High cholesterol symptoms: The unusual sensations felt in the arms, chest and breath

High cholesterol: Nutritionist reveals top prevention tips

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The body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones, vitamin D, and the bile acids that help to digest fat. It takes only a small amount of cholesterol in the blood to meet these needs. If a person has too much cholesterol in the bloodstream, the excess may be deposited along the walls of arteries, including the coronary arteries of the heart.

Having high cholesterol increases the risk of a blood clot developing somewhere in your body, warned the NHS.

The health body added: “Your risk of developing coronary heart disease also rises as your blood’s cholesterol level increases.

“This can cause pain in your chest or arm during stress or physical activity (angina).”

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High cholesterol can cause a dangerous accumulation of cholesterol and other deposits on the walls of your arteries (atherosclerosis).

These deposits can reduce blood flow through your arteries, which can cause complications including pain in different areas of the body.

Sometimes patients with a high cholesterol level will complain of body aches affecting their lives greatly.

Excess LDL builds up can also make a person feel tired or short of breath.

HDL vs LDL

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.

An ideal LDL cholesterol level should be less than 70 mg/dl, and a woman’s HDL cholesterol level ideally should be close to 50 mg/dl.

Triglycerides should be less than 150 mg/dl.

Lower levels

The first step in reducing your cholesterol is to maintain a healthy, balanced diet, said the NHS.

The health body continued: “It’s important to keep your diet low in fatty food.

“You can swap food containing saturated fat for fruit, vegetables and wholegrain cereals. This will also help prevent high cholesterol returning.

“Other lifestyle changes, such as taking regular exercise and giving up smoking, can also make a big difference in helping to lower your cholesterol.

“If these measures don’t reduce your cholesterol and you continue to have a high risk of developing heart disease, your GP may prescribe a cholesterol-lowering medication, such as statins.”

Carrying too much weight, particularly visceral fat around your belly, can raise LDL and lower HDL.

In general, a waist measurement of 35 inches or more for women and 40 inches or more for men could be a sign of trouble.

By losing just 10 percent of your weight, you could really help your numbers, possibly bringing them back to healthy levels.

Talk to your doctor about the best diet and exercise program to help you lose weight.

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