We analyze a sample of blood after a fasting period of at least 12 hours (you can only drink water), to measure total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. To avoid mistakes is to know that some drugs and pregnancy have elevated cholesterol and which, by contrast, shows a transient for many diseases, such as a myocardial infarction.

In some patients with severe hereditary hypercholesterolemia can be found outside of cholesterol deposits above. Whenever you are high cholesterol, your doctor should look for possible signs of cardiovascular disease by measuring blood pressure and auscultation of the heart and check arterial pulses (voltage measurement). It should also measure the amount of glucose in blood, assess renal function and perform an electrocardiogram (ECG).When to treat high cholesterol with medication?

The first steps to treat hypercholesterolemia is a proper diet (lipid lowering), reduce excess weight and exercising regularly. When these changes in diet and lifestyle are not possible or have not achieved a sufficient reduction in cholesterol level, must be made, if necessary, treatment with medication.

This decision depends on the global cardiovascular risk due to the presence or absence of other factors, or if you have symptoms of cardiovascular disease. As the case of each person chooses a specific figure for total cholesterol and LDL from which should be treated with drugs and sets targets to be achieved. In any case, it is important to know that when you really need drug treatment, usually for good.

The most effective medications to reduce cholesterol are called statins present, which, while expensive, have relatively few side effects. You can also use powder with fibrates and resins.

credit to: Dr. Juan de Dios García-Díaz, Dr. Neal Uren, Dr. Stephen C. P. Collins, Dra. Annebirthe Bo Hansen

Arteriosclerosis (with complications) is a complex disease that has no single origin. High cholesterol level, although one of the most important risk factors, there is usually determined by its appearance alone. Typically, several factors coincide, causing a marked increase in risk. It is therefore essential to recognize and correct as many of these.

Smoking

All studies clearly show that men and middle-aged women who smoke have a much greater risk of suffering a myocardial infarction. By quitting, the risk decreases progressively.Diet

Diet is another important factor and its potential benefits are greater than indicated by the variations that occur in cholesterol levels. It recommends that a Mediterranean diet rich in bread, vegetables, fruits, vegetables, oily fish and olive oil, and limit consumption of whole milk (not skim), meat and meat products are high in harmful fats.

Alcohol

Very moderate consumption, particularly wine, increases HDL cholesterol and may reduce the negative effect of LDL cholesterol. However, it produces both an increase in blood pressure and can damage the liver and other organs.

Exercise

It is very beneficial even if not too intense, and has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. The vigorous and regular exercise helps to eliminate clots.

Excessive body weight

Obesity and overweight, especially when fat is concentrated in the abdomen, favor the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. Loss is beneficial, albeit slight, that excess weight.

credit to: Dr. Juan de Dios García-Díaz, Dr. Neal Uren, Dr. Stephen C. P. Collins, Dra. Annebirthe Bo Hansen

Atherosclerosis is a slow process so that, over the years, fat and cholesterol is deposited on the walls of the arteries (atherosclerotic plaques). This results in hardening and narrowing, which reduces the amount of blood that can pass through them and reduces the necessary irrigation for different organs. Over time, the artery can become blocked and thus cause a heart attack in areas that depend on their blood supply (resulting in the death of these tissues).Therefore, when symptoms are caused by arterial disease. These depend on the degree of obstruction and the organ supplied by the affected arteries. An additional problem is the possibility that plaque ruptures, causing a blood clot (thrombus) that blocks an abrupt and total artery.

- In the brain can be blocked by a branching arterial thrombus, leaving an area of ​​the brain without blood flow, leading to a stroke. At other times, it can burst artery and results in bleeding. Either of these conditions can cause similar symptoms and are known as stroke or cerebrovascular accident (CVA). There may also be forming small clots in the arteries of the neck and reach the brain for a short time obstruct a small branch vessel (transient ischemic attack or TIA). However, when repeated latter must fear the possibility of a stroke.

- In the heart, narrowing of the coronary arteries cause angina, and disruption of a fatty plaque (atheroma) produced coronary thrombosis leading to myocardial infarction. If a significant amount of damaged heart tissue, there may be a reduction in the ability of the heart to pump blood (heart failure).

- The partial blockage of arteries in the legs produce a typical pain when walking which disappears when you stop and is known as intermittent claudication. If you come to produce a very rapid or complete obstruction of the arteries, lack of irrigation results in the death of all tissues (acute ischemia), forcing the amputation of the limb.

It is very common for people with atherosclerosis have affected both arteries from different parts or organs. Besides those already mentioned, are ill the great aorta (from the heart and is distributing the blood throughout the body), the arteries of the kidney and the intestine (mesenteric arteries).

credit to: Dr. Juan de Dios García-Díaz, Dr. Neal Uren, Dr. Stephen C. P. Collins, Dra. Annebirthe Bo Hansen

On the other hand, the importance of high cholesterol is very different, as well as by the ratio of LDL and HDL, as the existence of other risk factors for atherosclerosis such as smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension), or a history familiar with cases of cardiovascular disease. It is possible, for example, that a person has an elevated cholesterol level and cardiovascular risk in the end, is relatively low due to the absence of other risk factors and family history.Although there are differences between normal cholesterol levels for each sex and age, as a general guideline, you can give the following categories according to levels of total cholesterol:

- Ideal level: less than 200 mg/dL

- Slightly elevated cholesterol: 200 to 240 mg/dL

- Moderately elevated cholesterol: 240 to 300 mg/dL

- Cholesterol very high: above 300 mg/dL.

However, if a person has shown symptoms of cardiovascular disease such as angina or myocardial infarction, or you have had angioplasty or bypass surgery in his heart, must receive medical treatment to maintain their LDL cholesterol below 100 mg/dL.

What causes elevated cholesterol level?

Cholesterol levels in many different factors involved: race, geographic origin, diet, lifestyle, etc. And in the countries of southern Europe such as Spain, the average levels of cholesterol are lower than in the north or the United States.

The main factor is, however, influence or heredity. This is the reason that there are several people with high cholesterol in the same family. There is an inherited form that produces slight elevations of the levels, but when there are many families with very high cholesterol should be suspected of a serious disease of metabolism, such as familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) or familial combined hyperlipidemia (HFC), in which triglycerides are also high. In some cases, the cholesterol is high due to other diseases, such as a defect of thyroid hormone, kidney disease or diabetes. A very common cause of elevated triglycerides is excessive intake of alcohol.

credit to: Dr. Juan de Dios García-Díaz, Dr. Neal Uren, Dr. Stephen C. P. Collins, Dra. Annebirthe Bo Hansen

A high cholesterol level in blood is not a problem in the short term, but if sustained for a long time, accelerates the development of atherosclerosis, arterial degenerative process associated with age, which is a hardening and narrowing of the arteries carry blood to different organs and body parts.

It is often said that there are two types of cholesterol: “good” cholesterol, called high density lipoprotein (HDL, the acronym), and “bad”, consisting of low density lipoprotein (LDL).LDL cholesterol transport and yield to all tissues and excess favors disease of the arteries (cardiovascular disease). HDL have, however, a beneficial effect, by collecting and returning excess cholesterol to the liver. Thus prevent the development of atherosclerosis.

The ratio between the two forms of cholesterol (LDL and HDL) is what actually influences the occurrence of atherosclerosis and its complications early age (which is called the cardiovascular risk for developing thrombosis in the heart, brain, etc.). .

LDL cholesterol level can be reduced with a diet low in fat and, if necessary, medication. HDL cholesterol level can be increased by exercise, reducing excess weight and quitting smoking.

credit to: Dr. Juan de Dios García-Díaz, Dr. Neal Uren, Dr. Stephen C. P. Collins, Dra. Annebirthe Bo Hansen

Good fats
Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are the best option as they help lower bad cholesterol levels while maintaining good cholesterol levels. Some foods containing these fats are peanut oil, olive oil, canola oil and nuts. Other recommended fats are avocados and flaxseed, chia seeds and others.

Fats that raise cholesterol
All animal fat and hydrogenated fats like butter and margarine (there are not hydrogenated and is indicated on the package).

Almost all fried foods have trans fats as well as most pre-prepared meals. Panaderilla bread and butter tends to have almost all fast food.

What to do to stay healthy

1. Routine medical tests identify whether there are problems with cholesterol.
2. A healthy lifestyle that includes healthy eating and exercise are part of prevention and cure.

Natural Treatments
There are some natural cures that have proven to be successful. We can say that it must always follow your doctor’s instructions. Among the priests:

1. B group vitamins including niacin
2. Eating garlic either in foods or supplements
3. Chromium (Chromium) reduces LDL and increases HDL (good cholesterol)
4. Coenzyme Q10 (Coenzyme Q10)
5. Eat fiber and slow cooking oats, vegetables and whole grains.
6. Carnitine (Carnitine), increases good cholesterol
7. Eat either flaxseed oil or grain
8. Grape Seed Extract
9. Consuming vitamin C
10. Eating soy