Cholesterol is one of the most common ailments in our society since our diet is increasingly compromised by the pace of life so frantic that we lead that it does not allow us to eat well. Lack of time, fatigue or stress can cause us not to have too much time to cook and, therefore, we end up consuming canned, pre-cooked food or fast food. This malpractice at the time of eating causes us to fill our body with harmful elements such as transgenic fat, toxins, etc. and, all this, can cause the appearance of diseases such as high cholesterol.
In this article, we are going to tell you how to know if you have high cholesterol by discovering the most common symptoms of this condition and, in addition, we will also discover what to do to lower cholesterol.
What is cholesterol?
You should know that cholesterol is a fat that is part of the cells of our body and, therefore, we have it naturally in our body. Its presence is necessary because it helps us to improve the functioning of the organism since it intervenes in the formation of bile acids that contribute to differing fats. However, the presence of cholesterol in our body must be controlled to prevent us from starting to feel its adverse effects; nothing in excess is healthy and, even less, cholesterol.
Among the consequences that high cholesterol can bring us, we highlight failures in the functioning of the liver, blockage of the arteries and, therefore, problems with blood circulation and failures in the cardiovascular system. It is for this reason that it is essential to control cholesterol levels and, if we have it high, start working to lower it and balance it again.
Good cholesterol and bad cholesterol
The HDL or good cholesterol is called with this adjective because it is responsible for collecting cholesterol that is not used to take it to the liver, an organ that is responsible for eliminating it. It is created in a natural way by our body and it is best to have levels higher than 60 mg / dl although, the more we have, the better because it is responsible for regulating the presence of the bad.
The LDL or bad cholesterol is the one that accumulates in the arteries and, therefore, hinders the correct blood flow causing it not to reach the heart correctly or, therefore, towards the main vital organs. The optimum level of high cholesterol should be less than 100 mg / dl to be able to have a strong health and in perfect condition.
Symptoms of high cholesterol: the most common
To know if you have high cholesterol we have to know the most frequent symptoms of this condition. Although you should keep in mind that the signs that appear may be confused with other situations and that, sometimes, they may not appear or barely feel, for this reason in a How we recommend that to know exactly if you have cholesterol go to a doctor so that perform an analysis and examine your results.
There is no specific symptom that indicates that we have high cholesterol but, rather, it is a set of conditions that can reveal that there is something inside us that is not working properly.
However, specialists have determined that there are a set of symptoms of high cholesterol that, in general, are usually repeated in patients with this situation. They are the following:
- Discomfort and feeling of heaviness in the area of the liver and gallbladder
- Another sign of high cholesterol is suffering from dry mouth and / or halitosis
- If you have trouble digesting food or feel heavy in your stomach, it may be because you have cholesterol
- Having indigestion after eating or having excess gas can also be an indicator that cholesterol levels are high.
- People with high cholesterol often suffer from constipation or difficulty evacuating
- If new food intolerances appear or you feel that a lot of food does not feel quite right, it is probably because you have cholesterol
- This condition can also cause the appearance of hives or itching in the dermis.
- By not flowing the blood correctly, another of the symptoms of cholesterol is suffering from headaches or even migraines
- Lack of blood supply can also affect our balance and, therefore, it is common for patients to feel dizzy or dizzy.
- Another very common symptom is that the limbs swell or fall asleep more frequently than usual; the reason is that the blood does not run normally
As you can see, all these symptoms of high cholesterol can also be related to other conditions and for this reason it is difficult to notice this condition without an analytical or without a doctor’s exam.
But it should be noted that there is a sign that is related mainly to the suffering of high cholesterol: the appearance of small yellow bumps around the eye. These lumps are known medically by the name of “xanthomas” and if you realize that you have them on your face, it is quite likely that it is due to an imbalance of cholesterol levels.
Lower cholesterol naturally
Anyway, as we have already indicated, to know if you have high cholesterol it is essential that you perform a blood test because it is the most reliable way to determine your health status. If, in fact, you have high levels, it is important that you start changing your lifestyle habits to improve your body’s health and rebalance its levels.
Among the best methods to lower cholesterol naturally we highlight the following:
Bet on healthy eating
The first thing you have to do is change you’re eating habits and bet on ones that are healthier. For this reason, you should reduce the intake of fatty, fried, battered, sugary foods, etc., and failing to include nutritious and fresh products. A diet based on lean meats, fish, complex carbohydrates and fruits and vegetables is vital to reduce levels.
Exercise regularly
It is also essential that you start activating your body to exercise your cardiovascular system and improve blood pumping. In this sense, it is recommended that you start doing cardio exercises such as running, cycling, aerobic classes, etc., since these activities activate the circulation and manage to purify the blood.
Reduce tobacco and alcohol
It is important that you eliminate as much as you can the consumption of tobacco, alcohol or any type of drug because these products contain toxins that can block the arteries and, therefore, worsen, even more, our cardiovascular system.
Move to olive oil
This product contains healthy fats and, therefore, is perfect for improving the cardiovascular system and thus fighting against the harmful effects of cholesterol. It helps to increase the presence of good cholesterol in the blood and, therefore, is a potent ally to reduce the presence of the bad one. With 2 tablespoons of olive oil a day you will be able to strengthen your health in a 100% natural way.
Infusions to lower cholesterol
Some medicinal plants also have perfect properties to help us balance cholesterol levels. Among them we highlight the benefits of dandelion that helps reduce toxins in our body and regulate cholesterol; the same goes for red tea, which contains lovastatin, a component that lowers bad cholesterol.