subject: The Symptoms of High Cholesterol in Your Blood [print this page] The Symptoms of High Cholesterol in Your Blood
Symptoms of high cholesterol are usually quite rare. However, symptoms of high cholesterol can be found in patients with excessively high levels of cholesterol and can include pain caused by excessive fat deposits in the joints and tendons called xanthomas in addition to liver and spleen enlargement in patients with increased lipid levels. People with high levels of cholesterol may also suffer from yellow streaks of fat deposition on the skin called xanthomas. These fat deposits can also take nodular shape on the tendons causing the patient difficulty in opening and closing the fingers. These patients sometimes suffer from gallstones and may also develop pancreatitis.
The cholesterol correlation and heart disease are commonly studied by medical professionals today, because many medical professionals believe that high cholesterol not only causes this disease to arise within the body, but also contributes in a significant way to the degradation of an individual's health over time. Coronary heart disease is caused by narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart with blood. Fatty deposits, such as cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and other substances build up in the inner lining of an artery. This build up, known as plaque, usually affects small and medium sized arteries.
When trying to lower your cholesterol it's important to remember to follow your treatment for other conditions you may have. Remember there are seldom any external signs or symptoms of high cholesterol and that it is usually detected through having a blood test. Regular contact with your doctor is therefore essential and can make all the difference to your overall health and well-being.
Healthy eating can reduce cholesterol. Your diet should be low in saturated fats in particular, and low in fat overall. Biscuits, cakes, pastries, red meat, hard cheese and butter all tend to be high in saturated fats, so cut down on these foods.
Including a small amount of unsaturated fat in your diet can be healthy as this type of fat can reduce cholesterol levels. It is thought that the traditional Mediterranean diet, with plenty of olive oil and low animal-fat content, is good for cardiovascular health (the health of the heart and blood circulation).
Smoking can reduce your HDL numbers even further. If blood tests show lower than normal HDL levels, smoking cessation can raise the numbers. Additionally, smoking in the presence of children may cause a lowered HDL number through second hand smoke.
