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Cholesterol and Peripheral Vascular Disease

The presence of cholesterol in the blood is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. It can be a result of cardiovascular heart diseases, stroke or peripheral vascular illness. It is also associated with high blood pressure and diabetes. In all instances the reason for high cholesterol is that it results in fatty plaques that accumulate in blood vessels throughout the body.

To avoid or treat these ailments, consult your physician. Also, you can take easy steps to aid in lowering your cholesterol levels and increase your chance of getting the aforementioned diseases.

Cholesterol as well as Coronary Heart Disease

The most significant risk associated with excessive cholesterol levels is heart attack that can cause the death of an attack on the heart. If your cholesterol levels are excessively high, cholesterol may build up inside the walls in your arterial walls. In time, this accumulation known as plaque causes the hardening of arteries, which is known as atherosclerosis. The blood vessels that supply the heart may become narrowed in particular regions (focal shrinking) and reduce the flow of blood to that muscle. Cholesterol plaques break up and move into smaller blood vessels, and result in a complete or partial blockage. In some cases, inflammatory cells may move to the plaque, causing a shrinking of the area. A decrease in blood flow could cause chest pain known as angina, or even heart attacks in the event that a blood vessel becomes completely blocked.

Cholesterol and Stroke

Cholesterol plaques aren’t only lining the blood vessels inside the heart and around it however, they also block certain arterial routes that go towards your brain. If the blood vessel that carries oxygen to your brain has been completely blocked it could result in stroke.

Cholesterol, and Peripheral Vascular Disease

Alongside your brain and heart the cholesterol plaque could cause problems in your legs as well as other regions beyond your heart and your brain (peripheral cardiovascular disease). Feet and legs are among the typically affected. You may notice tightness in your calves as you walk. They will get better after a break. It’s similar to anginaIt works in exactly the same way, but it’s on your legs, not your heart.

Cholesterol and Diabetes

The effects of diabetes can disrupt the balance between the levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol as well as LDL also known as “bad” cholesterol. Patients with diabetes tend to be prone to LDL particles that are stuck to the arteries and can damage the blood vessel walls more quickly. Glucose (a kind of sugar) is a lipoprotein that attaches to it (a cholesterol-protein bundle that allows cholesterol to move across blood). Sugar-coated LDL is present in bloodstreams for longer and can help to prevent plaque develop. Patients with diabetes, particularly those with type 2 diabetes may suffer from low HDL and elevated triglyceride (another type of fat in the blood) levels. Both of these can increase the risk of developing heart and coronary artery disease.

Cholesterol and high blood pressure

While the high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) may be related with cholesterol, experts are still studying the exact mechanism. Too high cholesterol is believed to cause inflammation, and release of hormones that cause blood vessels to contract (or “constrict” and thus raise blood pressure. Doctors refer to it as “endothelial dysfunction” when blood vessels behave in this manner.

The high blood pressure can also be connected to heart disease.

Cholesterol , Erectile Dysfunction and Cholesterol

Erectile dysfunction occurs when a man doesn’t have or keep an erection throughout sexual activity. In the long run high cholesterol may cause a narrowing of the blood vessels that are smaller in the penis, which are supposed to stretch to permit more blood to flow for to have an intimate erection (endothelial dysfunction once again). Furthermore, when you’re a victim of excessive LDL cholesterol it could accumulate in arteries and later join with other substances to form plaque , which hardens and narrows the blood vessels of others (atherosclerosis). This can result in less flow of blood to the penis and the heart and can cause Erectile dysfunction.

5 steps to lower cholesterol and the Risks of Related Diseases

A few easy adjustments can lower the cholesterol in your body and decrease the risk of developing conditions related to high cholesterol.

Consult with a professional for suggestions on how to improve your lifestyle. Your physician can assist you develop the right program for healthy eating and exercising.

Give your diet a makeover. Choose foods such as oatmeal, walnutsand salmon, tuna, sardines and tofu. Avoid foods that contain high levels of saturated and trans fats, as well as simple sugars.

No smoking. It reduces cholesterol levels “good” (HDL) cholesterol. If you cut it out it, you’ll be more likely to have it. There are many other benefits to your body in general.

Move! Even small amount of physical activity, such as one hour per day of walking vigorously can help you manage your weight. It can also help with other conditions that can put your heart at risk of disease, including high blood pressure and diabetes. Exercise can reduce the levels of triglycerides and also increase cholesterol levels. It can also increase your “good” (HDL) cholesterol levels. Both are beneficial for your heart.

You should take your medication. Your physician may prescribe medications to lower cholesterol. Follow the directions for taking them. Questions? Talk to your pharmacist or doctor.