In general, Women in their 50s and above are at a higher risk of developing high cholesterol. Cholesterol is a fatty lipid that is produced in the liver. The liver releases three main types of cholesterol in the bloodstream. They include high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides. Moreover, These are fatty substances that do not dissolve in the blood, and they move through the bloodstream.
Individuals with high levels of cholesterol are more prone to health issues such as heart disease, atherosclerosis (hardening of blood vessels), and high blood pressure (hypertension). Such individuals are also susceptible to heart attack or stroke.
Those with high cholesterol may not even be aware that it is causing gradual health damage. Such individuals do not show any symptoms of cholesterol because it slowly leads to the accumulation of plaque in the blood vessels and when the condition deteriorates. Only then they may begin to experience some issues with their health.
Factors causing high cholesterol in women
Regardless of age, every woman must take care of their health and take measures to prevent the menace of cholesterol. But for eliminating the risk of high cholesterol and its complications, one must become aware of the factors that lead to high cholesterol. Given below are some reasons why your cholesterol levels increase:
Unhealthy eating habits
Equally important, Meals that have high amounts of saturated fats are extremely health-damaging. Such meals can include fried, processed, and junk foods. They lack nutritional value and are loaded with saturated or trans fat. Unhealthy fat leads to a rise in cholesterol levels in the blood. Your liver produces cholesterol from saturated or trans fat, which gets released into the bloodstream.
The cholesterol fat sticks to the inner walls of your blood vessels due to its wax-like form. More fat gets deposited on the walls of the blood vessels and it causes a gradual build-up of plaque. Likewise, The plaque blocks the flow of blood through the arteries.
One must be conscious of what they choose to eat. Likewise, It is necessary to give up foods that increase cholesterol levels and potentiate the risk of heart damage. For that, you need to consume a high-quality diet. Which is free from unhealthy fat and has high nutritional content.
No exercise
Lack of physical activity can have a major impact on your health. Likewise, Exercising is necessary, as it increases your heart’s endurance, improves your blood circulation, and helps you to burn extra fat. Exercising regularly can boost your HDL or good cholesterol levels. Which reduces the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood.
HDL carries the bad cholesterol (LDL) to the liver again, in this way, the liver eliminates the bad cholesterol from the body and prevents any health associated with increased LDL cholesterol. Therefore, you must engage in regular physical activity. It can be as simple as walking, jogging, running, bicycling, or dancing. Staying physically active will bring down your cholesterol levels and will eventually improve your quality of life.
Overweight and obesity
In overweight individuals, the liver produces more cholesterol compared to average-weighted individuals. The accumulation of cholesterol fat in the blood vessels happens rapidly due to high levels of LDL. The plaque formation hinders the flow of blood through the vascular passages. Therefore, obese, and overweight individuals are highly susceptible to heart disease or heart failure.
The risk of other cholesterol-induced health problems is quite common among such individuals. Which include high blood pressure (hypertension), atherosclerosis, stroke, vascular disorders, etc. Therefore, such individuals must give importance to their health and fitness. They must perform regular exercises and consume clean diets that are free of unhealthy fats.
Persistent stress
In general, Chronic stress can contribute to a rise in the levels of cholesterol. It can lead to a rise in the levels of cortisol hormone. Which can increase the levels of LDL in the bloodstream. LDL fat gets deposited in the blood vessels which clogs the blood vessels and blocks the flow of blood through them. Therefore, managing stress is necessary. Which will help you to reduce the LDL levels in the blood and prevent any health risks due to high cholesterol.
You can relieve your stress by performing some meditative exercises. Meditation involves conscious breathing, and the best thing is. You can do it anywhere. Just focusing on your breath can have a tremendous effect on your mind and body. It relaxes your mind and calms you down. This will eliminate your stress and improve your blood pressure and bring down cholesterol levels.
Family history
High cholesterol is termed hypercholesterolemia. It can run in the family. It stems due to gene alteration. Which gets passed down from one or both parents to the child. Individuals with a family history of high cholesterol must get themselves regularly tested to prevent the risk of health damage. They must implement healthy lifestyle habits which will decrease their risk of getting diagnosed with high cholesterol.
Chronic smoking
Likewise, Women who smoke are more prone to high cholesterol. Excessive smoking can speed up the buildup of plaque in the blood vessels. Which clogs the passages and blocks the flow of blood. Smoking releases harmful substances in the bloodstream which makes the Cholesterol fat stickier. This causes them to bind more easily to the walls of the blood vessels and clog the arteries. This is why, women who smoke must give up on their smoking habits.