As of: February 24, 2024, 11:41 a.m
By: Natalie Hull-Deichsel
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If the cholesterol level is too high, you should reconsider your diet and adjust your physical fitness.
High cholesterol poses a risk of heart attack and stroke.
“Your cholesterol level is too high.” – If this statement from the doctor sounds familiar, you may be unsettled at first.
What does that mean and can it be dangerous?
Cholesterol generally has a bad reputation, but it is fundamentally very important for the human body.
As a lipid (fat), cholesterol, also called cholesterol, is an important component of the cell membrane and serves as protection.
However, if there is too much cholesterol in the blood and the vessel walls, this can cause serious health damage due to vascular calcification or arteriosclerosis.
Due to hardening of the arteries, the risk of circulatory disorders, heart attack and stroke increases, as the
German Heart Foundation e.
V.
explains.
High cholesterol levels in the body can be reduced by making a few lifestyle changes.
Cholesterol too high: LDL in particular causes dangerous vascular deposits
A diet high in fat can cause blood cholesterol levels to rise sharply, lead to vascular deposits and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
© firewings/Imago
The human body produces over 80 percent of cholesterol itself, primarily in the liver, but also in the intestines.
Only a small proportion of cholesterol is absorbed through food.
When it comes to cholesterol measured in the blood, the focus is primarily on the so-called low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
There are special receptors on the liver cells, the LDL cholesterol receptors, which regulate the concentration of cholesterol in the bloodstream.
The higher the concentration of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in the blood and vessels, the higher the risk of developing vascular diseases such as arteriosclerosis.
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If the LDL values are too high, more and more cholesterol is deposited in the blood vessel walls because cholesterol, as a fat, is not soluble in liquid - including blood - according to the
German Heart Foundation.
V.
The cause of rising LDL levels in the blood is often an unhealthy, fatty diet.
High cholesterol: are eggs harmful?
There have long been warnings about eating eggs due to high cholesterol.
According to the
Federal Center for Nutrition,
dietary cholesterol in most cases only slightly increases blood cholesterol levels because the body can adjust its own production accordingly.
Nevertheless, the consumption of eggs should not be done carelessly and in moderation.
Cardiologist Univ.-Prof.
Dr.
med.
Ulrich Laufs of the Scientific Advisory Board of the
German Heart Foundation e.
V.
emphasizes that there is no general recommendation as to how exactly eggs affect cholesterol levels.
“Because cholesterol intake depends very much on the rest of your diet and other factors and not just on the consumption of eggs.
The regulation of cholesterol levels in the blood is primarily carried out by the liver and not by diet,” says Prof. Dr.
running.
“The importance of diet for cholesterol and cardiovascular risk is often overestimated.
The key to reducing risk is physical activity and not smoking.”
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Cholesterol too high: The result can be severe thrombosis - the cause of heart attack and stroke
The vessel walls are at risk in several ways: The deposits (plaques) caused by cholesterol narrow the vessels - this leads to arteriosclerosis.
The plaques can also cause inflammation, which damages the vessel walls.
Once this occurs, the cells attempt to repair the inflammation using platelets and new tissue.
However, this means that the vessel walls become increasingly narrow, rigid and brittle.
The risk of dangerous blood clots, so-called thrombi, increases enormously.
This can lead to a thrombosis - a vessel that is completely impermeable to blood - which is often the cause of heart attacks and strokes.
Cholesterol too high: Four habits that can help you lower your blood fat
What can ultimately make high cholesterol so dangerous is the fact that it does not manifest itself through specific symptoms.
Only when a heart attack occurs, for example, are cholesterol levels checked using a blood test.
If you adapt a few but decisive lifestyle habits early on, you can prevent the serious consequences of arteriosclerosis and ultimately cardiovascular diseases.
Cholesterol levels can also be reduced by avoiding carbohydrates
For many years, people with genetically determined elevated cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolemia) have been advised to reduce their intake of saturated fatty acids.
Current findings based on the
Federal Association of German Pharmacists Associations.
V. (ABDA)
suggests that it may be more beneficial for health to avoid carbohydrates.
A low-carbohydrate diet could be particularly effective if you have an increased risk of heart disease.
This recommendation applies not only to people with high cholesterol levels, but also to those with obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Instead of focusing solely on avoiding certain oils and fatty foods, people with high cholesterol should limit foods that increase blood sugar levels.
If you have high cholesterol levels, pay attention to the following four factors:
Move regularly and do sports: walking quickly, at least 30 minutes a day, five times a week, already has a clearly positive effect.
In particular, the “good” cholesterol HDL is increased through exercise, which basically has the task of intercepting and metabolizing the “bad” cholesterol LDL in the vessels.
The more HDL there is in the blood, the more LDL can be transported away.
If cholesterol levels are too high, eat less fat and cholesterol-rich foods with saturated fatty acids such as butter, meat and sausages.
Instead, rely on a diet with unsaturated fatty acids such as those found in rapeseed and olive oil.
It is also recommended to eat fruit, vegetables, whole grain products, lean meat, non-fatty fish and low-fat dairy products.
If you are a coffee drinker, you are more likely to drink the stimulant filtered rather than unfiltered.
The cafestol contained in coffee increases LDL cholesterol levels in the blood.
But with filtered coffee, most of Cafestol remains in the filter.
You should significantly limit or stop smoking.
Nicotine in cigarettes constricts the veins, causing the arteries to calcify and increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.