Cholesterol: When is it dangerous?

From the age of 40, but there are cases even earlier, it happens to follow us everywhere, without leaving for a moment. That's when the temptation starts from favorite foods, but which very quickly turn into forbidden fruits. The reason? Cholesterol. What dangers does this disease actually hide and how can we prevent it?

Chasing a personal enemy

By now we are all aware that high cholesterol, or simply cholesterol, means a careful diet to protect the function of the heart and blood vessels. But what necessary knowledge do we have about the personal "values" of cholesterol that each of us should have?

First we need to be clear about what cholesterol we are talking about. We are already aware of the existence of HDL and LDL in our blood. Their sum constitutes the cholesterol we are discussing.

The first, the so-called "good", constitutes what is often considered as protective cholesterol. Dangerous, as it seems, remains the second, the so-called "bad". If the total amount of cholesterol exceeds 250 milligrams, it is very likely that the LDL has increased, Telegrafi reports.

Is the disease the cause?

If, based on blood tests, the doctor thinks that the amount of cholesterol is high, before he puts you on a diet and prescribes the right medication, he must check a number of other elements:

• Ensure that the patient has not used any medication that may have caused this.

• To carry out the necessary tests from which it is proven that the patient does not suffer from any other disease, which may have brought about the increase of cholesterol in the blood. If all this is done and the cholesterol values ​​remain high, then the doctor can undertake drug therapy and a certain diet to reduce its amount.

Among the diseases that can easily cause an increase in cholesterol is diabetes, anorexia, etc.

• If the presence of other diseases is excluded, then we can think that we suffer from a high level of cholesterol, which in this case is congenital (there is no other reason). At this moment the question arises: is it really high and how accurate is this value?

And if a few years ago, the amount of 200 milligrams was assumed as the upper limit, today everyone has their own desired limit, to which an individual amount of cholesterol corresponds, in accordance with the state of the heart's functioning. Therefore, many doctors are no longer interested in the amount of cholesterol, but only in the level of LDL in the blood.

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When are we in danger?

The doctor should carefully monitor the functioning of the heart in the patient who suffers from high cholesterol. This is necessary, since high cholesterol is not the only dangerous factor for heart and blood vessel patients. But they can be: hypertension, age, diabetes, closed life, without much movement, smoking, etc. Then the doctor can define what is the true value, appropriate for a particular person and thus he can carry out the corresponding therapy.

1. Increased heart risk

This category includes all people who show signs of diseases in the heart or blood vessels. This group also includes individuals who have more than two risk factors.
For all of these, the physiological level of LDL cholesterol should not exceed 100 milligrams.

In this condition, the doctor can intervene to improve the patient's health in this way: if the LDL value is between 100 and 130 milligrams, he could lower cholesterol with diet and physical exercise. In the opposite case (LDL exceeds 130 milligrams), it is logical to progress to the use of drug therapy.

2. Medium risk for the heart

The risk is assessed as medium, in cases where there are one or two risk factors. (eg man, age over 50, smoking, etc.). The doctor will intervene in the same way, but based on different values: diet and physical exercise if the LDL is between 130 and 160 milligrams, and with drugs when it exceeds 160 milligrams.

3. Low heart risk

In this case, there is only one risk factor related to the increased value of cholesterol (eg man over 50, woman on the verge of giving birth, etc.). Then, the permissible base value of LDL is 160 milligrams (the total cholesterol value is 240 milligrams). In these cases, the doctor will start using drug therapy when the LDL will exceed 190 milligrams (total cholesterol at 280 milligrams).

4. Very little risk to the heart

It belongs to only one category of people: young women, who have LDL values ​​above 60 milligrams. In these cases, the desired LDL should not exceed 190 milligrams (total cholesterol in values ​​of 280 milligrams).

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Signs, which are suspicious for the presence of this disease

What are the actions we must take in order to control the cholesterol values ​​in our body?

Four key moments:

• Constant fatigue, without cause
• General decline of the organism
• Dizziness, problems while walking (cramps, swelling and pain in the legs, etc.)
• The formation of several bags, sebaceous cysts, especially in the area under the eyes, under the ears, between the fingers, etc.

How are the analyzes performed?

With a general blood test, you can check the HDL and LDL values.

If cholesterol is high

Don't rush to immediately label yourself as "sick". The doctor is the only competent person to check the cholesterol values ​​and determine if they are really high or not and if you need to undergo any therapy.

What is therapy?

The doctor, after being aware of the cholesterol values ​​in your blood, will recommend:

• Diet and physical exercises

• In cases where the cholesterol value continues to increase, then it is necessary to use appropriate drug treatments.

• Be aware that you will need continuous and rigorous therapy. Only in this way you will be sure that this "enemy" was fought forever. /Telegraph/