High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is made up of lipids and is a fat that is necessary for the body to function. As well as being made in the liver it is also contained in certain foods. If you have too much cholesterol in your blood it is known as hyperlipidaemia and can affect the way the blood is able to flow to the vital organs where it is needed to supply oxygen and other nutrients imperative for normal function. Having high cholesterol is something that is not noticeable from the outside or even by the way a person feels which is why making lifestyle changes and where necessary receiving medication is so important. If cholesterol levels continue to be higher than normal and nothing changes they will continue to rise and can lead to serious health complications.

There are two types proteins that are commonly referred to as 'good' and 'bad' due to the role they play in processing the body's cholesterol.. High density lipoproteins are necessary to transport cholesterol away from cells they collect in when they are not needed, this means they can be returned to liver and either processed or removed as waste. This is why this type of protein is known as good. The higher the levels of HDL the better it is for the person.

Low density lipoprotein are transport cholesterol to cells when it is needed, but if the levels are too high then the transportation doesn't cease. This means that the excess cholesterol is deposited in the artery walls. Cholesterol that is not used collects and can cause blocking of the arteries and blood vessels which means the heart has to work harder to push blood around the body. If the levels are too high then you are more at risk of cholesterol build up occurring.

One of the things that can cause high cholesterol is your family genetics. If you have parent/parents with the problem, there is a chance that you could get it too; making changes to your lifestyle can reduce the chance of this happening or the condition getting worse.

• The foods you eat could be increasing your chance of developing high cholesterol. Eating a diet that is high in saturated fat causes the body to take on more bad cholesterol than it is able to manage, increasing your risk of high cholesterol and associated health problems.
• As a result of overeating/eating the wrong foods and not taking enough exercise could mean that you weigh more than you should for your sex, height and age. Being overweight is another risk factor for developing high cholesterol. This is likely to increase the bad cholesterol in your blood and reduce good cholesterol.
• Being more sedate increases bad cholesterol levels and reduces good which can lead to high cholesterol.
• Your age can play a part in rising cholesterol levels. Once your reach around 20 your cholesterol levels will rise. In men the cholesterol levels tend to be higher in those over 50. Women's cholesterol levels get higher after menopause.
• Smoking is known to lower the amount of good cholesterol in the blood which allows bad cholesterol levels to rise.
• Not taking heed of being in an at risk group can make you more susceptible to getting high cholesterol.

Although there are no symptoms of high cholesterol, being in a high risk group will allow you to take the necessary measures to reduce your chances of getting sick. You should get into the habit of having your cholesterol checked regularly if you have close family members already diagnosed, are a woman over 60 or a man over 50. Sign that may indicate a bigger risk of high cholesterol include:

• Having type 2 diabetes
• White ring around the coloured part of your eye (iris)
• Being physically inactive
• Close family members that have suffered cardiovascular problems

The most common way to treat high cholesterol is through changes to lifestyle including being more active and/ or losing weight. However, if your levels are too high or cannot be managed through lifestyle changes alone, then your doctor may prescribe a medication to help lower your cholesterol. The treatment chosen will depend on the LDL,HDL and triglyceride levels in your blood and whether these levels will put you at a high risk of developing related health problems such as heart disease or stroke.

The most commonly prescribed treatment against high cholesterol is a group of medication called statins. They may be prescribed to you if you are at a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease as a result of high cholesterol, even if you are otherwise healthy. You may also be prescribed statins if you've already experienced cholesterol-related complications such as heart attack, stroke or peripheral artery disease, or if you suffer from diabetes.

There are various different types of statins and they are all available in generic and branded versions. The below statins all work in a similar way to help you better control your cholesterol:

• Simvastatin (branded as Zocor)
• Atorvastatin (branded as Lipitor)
• Rosuvastatin (branded as Crestor)
• Fluvastatin (branded as Lescol)
• Lovastatin (branded as Mevacor)
• Pravastatin (branded as Pravachol)
• Pitavastatin (branded as Livalo)

One type of statin may be more suitable for you than another, which means that your doctor may recommend an alternative statin if you experience side effects on a particular version.

How do statins lower cholesterol?

Statins primarily work by monitoring the production of cholesterol by the liver. They do this by blocking the enzyme in the liver that is responsible for producing cholesterol. The body produces up to 75% of its own cholesterol and the rest is derived from the fats in the foods we consume. If we are consuming more fats than is healthy for us, it results in a surplus of cholesterol being produced, which ultimately leads to excess cholesterol moving around in our bloodstream. Cholesterol that moves around in our blood from the liver is known as LDL or low-density lipoprotein.

Statins block an enzyme known as hydroxy-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase or HMG-CoA reductase and therefore they are also known as HMG-CoA inhibitors. This enzyme plays an important role in the production of cholesterol and if this enzyme isn't able to function like it usually would, production of LDL is slowed down, which consequently leads to an increase in HDL. HDL is also known as 'good cholesterol' because this is cholesterol that is moving from the bloodstream back to the liver, which also reduces LDL levels.

Preventing high cholesterol can reduce the chance of you needing treatment later in life. If you have family members that have high cholesterol or cardiovascular problems, or are already in another at risk group it is more important to follow preventative measures. You can prevent high cholesterol by:

• Losing excess weight
• Reducing your intake of saturated fats
• Quit smoking
• Reduce alcohol intake
• Follow a healthy diet including fruit and vegetables

Once you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol it is important to take action to get the levels down as fast as possible. One way to do this is to take medication to help reduce the levels as well as the risk of developing heart diseases or stroke and other associated health problems. To order high cholesterol treatment online you will need to first fill in an online consultation form. This is to ensure your chosen treatment is suitable for you. Once this has been agreed your medication will then be discreetly packaged and sent to your address the same day if you live in London and order before 4pm. If you live in an area of the UK outside of London the free delivery service will deliver your medication the next day.