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High Cholesterol levels cause a stroke

Cholesterol is an organic compound, a natural fatty (lipophilic) substance. It is insoluble in water, soluble in fats and organic solvents. About 80% of cholesterol is produced by the body itself (liver, intestines, kidneys, adrenals, sex glands), the remaining 20% comes from food. The body contains 80% of free and 20% of bound cholesterol. Cholesterol provides stability of cell membranes in a wide range of temperatures. It is necessary for the production of vitamin D, production of various steroid hormones by the adrenal glands, including cortisol, cortisone, aldosterone, estrogens and progesterone (female sex hormones), testosterone (male sex hormone).

Cholesterol can also be found in food, namely in eggs, meat and dairy products.

As cholesterol is insoluble in water, it cannot be delivered to the body tissues with the help of water-based blood in its pure form. Instead, cholesterol is present in the blood as highly soluble complex compounds combined with special transport protein, the so-called apolipoproteins. Such complex compounds are called lipoproteins.

There are two types of lipoproteins: high-density and low-density.

Low-density lipoproteins are often called "bad". They are prone to precipitation of cholesterol crystals and to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the blood vessels, thereby increasing the risk of heart attack or ischemic stroke, as well as other cardiovascular complications. Also, the plaque formation causes transient ischemic attack, the symptoms of which usually go away within 24 hours.

High-density lipoproteins are called "good lipoproteins." The high content of HDL in the blood is characteristic of a healthy body and therefore they are called "good". High-molecular lipoproteins are highly soluble and are not prone to precipitate cholesterol. Thus, they protect the vessels from atherosclerotic changes (i.e, they are not atherogenic). The high levels of this kind of cholesterol reduce the risk of a stroke.

High levels of cholesterol or platelets in the blood have a detrimental effect on blood circulation and normal blood flow to the brain, which leads to a stroke and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis that are risk factors for stroke.

There are a number of factors that affect the level of cholesterol in the blood. Some of them can be changed by a person him/herself, while others cannot be changed.

Here are some of the factors the person can change on their own::

  • Nutrition. It is necessary to exclude foods rich in cholesterol and fat from your diet.
  • Weight. Excess weight leads to an increased cholesterol levels.
  • Physical activities. People who lead a passive lifestyle also suffer from high cholesterol.

The factors that cannot be changed:

  • Genetic predisposition. If someone in the family has suffered from this disease, there is a chance that it will develop in other family members.
  • Age. Most people have high cholesterol levels up to the age of 65.
  • Sex. Women under 50 are less likely to suffer from high cholesterol levels than those who have had the menopause period.

To avoid various kinds of complications, it is necessary to control cholesterol levels in the blood. Therefore, people aged 20 years and over should be examined at least once every five years. Men over the age of 45 and women over 55 years should do it more often. People with a genetic predisposition should control cholesterol levels.

To keep normal cholesterol levels, one should follow a healthy diet, eat low-calorie foods (vegetables, fruits, lean meat, dairy products) and give up fried foods.


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