High cholesterol: Nutritionist reveals top prevention tips
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It’s imperative to monitor cholesterol levels regularly to lower the risk of heart diseases and blockages in the blood vessels. High cholesterol levels typically don’t cause any symptoms, and, in most cases, they only cause emergency events. However, two lesser-known warning signs of your risk can include frequent headaches in the back of the head or pain in the hands or feet.
Frequent headache in the back of the head
The blockage of blood vessels in the area around the head causes a headache in the back of the head, said Medicover Hospitals.
The health site continued: “This occurs when the blood vessels are clogged by the cholesterol plaque.
“If this is left unchecked, the blood vessels can rupture and cause a stroke.”
READ MORE: High cholesterol: Three symptoms found in your eyes
Pain in the hands or feet
Accumulation of cholesterol can clog the blood vessels of legs and hands.
This build-up of cholesterol can occur continuously and make the hands and feet painful.
A tingling sensation felt in these body regions could also indicate your levels are dangerously high.
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HDL or LDL
HDL is known as “good cholesterol” because it transports cholesterol to your liver to be expelled from your body.
HDL helps rid your body of excess cholesterol so it’s less likely to end up in your arteries.
LDL is called “bad cholesterol” because it takes cholesterol to your arteries, where it may collect in artery walls.
Too much cholesterol in your arteries may lead to a build-up of plaque known as atherosclerosis.
This can increase the risk of blood clots in your arteries. If a blood clot breaks away and blocks an artery in your heart or brain, you may have a stroke or heart attack.
How to diagnose high cholesterol
Unfortunately, most people will not experience symptoms of high cholesterol, so the only way to measure blood cholesterol levels is to get a blood test.
“Your GP or practice nurse will take a blood sample, usually by pricking your finger or you might be asked to go for a blood test at your local hospital,” explains the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
According to the BHF, your blood is then checked for levels of good (HDL) cholesterol, bad (non-HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides (another type of blood fat), as well as getting a total cholesterol result.
HDL cholesterol is often dubbed the “good” cholesterol because it counters the harmful effects of LDL cholesterol.
Foods high in saturated fat include:
Pies
Fried foods
Sausages and fatty cuts of meat
Butter.
Instead, you should aim to follow a Mediterranean-style diet, advises the NHS.
This means eating more bread, fruit, vegetables and fish, and less meat.
“Replace butter and cheese with products based on vegetable and plant oil, such as olive oil,” adds the NHS.
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