High Cholesterol Causes
The tendency to build up high
cholesterol may run in families, but excessively high levels
are usually the result of a poor diet high in saturated fats
and calories, combined with little or no exercise. In some
cases, an elevated cholesterol level may be associated with
an undiagnosed medical condition, such as hypothyroidism (low
thyroid function) or diabetes.
Signs/Symptoms
High cholesterol rarely gives
any warning signs. If there's a tremendous excess, some
people develop soft, yellowish skin growths called xanthomas,
usually in the area near the eyes. Some men develop impotence
as the arteries begin to clog up.
Care
The first line of attack on
high cholesterol is a change in lifestyle and diet. Regular
exercise, weight control, and a diet low in cholesterol and
animal fat are often all that's needed to bring cholesterol
levels into the safety range. If these measures fail to do
the job, your doctor can then prescribe a
cholesterol-lowering drug such as Lescol, Lipitor, Mevacor,
Pravachol, and Zocor. Remember, though, that these drugs
shouldn't be used as a substitute for a healthy diet. They
pose a slight risk of damage to the liver and can harm a
developing baby if taken during pregnancy.
For those who suffer severe,
hereditary high cholesterol, a procedure called LDL apheresis
is an option. Over several hours, blood is removed from the
body, chemically cleansed of LDL cholesterol, then returned
to the body. This treatment can reduce LDL cholesterol levels
by 50 to 80 percent, but it's required every two to three
weeks. Talk with your doctor in detail about the benefits of
this type of therapy, as it can be both time-consuming and
costly.
Risks
Your chances of a heart attack
rise dramatically when your cholesterol gets even moderately
out of line. Generally speaking, a man with a total blood
cholesterol level of 240 is twice as likely to suffer a heart
attack as a man with a level of 200, all other factors being
equal. A level of 300 carries five times the risk.
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What You Should Do
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