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High Cholesterol – Risk Factors & Effects on Heart

Lifestyle

If you have too much cholesterol in your blood, it can combine with other substances in the blood and stick to the walls of your arteries. Cholesterol, in combination with other blood substances that sticks to your arteries, is called plaque. Plaque can continue to build up in your arteries, making them narrow or even block them.

High cholesterol levels in the blood can increase your risk of developing a heart disease. If you have high cholesterol, you won’t be having any signs or symptoms as there are no signs that tell that you have high blood cholesterol. You will have to undergo a blood test to know cholesterol levels in your blood. If you have decreased blood flow in the heart, then an expert doctor would certainly suggest you to get an echocardiogram done. If you are looking to get an echocardiogram checkup in Jaipur, you can visit Jaipur Heart and Multispeciality Centre that is equipped with state-of-the-art cath labs, facilities and a core team of heart specialists to provide the best course of treatment for heart ailments.

Factors that Affect Cholesterol Levels in the Body –

There are many factors that can affect cholesterol levels in your body. Here are the important ones –

  • Age – Cholesterol levels in the body are known to rise after 20 years of age
  • Overweight – If you are overweight or obese, you may be having higher bad cholesterol levels
  • No physical activity – Not exercising may lower good cholesterol levels
  • Family history – If your family members have or had high cholesterol, you may also suffer from it
  • Food habits – Eating too much saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol can raise your cholesterol levels
  • Smoke- If you smoke you may be at a higher risk of increasing your cholesterol levels

Effects of High Cholesterol Level on the Heart

  • Coronary Artery Disease

    Coronary Artery Disease or CAD is the most common heart disease. The condition occurs when arteries which supply blood to muscles of the heart become hardened and narrowed due to the buildup of plaque on their inner walls.

  • Stroke

    High plaque buildup can lead to reduced or complete cut off of blood supply to an important part of the brain; this is called a stroke.

  • Heart Attack

    Plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to the heart is called atherosclerosis. In due course of time, a piece of the plaque can break off and a blood clot can form around it. This clot can block blood flow to the heart muscle and deprive it of oxygen and nutrient, leading to a heart attack.

Exercise more and eat healthy, to lower your cholesterol levels. If required, consult a cardiac specialist and take proper medicine.

Eating Right with a Heart Disease

Eating Right with a Heart Disease

Lifestyle

If you are suffering from a heart disease, then you should have control on your diet; this includes knowing what you should eat and what you shouldn’t. Foods with high sodium content can increase blood pressure, while foods with trans-fat can increase your bad cholesterol levels, thereby increasing the risk of stroke and heart attack. In comparison, plant foods, particularly wholegrain cereals, nuts, legumes, fruits and vegetables have been known to reduce the risk of heart disease.

If you are watching your heart health, then regularly consult an expert heart specialist like Jaipur Heart and Multispeciality Centre. Along with that, here is what you need to do when it comes to eating right with a heart disease –

Keep a Tab on the Fats You Consume

You should understand the difference between good fat and bad fat. Saturated and Trans fats increase blood cholesterol levels and the risk of a heart attack, whereas polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats lower the risk of heart attacks. Hence, you need to limit the consumption of Trans and saturated fat (mostly found in animal products). Use oils high in monounsaturated fats (olive oil and peanut oil) or polyunsaturated fats (soybean, corn, and sunflower oils) for cooking purposes.

Avoid Processed Foods

Avoid processed foods, such as canned soup, vegetables, etc. Processed foods are preserved using salts, nitrites, or other preservatives which are harmful for the heart. Salty snacks such as chips, nuts, etc. should be avoided as well.

Balance Out the Protein in Your Diet

Limit the intake of meats as they are high in saturated fat. Diets high in saturated fat are linked with high blood cholesterol and heart disease risks. Instead, balance your meals with lean meat, fish, and vegetable sources of protein.

Eat More of Plant Foods

Incorporate more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes in your diet. Plant foods constitute a heart-healthy diet as they are rich sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients, and are low in fat, calories, sodium, and cholesterol.

Limit Your Salt Consumption

Limiting consumption of sodium intake is another essential of a heart-healthy diet, because sodium makes your heart work harder. Too much sodium in your diet can increase your blood pressure. Prefer using salt which has lower sodium concentration.

A healthy lifestyle as well as the right diet is essential for recovery from a heart disease. Besides maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you need to ensure your heart health through routine heart checkups. If you are looking for heart specialists in Jaipur, then visit Jaipur Heart and Multispecialty Centre which has a team of experienced heart specialists, and is equipped with state-of-heart facilities to diagnose and treat symptoms and diseases related to heart.