30 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | OCTOBER 2024
Diseases linked to high cholesterol
High cholesterol is an issue that affects millions of people . Johns Hopkins Medicine says roughly 71 million Americans have high cholesterol . Recent Manulife drug claims data indicates the number of Canadians ages 19 to 24 taking medication for cardiovascular conditions has increased by 35 percent over the past four years , and the number of people 17 years and younger taking medication for cardiovascular conditions increased by 17 percent . Cholesterol and certain proteins known as lipoproteins are necessary for the body to function normally . Cholesterol testing measures total cholesterol , high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL ) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL ). When LDL is elevated in the body , that can raise a person ’ s risk for various health conditions .
1 . Peripheral artery disease : PAD is a hardening of arteries in the legs or arms that causes reduced blood flow to these areas of the body .
2 . High blood pressure : Cholesterol and hypertension are linked . Cholesterol plaque and calcium can cause the arteries to harden and narrow so the heart has to strain to pump blood throughout the body , indicates the Cleveland Clinic .
3 . Coronary heart disease : The main risk from high cholesterol is coronary heart disease , says WebMD . Again , cholesterol plaque can build up in the walls of the arteries and cause them to harden and restrict blood flow . Eventually arteries that feed blood to the heart can cause a partial or total blockage . Heart attack can occur if the blood is completely restricted .
4 . Stroke : Arteries in the brain can become blocked by plaque in the blood , potentially leading to a stroke . High cholesterol is a cause for concern that can adversely affect the cardiovascular system .
30 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | OCTOBER 2024