What’s A Top Contributor To Heart Attack Or Stroke But Has No Symptoms?
Both heart attack and stroke are serious medical emergencies that can prove to be fatal for anyone.
What Is A Heart Attack?
A heart attack, scientifically known as a Myocardial infarction occurs when the flow of oxygenated blood to the heart is stopped. The blockage can happen due to various reasons, for example; a blood clot or a build-up of fat which hinders the blood flow.
What Is A Stroke?
A stroke, on the other hand, is when the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain is interrupted or cut off completely. This could be due to either a clog or a rupture in the blood vessel that supplies blood and oxygen to the brain.
Regardless of the condition timely first aid and medical treatment could save some one’s life.
Why Are These Two Conditions So Deadly?
The heart and the brain are two crucial organs in the human body. No one can survive without them. As mentioned above both the heart attack and the stroke are critical medical conditions because they directly affect these organs. Where one results in the death of the heart muscle, the other causes the death of brain cells.
According to research, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death. Among these deaths, approximately 84% are caused by heart attacks. Following this is the stroke which, according to the World Stroke Organisation claims 5.8 million lives annually.
What Is The Silent Killer?
The good news is that both these emergencies can be avoided. They have a prognosis, and you can avoid them by taking care of your health and recognizing the symptoms. However, there is one contributor that goes unnoticed. The reason for this is because it produces no apparent symptoms.
The name of this silent killer is cholesterol. Cholesterol is basically a substance that your liver produces and is sourced by the fat in your diet. Cholesterol has a very important role in our body; it is used to create other substances such as hormones, Vitamin D and cells.
The Two Types Of Cholesterol
Just like a coin has two sides, cholesterol does too. There is the good cholesterol also referred to as High-density Lipoproteins or HDL. This kind of cholesterol actually decreases the risk of a heart attack or a stroke. Its main feature is transporting the bad cholesterol back to the liver. Various foods are rich in HDL including olive oil, fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains and other healthy foods.
The bad type of cholesterol is called low-density lipoproteins or LDL. What this type of cholesterol does is that it builds up in your arteries. This can be very dangerous as it makes the arteries narrow hindering the regular flow of blood which then can ultimately lead to a heart attack or a stroke. Saturated fats can increase the levels of LDL in your body.
What Does High Cholesterol Do To Your Body?
High cholesterol level can be healthy if it’s the right type of cholesterol. However, if you have a high level of bad cholesterol, then that definitely poses a problem. The most dangerous thing about a high level of cholesterol is that it has no symptoms. It could be adversely affecting your body, and you will not even notice. The only way to actually find out the level of cholesterol in your body is a blood test. Medical professionals recommend that a test be carried out every four to six years.
As mentioned before, bad cholesterol clogs the arteries, making blood flow difficult. Not only can this cause a heart attack or a stroke, but it can also cause chest pains. Other ways high LDL cholesterol can affect your body include reduced blood flow, memory problems, gallstones and can even cause stomach pains.
Causes Of High LDL Cholesterol
The problem of high LDL cholesterol can be genetic. Meaning you can inherit it from your parents; however, lifestyle also plays a major role. Some of the key factors that contribute greatly to high levels of cholesterol are as listed below.
• Smoking
Smoking in itself is a great issue that many people struggle with. Not only do cigarettes contribute to increasing bad cholesterol, but they also cause many other health issues for example; cancer, respiratory diseases, vision loss, diabetes and many more.
Cigarette smoke has a substance called Acrolein which impairs the enzyme which keeps the LDL intact. Without this enzyme, the LDL molecule will oxidize which will cause its molecular structure to change. Due to this the body no longer recognizes it as LDL. Therefore, it takes preventive action binding it to where it was in the bloodstream, and that results in a build-up.
• Unhealthy Diet
Diet is another factor you should be careful of. If you eat an unhealthy and unbalanced diet which does not include all the food groups, you can directly contribute to high levels of LDL. Eating excess saturated fats and trans fat can increase the level of total cholesterol. Total cholesterol includes both HDL and LDL. If LDL levels surpass the HDL level, that increases the risk of health issues.
• Exercise
Exercise is essential for a healthy life. It helps boosts HDL levels. High HDL levels mean that there are more carriers that take LDL back to the liver.
How To Prevent/Reduce High Cholesterol Levels
You can take numerous steps to reduce or completely avoid high levels of LDL in your body. First and foremost is fixing your diet. You must cut down on the saturated and trans fats. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables will also help reduce LDL levels. This will ultimately reduce the risk of a heart attack or a stroke.
Furthermore, cut down on all unhealthy practices such as smoking and drinking alcohol on excess. Exercising regularly will also help as it reduces the extra pounds and decreases build ups. If you have a family history of high cholesterol, then be sure to visit the doctor regularly to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
