Health and Lifestyle

7 Causes of High Cholesterol

Dr. Veena Madhankumar

Nov 28, 2019 — 3 min read

Anything consumed on a regular basis in moderated quantities based on the requirement of our body is good for our health. This applies to cholesterol, as well. Avoiding cholesterol as a whole is never an option. Cholesterol is mandatory for the proper functioning of your body. But cholesterol can quickly become dangerous if its concentration in your blood becomes high. If so it can silently bring in the risk of heart disease in a person.

Here are a few prominent reasons that may increase your cholesterol level.

gif1

1. Diet

Consuming meat on a regular basis can increase your bad cholesterol(LDL). Increased consumption of saturated fat can increase your cholesterol level. Butter, milk, eggs, beef, veal and pork have a lot of saturated fat in them. Packed foods with increased saturation of palm oil, coconut oil and even cocoa butter may have saturated fat in them. Cookies, crisps, chips, crackers, vegetable shortening and similar snacks may also have a lot of saturated fat in them.

2. Obesity

Losing the extra fat around the belly can help you in a significant way when it comes to managing cholesterol. Being overweight or obese, your body might reduce the count of good cholesterol(HDL) and increase the count of triglycerides, which are not very healthy.

3. Lack of physical activity

Having a good appetite is not an issue as long as you are physically active enough to compensate that. In case, you do not have a physically active lifestyle that matches your food intake, it may lead to an increase in bad cholesterol(LDL) and bring down good cholesterol(HDL).

4. Age and gender

Once you cross 20 years of age, the cholesterol levels in your body begin to rise naturally. Cholesterol levels in men generally level off once they cross the age of 50. In the case of women, cholesterol levels keep a low profile until menopause, after which they hit the same levels as men.

5. Family history

An imbalance in your cholesterol can also be the result of your genes. In case both your parents and all your siblings have an issue managing their cholesterol, it is highly likely you will inherit it too.

6. Smoking

This might not come as much of a surprise. Cholesterol level imbalance is one of the several side effects of smoking.

7. Overall health

Make sure you take up a medical test annually to asses your entire body. Consult a doctor with the reports and look for signs of abnormalities that can cause the risk of diseases like diabetes and hypothyroidism since they can lead to an increase in your cholesterol level.

gif2

Also Read

Understanding PTSD in Kids: Key Signs and How to Help

After a traumatic event, it is natural for kids to feel anxious or scared. But when those feelings linger, it could be more than a phase. Just like adults, children, too, are prone to experiencing PTSD. The earlier the signs are detected, the sooner the child can receive support, which

Prevent Glaucoma With Regular Eye Exams

Even a dust particle can give your eyes such a hard time, causing them to shut without warning. Now, let us talk about glaucoma, the scariest part. You do not even realize it until it is too late. But here is the good news — we can prevent glaucoma. 1. Why

Thrombosis in Pregnancy: Your Body’s Silent Alarm

What strikes you as you imagine the pregnancy journey? All glowy skin? Wondering when that tiny little one inside is kicking and how it might feel! Planning to shop all those pretty outfits and baby necessities? I get you, mama! Here comes the but! The journey also has some unexpected

Hearing Aid: Tiny Tech with Big Impact

Hearing loss can have serious effects like difficulty in communicating with others or delayed language development in children. Such problems can lead to feelings of loneliness and frustration, particularly for older adults. The challenges caused by hearing loss can significantly affect a person’s social life and emotional well-being. But