High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is made up of fatty substances called lipids found naturally in the human body. It is a vital building block of our cells and makes up part of the outer layer of our cell membranes, insulates nerve cells and is instrumental in the production of hormones. Cholesterol is transported within the body by lipoproteins. Those that take it towards organs and cells are known as low-density lipoproteins (LDL), while those that transport cholesterol to the liver to broken down and excreted are high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Ideally HDL ('good cholesterol') levels should be higher than LDL ('bad cholesterol') in your body. People with high cholesterol have high levels of LDL and/or triglycerides in their blood. Triglycerides are the fatty substances that our body uses for energy, but if they are not used as energy they are stored in our body's fat reserves. Having too high a level of triglycerides in your blood is generally a cause for concern.

If more cholesterol is being transported to cells within the body than is being taken away, it can cause a build-up within arteries that can place a sufferer's health in significant risk.

High cholesterol isn't just the result of consuming food containing a high level of cholesterol, but could also be the consequence of an unhealthy diet, obesity and lifestyle factors, such as excessive drinking and lack of exercise. Some groups of people may also have an elevated risk of developing high cholesterol because of an existing health condition, such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, underactive thyroid gland, kidney disease and liver disease.

Cholesterol can run in families and you may be more likely to develop it because of genetic factors. Age is also an unchangeable risk factor and for many people the likelihood of developing high cholesterol becomes more probable as they grow older.

Symptoms of high cholesterol aren't immediately obvious and this condition only becomes noticeable when serious health conditions start to develop. It is therefore vital that LDL numbers in your system are monitored regularly.

You will likely be tested for high cholesterol if you:

• Are obese or overweight
• Have high blood pressure
• Have diabetes
• Have had a stroke
• Have a kidney condition
• Are over the age of 40
• Have a family history of high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease

The treatment for high cholesterol will depend on the level of LDL, HDL and triglycerides in your body and how close you are to developing coronary heart disease or stroke. A doctor will also look at your total cholesterol divided by your HDL levels, as well as your weight, family history and ethnicity when assessing which course of treatment will be the best option for you. If you have high blood cholesterol due to an existing health condition such as hypertension, getting treatment for it can be helpful.

Diet, exercise and lifestyle changes

A healthy diet and exercise accompanied by appropriate lifestyle changes are usually some of the first treatment methods recommended. A healthy diet should encompass food from all major food groups and as little as possible foods that are high in saturated fat. Triglyceride levels tend to be elevated by alcohol, so minimising intake of alcohol is also usually helpful in lowering cholesterol levels in the body, while exercise increases HDL that can remove excess cholesterol from your system.

Prescription medication

However if your life is at serious risk or these methods aren't producing the required results, medications may have to be considered. These are:

Statins – Statins prevent the liver from producing cholesterol, by blocking the enzyme that's key in its production, this means that there is less cholesterol being transported from the liver to other cells.

Nicacin – This B vitamin has been proven to lower LDL and triglyceride levels in the blood and increase HDL. It is not commonly recommended because of its potential to cause side effects.

Ezetimibe – This medication prevents cholesterol from being absorbed from food during the digestion process and can also be used in conjunction with statins.

Aspirin – Taking aspirin daily has the potential to prevent blood clots from forming.

Listed below are some methods that can be followed when attempting to prevent high cholesterol:

• Lowering salt (sodium) levels in your diet to prevent the stretching of arteries and the tearing of blood vessel walls
• Exercising regularly for 30mins a day whilst maintaining a healthy diet to reduce LDL and increase HDL
• Quit smoking, which can also benefit your overall health

Taking an effective high cholesterol treatment alongside a diet and exercise regime can ensure that you can safely and effectively lower cholesterol levels. We at OnlineClinic offer a wide variety of medications to treat high cholesterol, including Simvastatin, Crestor, Fluvastatin, Lipitor, Pravastatin, Atorvastatin, Lescol, Lipostat and Zocor. By taking one of these treatments you can lower cholesterol levels and avoid serious conditions linked with high cholesterol, such as heart disease or a stroke. You can buy any of these treatments at OnlineClinic after completing a quick and secure online consultation. To learn more about the medications we have to offer, please refer to their respective product pages.