stroke (CVA) or recurrent temporary strokes (transient ischaemic attacks, also known as TIAs).
- Leg pain on exertion can be experienced due to atherosclerosis in the arteries that supply the lower limbs (intermittent claudication). If a major peripheral vessel to a lower limb blocks suddenly, an acutely ischaemic leg will occur which may be limb-threatening. In the worst cases of chronic lower limb atherosclerosis, this can lead to a leg so starved of blood that it cannot survive and requires amputation.
- It is common in those people most affected to have the disease in several arteries throughout their circulation including the aorta (the main artery in the chest and abdomen, the renal (kidney) arteries and the mesenteric (intestinal) vessels.
We offer CardioChek, CholesTrak and Heart Manual to bring you information the tools you need to be responsible and aware of your own health. Our CardioChek System allows you to monitor your cholesterol at home. You can test and monitor your results for overall health and document positive change. Know where your levels are and test more frequently in the privacy and convenience of your own home. Order a CardioChek monitor today and take charge of your health.
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