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Before you start taking cholesterol lowering pills, try to get rid of it yourself. Pills are the last resort, so start fighting for good cholesterol right now.
Every man is much more likely to experience the effects of hypercholesterolaemia than a woman who is protected by female hormones. Cholesterol, hated by most people and fought on all fronts, is essential to life. If it is normal, of course. About 60 percent. cholesterol is produced by our body, the rest is provided with food.
Good and bad cholesterol
Cholesterol is transported through the blood in combination with proteins. Depending on the type of protein, we differentiate between good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol. The bad one easily penetrates the walls of blood vessels and damages them. As a result, the vessel may become clogged. Good cholesterol carries fat from the tissues to the liver where it can be broken down.
Cholesterol is a trendy topic. “It is caused by pharmaceutical companies and the media,” says family doctor Robert Sapa. – It’s good that you pay attention to the problem. However, a proper lifestyle is more important in maintaining proper cholesterol levels than medications that always have side effects. Sapa emphasizes that he prescribes cholesterol-lowering drugs to his patients as a last resort. Above all, it encourages them to change their lifestyle.
Functions of cholesterol
“Cholesterol isn’t germs or bacteria, it’s a substance that is essential to human function,” says Sapa. It is used to build sex hormones, without it we would suffer from a lack of vitamin D3, which has a large share in building skeleton and protects against rickets. Cholesterol is also necessary for the digestion of fats. Its deficiency is the lack of hormones – there are diseases that debilitate the body, impotence, and no skeleton growth.
The effects of excess bad cholesterol
Unfortunately, over half of Poles have too much bad cholesterol. – At first there are no symptoms as cholesterol builds up slowly and systematically. Until the time when it may be too late for treatment – warns R. Sapa. During this time, atherosclerotic plaques form in the blood vessels, blockages and clots form, which cut off the blood supply to the brain or heart. It may result in death or disability. Cholesterol in the arteries of the legs leads to inflammation that can result in the amputation of the limb. The abdominal cavity is also not free from risk. There, the effects of excess cholesterol lead to ischemia of the intestines, which over time may cause their obstruction, the eye is also at risk, in which, as a result of excess cholesterol, diseases can develop causing problems with vision
Healthy lifestyle
It’s best to start lowering your cholesterol right away. It’s a good idea to have blood tests to check your cholesterol level once a year. You need to follow a proper diet, first of all, eat more vegetables and fruits – 0,5 kg per day. You should eat complex carbohydrates, i.e. groats and wholemeal bread. It is recommended to eat fish at least once a week, and lean poultry on other days. Avoid animal fats – although their complete elimination is not necessary. The main thing is to avoid obesity. If someone has excess cholesterol, it is compulsory to quit smoking. “It increases cholesterol build-up and we have a 100% guarantee of a heart or stroke stroke, it’s only a matter of time,” Sapa warns.
Text: Halina Pilonis