Thought about your cholesterol level? Sooner or later, you need to think about your body and how you should keep it healthy. Here is some useful information about cholesterol. And what are the signs of high cholesterol on face?
High cholesterol is a common health issue that can turn fatal and serious. When the cholesterol level surges to a potent level, it may block the arteries causing heart stroke, and other conditions such as blood pressure, diabetes, metabolic issues, and more.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the blood. People have the misconception that it is always bad. But cholesterol is needed to build cells and support other functions of the body such as making vitamins, hormones, etc. But when this cholesterol level rises to a harmful level, it begins getting stuck in your blood. Too much cholesterol can cause various problems. Firstly, it makes it hard for nutrient-rich and oxygenated blood to pass all over the body. Sometimes, these cholesterol deposits cut down and make a clot that leads to a heart attack.
Causes of Cholesterol
1. Many times, bad cholesterol occurs as a result of eating too many foods that are rich in trans and saturated fats. Food items that contain these foods are fried and processed snack foods.
2. Genetics can also contribute to high cholesterol. The condition can be passed down from one generation to another. There are some genes in our body that tell our body how to process fats and cholesterol. If your parents have high cholesterol, your chances of inheriting it are high.
3. Other factors that can affect high cholesterol are smoking, lack of physical activity, and health conditions like diabetes, thyroid, etc.
Signs of High Cholesterol on Face
One of the most common signs of high cholesterol on face is visible in the eyes. These symptoms are called Xanthelasma. It is the yellowish or whitish growth that occurs by the corner of your eyes. These are the lumps of fatty material that are usually soft. Other than high cholesterol, Xanthelasma can also be caused when you are a smoker, overweight, or have high diabetes.
Studies suggest that about half of the people who have Xanthelasma have cholesterol issues. And these are prevalent mostly in females.
Other Effects of Cholesterol
Besides the signs of high cholesterol on face, bad cholesterol also causes other troubles. Too much cholesterol in the blood can lead to heart stroke. It can disturb the blood flow that can have an impact on different parts of the brain, causing memory loss, difficulty in speech, and other mental functions.
How to lower your Cholesterol Levels?
1. Regular Exercise
Doing at least half an hour of exercise regularly is the best way to improve cholesterol levels. Any activity such as running, swimming, cycling, etc that raises heart rate is good for those with high cholesterol levels.
2. Choose healthy fat
Avoid trans and saturated food and adopt a healthy diet. Doctors recommend increasing the intake of fruits, vegetables, proteins, nuts, and seeds that should be low in sugar and trans fat. Go for monounsaturated healthy fats that are found in olive oil, almonds, avocados and more.
3. Include more fiber
Try to incorporate more fiber into your food. Fibers are soluble compounds that dissolve in the water but our body can’t digest. However, our intestine can digest these fibers to complete their nutrition needs. They help in producing good bacteria that contribute to lowering cholesterol levels.
4. Avoid smoking
Smoking increases the risk of various respiratory and heart diseases. The immunity falls in smokers as the immune cells find it hard to return cholesterol in blood vessels for carrying to the liver. This abnormal functioning may clog arteries.