What is Cholesterol? Symptoms, Causes, Levels, and Treatment

Cholesterol is a waxy lipid found in almost all parts of the body. It is necessary for maintaining physiological activities. Having cholesterol levels above what is considered normal in the body can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and vascular occlusions. The amount of cholesterol in the blood must be kept under control and habits should be adjusted accordingly.

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fat-like structure that plays a role in maintaining physiological activities in the body, such as the production of hormones. While some of the required cholesterol is produced by the liver, the rest is obtained from animal sources. Due to its lipid-like nature, cholesterol is found more densely in foods high in animal fats, such as egg yolks and red meat. Structures called lipoproteins are needed for cholesterol to be transported within the body and blood. Depending on the type of this structure, cholesterol is referred to as LDL and HDL.

Some of the functions of cholesterol that are prominent in maintaining vital activities in the body can be listed as follows:

It ensures the formation of the structure found on the cell membrane, which has selective permeability properties.

It is necessary for the secretion of bile from the liver, which plays a role in maintaining digestion.

It is involved in the production of hormones.

It functions during the production of vitamin D, which plays an important role in the health of structures such as bones, muscles, and teeth.

What Are the Symptoms of Cholesterol?

Cholesterol can cause some problems when it falls below or rises above the values it should be in the body. Minor fluctuations may be tolerated by the body. Having cholesterol at significantly low levels causes problems in physiological functioning. Failure to produce hormones correctly results in indirect effects. Having cholesterol levels well above what is considered normal also leads to the formation of plaques within the vessels. Plaques thicken and cause vascular occlusion. Care should be taken to keep blood cholesterol levels at the required levels. Although high cholesterol comes to mind when cholesterol complaints are mentioned, low cholesterol should not be ignored either.

What is High Cholesterol?

High cholesterol is the condition of having cholesterol above normal values in the blood. Usually, LDL cholesterol is the factor that constitutes high cholesterol. In some patients, high total cholesterol can also be considered high cholesterol. Symptoms of high cholesterol and triglycerides usually do not appear unless they cause a disease. Some of the high cholesterol symptoms that arise due to the complications it causes can be listed as follows:

Chest tightness: Plaque formation in the vessels that carry blood to the heart can lead to problems such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, and edema.

Heart attack: Plaques formed by cholesterol in the vessel can sometimes break off and drift, leading to clot formation. A clot settling in one of the heart vessels and stopping blood flow can cause a heart attack. During a heart attack, symptoms such as shortness of breath, numbness in the left arm, and pain in the left back area of the back can usually manifest.

Stroke: Clots that occur as a result of plaque rupture can occur when vessels in the brain are blocked. Symptoms such as partial paralysis and circulatory problems may be experienced.

Lifestyle changes are recommended as treatment before high cholesterol symptoms appear or as a precaution after symptoms appear. While foods with low cholesterol content are increased in the diet, sports and exercise may be recommended. When deciding on a diet, lists such as a 1-week cholesterol diet can be utilized with the help of a dietitian. In some patients, the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs may be preferred.

What is Low Cholesterol?

Low cholesterol can also be considered as low HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is also known as good cholesterol. Symptoms of low cholesterol are not clearly observed. However, low good cholesterol can accelerate the process of plaque formation within the vessel, increasing the risk of diseases such as stroke and heart attack associated with it.

Low cholesterol can be linked to genetic factors, habits, and lifestyle. Some of the conditions that lead to low HDL cholesterol are as follows:

Smoking can affect the functioning of HDL and lower its levels due to a substance called acrolein found in the content of cigarettes.

Insulin resistance can cause metabolic syndrome, which increases the likelihood of stroke and heart attack. In addition, it can lead to symptoms of low HDL and high LDL cholesterol in the body.

Low cholesterol can be experienced in people with Tangier disease and ApoA1 protein deficiency.

The use of drugs such as beta-blockers, androgens, and thiazide diuretics can result in a decrease in HDL levels.

Low LDL values due to bad cholesterol symptoms are generally a desired situation. Research on conditions arising due to low LDL is still ongoing. However, low LDL can be considered a sign of diseases such as diabetes and hemorrhagic stroke.

What Should Cholesterol Values Be?

When measuring cholesterol values, it is divided into different categories as LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol. An LDL cholesterol value can be considered safe when it is below 100 mg/dl for a healthy adult. However, in people who have had diseases such as atherosclerosis or heart attack, or who are at risk, the value should be kept below 70 mg/dl. While the HDL value should be above 40 mg/dl in men, this value is 50 mg/dl and above in women. In general, HDL values above 60 mg/dl can be considered healthy. A total blood cholesterol value below 200 mg/dl is considered normal. Values above 240 mg/dl can be expressed as high cholesterol.

Frequently Asked Questions

HDL cholesterol is an abbreviation for high-density lipoprotein. Lipoproteins with a carrier function bind excess fats in the blood and take them to the liver. For this reason, it is also known as good cholesterol among the public. The excess adipose tissue delivered to the liver is broken down and eliminated. Therefore, high HDL cholesterol can be considered an advantageous situation rather than a disease. The term LDL cholesterol is used to refer to low-density lipoproteins. These particles carry large amounts of fat molecules and deliver fats to cells. For this reason, it can also be called bad cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol result in it attaching to vessels while circulating inside them, creating plaque structures. The narrowing that occurs in the vessels can cause disturbances in blood flow and clot formation. The most important step to lower cholesterol values is lifestyle change. It is aimed to reduce daily fat intake by applying a cholesterol-lowering diet. A diet in which vegetables, fruits, and whole grains are consumed more intensely and animal fats are not present can help control cholesterol. In addition, losing weight and exercising are also effective in getting rid of stored adipose tissue in the body. Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption improves overall health. In some patients, cholesterol levels are very high, and a faster intervention is needed. In these patients, the regular use of cholesterol-lowering drugs is necessary.

High cholesterol at a young age is as dangerous as it is in the elderly. For this reason, lifestyle change is preferred as a precaution, especially in overweight children. Although high cholesterol during pregnancy also poses a problem, diet can be regulated since drug use is not recommended for pregnant women. HDL cholesterol value is considered normal when it is above 50 mg/dl in women and above 40 mg/dl in men. In general, it can be thought that people with HDL cholesterol above 60 mg/dl have a lower risk of heart attack and stroke. In people without any additional diseases, LDL values of less than 100 mg/dl can be considered normal. However, in patients who have previously experienced problems such as stroke, vascular occlusion, or vascular narrowing, the LDL value should be kept below 70 mg/dl. Cholesterol-lowering drugs are usually resorted to in these patients. VDL cholesterol defines carrier lipoproteins with very low density. These structures, like LDL, play a role in the transport of triglyceride and cholesterol molecules to cells. For this reason, it is expressed as bad cholesterol. High VDL values also increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The total cholesterol value is an indicator of the total amount of cholesterol in the blood. To calculate total cholesterol, the amounts of HDL and LDL must be added. The total cholesterol value should be kept below 200 mg/dl in an adult human. There is no definitive evidence that high cholesterol is linked to experiencing headaches. However, experiencing headaches is a very common situation in cholesterol patients. The reason for this may be that the conditions that cause high cholesterol also trigger headaches. Situations such as poor nutrition, stress, diabetes, and alcohol and cigarette consumption can affect both cholesterol and headache problems. HDL cholesterol can be raised with lifestyle changes. Reaching a healthy weight can pull HDL values up. Weight loss can be achieved through sports, healthy and regular nutrition. Limiting smoking and alcohol consumption can also positively affect HDL values. Low HDL cholesterol can be experienced due to genetic factors. The absence or low presence of the apoA1 protein, which plays an active role in HDL production, reduces HDL formation. Tangier disease and hereditary hyperlipidemia problems can also cause HDL cholesterol values. Conditions such as high weight, smoking, and insulin resistance also lower HDL cholesterol.

You can make an appointment with our expert Cardiology specialists immediately to find out if your cholesterol values are within normal ranges, to evaluate your risks, and to create a personalized treatment plan. Early diagnosis is a critical step in protecting against cardiovascular diseases.