Health problems due to high cholesterol

Cholesterol is one of the fatty substances needed by the body. However, if the amount is too much in the blood, you can experience high cholesterol. This condition can cause various other diseases that are even worse if not treated immediately. Then, what diseases might you experience due to high cholesterol? Check out the various diseases that can be complications of cholesterol below.

Various diseases that may occur due to high cholesterol

The amount of cholesterol that is too high in the blood is not good for health. The following are other health problems that may arise due to cholesterol that is too high, for example:

1. Chest pain (angina)

One of the conditions you may experience due to high cholesterol is chest pain or what is commonly called angina. Chest pain generally occurs because the heart muscle does not get oxygen-rich blood as needed.

This may occur due to too high cholesterol levels in the blood accumulating in the arteries to form plaque. These plaques block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart. That is why blood cannot reach the heart and causes pain in the chest.

Often times, when you feel pain in your chest due to plaque buildup in your arteries, you may also experience various symptoms of other coronary heart disease.

2. Coronary heart disease

According to the National, Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, one of the complications that may occur due to high cholesterol is coronary heart disease. One of the symptoms of this disease is chest pain, another condition that complicates cholesterol.

This condition occurs due to a buildup of plaque that is formed from excess cholesterol levels in the blood. These plaques accumulate in the coronary arteries, thus blocking the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart.

When the heart muscle does not get the blood intake according to its needs, the heart cannot function normally. Unfortunately, often this condition doesn't cause any symptoms, until you feel symptoms that are quite severe such as chest pain, heart attack, or sudden cardiac arrest.

Usually, when you experience this condition, your doctor will recommend that you change your lifestyle to be healthier. For example, doing exercise that is good for the heart, practicing a healthy diet for the heart, and various ways to prevent various other heart diseases.

3.Carotid artery disease (carotid artery disease)

Each individual has two carotid arteries located at the back of the neck. These two arteries are the way for blood to go to the brain. Unfortunately, cholesterol levels that are too high can be the cause of carotid artery disease.

Yes, this condition is one of several diseases that can complicate cholesterol. The reason is, the buildup of plaque in the carotid arteries can occur due to cholesterol that is too high in the blood.

Similar to the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, the buildup in the carotid arteries can also block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the brain, face, scalp, and neck. Of course, this condition is classified as serious because it can cause a stroke.

Stroke can occur when blood flow to the brain is obstructed. If this condition lasts more than a few minutes, the cells in the brain will slowly die. This condition causes several parts of the body to be controlled by cells in the brain.

If a stroke has occurred, permanent brain damage may occur, interfering with the ability to see and speak. In severe cases, stroke patients may be immobilized and die.

4.Peripheral artery disease (peripheral artery disease)

Peripheral artery disease can also result from high cholesterol. As with other arterial diseases, peripheral arteries may occur due to plaque buildup in the peripheral arteries. This causes a blockage that blocks blood flow to the head, body organs, and other limbs.

This blockage occurs because the arteries are narrowed because there is a buildup of plaque in the arteries. This of course restricts the flow of oxygen-rich blood to other organs and body parts.

Generally, peripheral artery disease affects the arteries in the legs. However, it is possible that this condition causes problems with blood flow to the arms, kidneys, and also the stomach.

Of course you should not underestimate the conditions that occur due to high cholesterol on this one. The reason is, peripheral artery disease often goes unnoticed. In fact, it's not uncommon for people to mistake peripheral artery symptoms for something else.

Not to mention, not a few medical experts have missed and failed to diagnose this condition. In fact, patients who experience conditions that occur due to high cholesterol have a higher risk of coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.

If peripheral artery disease is tolerated and not treated promptly, patients experiencing it may have to undergo amputation.

5. Heart attack

One of the risk factors that can cause a heart attack is high cholesterol levels. When cholesterol levels are high, cholesterol will form plaque and accumulate in the arteries. The buildup causes blood flow to the heart to become obstructed and causes coronary heart disease (CHD).

If CHD is not treated properly, the patient will experience a heart attack. When a heart attack occurs, the part of the heart that doesn't get blood will slowly die. The problem is, high cholesterol has specific symptoms. Symptoms of high cholesterol will only appear if the patient has experienced complications, one example of which is the symptoms of a heart attack.

Therefore, before experiencing various health problems due to high cholesterol, you are advised to regularly check cholesterol levels. That way, you can more easily control cholesterol levels in the blood and keep cholesterol normal.

6. Stroke

One of the health problems caused by high cholesterol that may occur is a stroke. This one health problem occurs when blood flow to the brain becomes blocked. Of course the brain cannot receive the amount of oxygen-rich blood it needs.

This blockage can occur when excess cholesterol levels form plaque and accumulate in the carotid arteries. Yes, other problems such as carotid artery disease can also cause strokes to occur.

Without the oxygen and nutrients it needs, the cells in the brain will die in a matter of minutes. This condition is classified as serious, because if you don't get immediate treatment, the health problems that can occur due to high cholesterol can cause permanent brain damage, disability, and even death.

Symptoms of a stroke can range from mild symptoms to paralysis or numbness on one side of the body and face. Other symptoms include severe headaches, weakness, and the inability to see and speak normally.

7.Sudden cardiac arrest (sudden cardiac arrest)

There are also health problems that can also occur due to high cholesterol, one of which is sudden cardiac arrest. When experiencing this condition, the heart stops beating suddenly. If this happens, blood will stop flowing to the brain and all vital organs.

One of the causes of sudden cardiac arrest is coronary heart disease (CHD). As previously mentioned, coronary heart disease can occur when there is a buildup of plaque that blocks the arteries. This results in the flow of oxygen-rich blood unable to reach the heart.

This blockage occurs because the cholesterol level in the blood is too high. Excess cholesterol will form plaques which later accumulate in the arteries. If coronary heart disease is ignored and not treated promptly, the patient can experience a heart attack. If this condition is not treated promptly, it can develop into sudden cardiac arrest which can lead to death.

Therefore, if you want to prevent various health problems that occur due to high cholesterol, you should check your cholesterol levels regularly, at least once every five years.

For those of you who have reached old age, it is advisable to routinely have cholesterol levels checked every two years. This helps you control the various causes and risk factors that can lead to high cholesterol levels in the blood.