What are the symptoms of high cholesterol? Symptoms and signs of high cholesterol

Cholesterol is a substance of fat-like nature that is localized in the shell of every cell in the body. Most of it is formed in the liver (about 80%), the rest of it comes with food.

The role of cholesterol

The normal level of this compound is important for optimal operation of many organs and well-being.

In addition to the fact that cholesterol is a part of cell membranes, it performs a number of the following functions:

• Provides the strength of cell membranes;
• Regulates the permeability of cell membranes by activating the corresponding enzymes;
• Participates in the exchange of fat-soluble vitamins in other metabolic processes;
• Is a compound that affects the synthesis of adrenal and androgen hormones;
• Is contained in myelin sheaths of nerve fibers;
• Takes part in the formation of vitamin D;
• Protects erythrocytes from the negative effect of hemolytic toxins;
• Takes part in the formation of bile and bile acids in the liver, which are responsible for the absorption of alimentary fats in the intestine;
• Affects the work of serotonin receptors, responsible for a good mood and sense of satisfaction.

Quantitative and qualitative norm of cholesterol

Total cholesterol is elevated if its level is more than 5 mmol / l. If a person has concomitant diabetes mellitus or heart disease, then this indicator should not be more than 4.5 mmol / l.

It should be noted that in consideration should be taken not only the quantitative content of cholesterol in the blood, but also qualitative indicators - the ratio of its various fractions. Thus, low density cholesterol is increased if its content is more than 100-130 mg / dL. The amount of HDL and triglycerides is also taken into account.

It should be said that low-density lipoproteins are called "bad" because they carry most of the cholesterol throughout the body. At the same time, oxidation takes place, accompanied by the synthesis of antibodies and the formation of unstable compounds that are able to penetrate through the walls of the arteries and cause inflammation in them.

High density lipoproteins are considered "good" because they take cholesterol from blood vessels and return it to the liver, and also prevent oxidation.

Causes of hypercholesterolemia

In the etiology of high cholesterol concentration, a hereditary factor may lie. This form of pathology is defined as primary or familial. With it, high cholesterol is detected in children. The disease is caused by the fact that the baby receives a defective gene from the parents, which is responsible for lipid synthesis, therefore, the abnormal concentration of fat-like compounds is diagnosed in his body.

It should be noted that quite often high cholesterol in children is not detected, because everything passes without clinical symptoms. The problem becomes noticeable at a more mature age.

Secondary forms of the disease develop under the influence of certain factors that act as catalysts or risk factors:

• Disturbances in liver function;
• Stress and nerve stress;
• Age after 55 years;
• Sex (total cholesterol increased more often in men);
• smoking;
• Alimentary factor - excessive consumption of fatty and high-calorie foods;
• Physical inactivity.

Pathologies accompanied by hypercholesterolemia. The mechanism of its development

Most often, an elevated cholesterol level is observed with liver damage, diabetes, hypothyroidism. Nephrotic syndrome is also characterized by a high concentration of this compound.

It should be noted that the systematic administration of individual medicines, the presence of hypertension and excessive body weight also provoke hypercholesterolemia.

If we talk about the mechanism of development of this pathology, it is worthwhile to know that the accumulation of cholesterol in cell membranes is a natural defense against their dehydration. That is why hypercholesterolemia testifies to the passage of reactions aimed at not allowing water to pass through the cell membrane, ensuring their normal functioning. So, in non-nuclear cells, fatty acids allow the transfer of a lack of water.

If to draw a conclusion, it is possible to name one more important etiological factor of high cholesterol - dehydration of cells and an organism as a whole.

How is hypercholesterolemia diagnosed?

For the correct diagnosis, only the symptoms of elevated cholesterol are an unreliable criterion. It is recommended to undergo a comprehensive examination and to pass a number of tests.

Diagnostics, as a rule, include the following:

• The collection of an anamnesis and its full analysis taking into account the patient's complaints;
• The establishment of the possibility of developing family hypercholesterolemia or other related health problems;
• Examination with auscultation and measurement of blood pressure;
• General analysis of urine and blood to exclude pathologies of inflammatory nature;
• Biochemical blood test with the determination of the concentration of creatinine, glucose and uric acid;
• Lipidogram, which allows to detect a high content of lipoproteins;
• Immunological analyzes;
• Additional genetic examination of the next of kin in order to identify a genetic defect.

During the diagnosis it is important to find out the peculiarities of the patient's diet, his way of life, the presence of bad habits. It is also necessary to determine the time when the last medical examination was carried out, the nature of the complaints and the peculiarities of their occurrence.

What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?

Immediately it should be said that hypercholesterolemia itself is not clinically apparent. In the patient there are certain complaints, when there are corresponding pathologies associated with the violation of lipid metabolism.

The main symptoms of elevated cholesterol include the following:

• The patient has chest pains, a heart attack or a heart attack can develop, which is associated with a lesion of the coronary vessels;
• If excessive amounts of cholesterol are detected in men, impotence or erectile dysfunction may occur simultaneously, which is associated with cholesterol clogging of the corresponding arteries;
• Atherosclerosis and cerebral stroke are life-threatening symptoms of elevated cholesterol;
• If against the background of hypercholesterolemia affects the walls of peripheral vessels, then obliterating diseases of the legs, as well as thrombosis of veins with the development of thrombophlebitis, can develop;
• Indirect signs of high cholesterol can be considered pain in the lower limbs, memory impairment and discomfort in the heart.

External manifestations of cholesterolemia

In addition to complaints that indicate the damage of blood vessels, patients may have external signs of increased cholesterol. Among them, the emergence of a lipoid corneal arc. This symptom, as a rule, indicates the development of familial hyperlipidemia and is detected in patients whose age is not more than 50 years.

Another important manifestation of high cholesterol is xanthelasma. These formations have the form of dirty yellow nodules that are localized under the upper layer of the epithelium of the eyelids. Sometimes they are of small size, they can go unnoticed, so it is often detected only by specialists. Hypercholesterolemia is also characterized by the appearance of xanthomas - cholesterol nodules, which are located above the tendons.

It should be noted that the described manifestations appear only with the progression of the pathological process, when the disease has a severe course, is characterized by various concomitant lesions and a level of cholesterol that grows to significant digits.

Cholesterol and pregnancy

During the gestation of the fetus, the female body is radically reorganized in order to ensure the normal development of the child. In this period, lipid metabolism changes. Thus, high cholesterol in pregnancy can be considered the norm, because at this time the organism of the future mother needs more of this compound in order to pass the optimal synthesis of steroid hormones.

It should be noted that such physiological hypercholesterolemia should have certain limits and not exceed the norm by more than 2 times. In addition, it is interesting that the increased cholesterol in pregnancy has different indicators depending on the age of the woman. So, if the pregnant woman is not more than 19 years old, it is 3.08-5.18 mol / l. If she is 40 or more, the cholesterol level is 6.94. In both cases, such indicators are the norm.

The highest concentration of fats in the blood of pregnant women is observed in the third trimester. After giving birth, the cholesterol level comes back to normal within 4-6 weeks.

Pharmacological treatment of hypercholesterolemia

When high cholesterol levels are diagnosed and the clinical manifestations associated with this disturbance in the metabolism of fats, the following groups of drugs are recommended:

• Statins. They block the synthesis of enzymes that are involved in the formation of cholesterol, are the most popular drugs for hypercholesterolemia. Depending on the nature of the course of the disease and the individual reaction of the body, these drugs can reduce the concentration of cholesterol by almost 60%. In addition, they reduce the amount of triglycerides and increase the level of HDL. The most commonly prescribed drugs are "Mevakor", "Baikol" and "Leskol".
• Fibric acids - reduce the amount of triglycerides and HDL, promote the oxidation of fatty acids in the liver. This group includes funds "Atromed-S", "Trikor" and "Lopid."
• Pharmacological agents that are able to bind to bile acid and reduce the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver (preparations "Colistin", "Questran").

Additives that reduce the amount of cholesterol

Pharmacotherapy is performed with a severe or complicated course of hypercholesterolemia. With its lighter forms, the following applies:

• Vitamin E - a strong antioxidant, prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques and reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular pathologies;
• Omega-3 fatty acids - in large quantities are found in fish oil, primrose oil, flax seeds and rapeseed; They reduce the level of triglycerides and prevent thrombosis, protect against inflammation, which is a good prevention of atherosclerosis;
• Nicotinic acid in high doses, which mobilizes fatty acids in all tissues, reduces the level of triglycerides and LDL, increases the amount of HDL by 30%;
• Folic acid and vitamin B12 - when their deficiency decreases the level of homocystine, which significantly increases the risk of atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels and coronary heart disease.

It should be noted that taking certain medications does not exclude the need for a healthy lifestyle. Symptoms of increased cholesterol will not develop if you eat properly, watch your weight, move more, do not smoke and systematically undergo preventive examinations.

Diet for hypercholesterolemia

The goal of dietary nutrition is antisclerotic action and the removal of excess cholesterol from the body due to a corresponding set of products.

What principles should be followed?

It is necessary to reduce the amount of fat, exclude high-cholesterol foods from the diet, limit the intake of saturated fatty acids and increase the number of polyunsaturated. It is recommended to use less salt, more vegetable fiber, it is useful to replace animal fats with vegetable.

Useful products include fish, lean meats, nuts and soy, cereals and bran, as well as green tea, which is not only an antioxidant, but also a drink that improves lipid metabolism.

The use of raw crushed garlic has a positive effect. It is able to thin the blood, prevent the formation of blood clots and reduce the concentration of cholesterol due to the presence in its composition of alliin.

When high cholesterol is detected, the symptoms, treatment and the presence of concomitant pathologies depend on the specific etiology of the disorder. This should also be taken into account in the appointment of therapy, which should be comprehensive and aimed at normalizing lipid metabolism.