Cholesterol Causes

A variety of factors can affect the cholesterol levels in the blood. Some of the factors can be controllable and others cannot.

Controllable Cholesterol cause

• Unhealthy foods we eat - Dietary cholesterol does not cause any major impact in human blood cholesterol level. However, saturated and Tran’s fats can raise your blood cholesterol levels. Foods high in saturated fats are red meat, hard cheese, cakes, biscuits, some pies, sausages, and creams. Tran’s fats are hydrogenated vegetable oil.
• Lack of exercise of activity (Sedentary lifestyle) - No or low physical activities are those people who spend most of the time sitting or lying. They may significantly high levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and low levels of HDL (good cholesterol).
• Obesity or overweight – peoples those who are obese or overweight than require, are more likely to have high levels of LDL and low levels of HDL when compared with people with normal weight.
• Alcohol over use - Too much consumption of alcohol may raise LDL level and lower HDL level, may be liver is more strained to remove alcohol from blood.
• Smoking – can considerably affect the LDL levels.
• Mental stress - Studies shows that stress can raise blood cholesterol levels over the long term. During stressful situation, some people have a habit of consoling themselves by eating fatty foods.  The saturated fat and cholesterol in these foods may contribute to high levels of blood cholesterol in these people.

Uncontrollable Cholesterol cause

• Family history of early heart disease or stroke (Heredity) - People whose father/brother was under 55 and or mother/sister was under 65, who have had either a stroke or a coronary heart disease, have a greater chance to have high blood cholesterol levels.
• Family history of a cholesterol-related condition (Heredity) - people whose brother, sister, or parent has familial hypercholesterolemia, could have more risk to high-cholesterol levels. Familial hypercholesterolemia is referred to high cholesterol that runs in the family. It is not causing by unhealthy lifestyle, but due to genetics. Approximately, one in 500 people may inherit this condition from a parent.
• Sex – from puberty, men have more chances to have a high-cholesterol level than women do before menopause, however, after menopause women are having more chances to have a high-cholesterol level.
• Age – cholesterol level can raise with age, so aging is a risk for high cholesterol.
• Health conditions - Certain health conditions may affect your cholesterol level, such as diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroid, kidney or liver diseases.
• Certain medicines - Can raise triglyceride levels and lower HDL levels, such as thiazide diuretics, beta-blockers, estrogen, and corticosteroids.
• Ethnic factor - People who are from Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Sri Lankan does have an increased risk to high blood cholesterol than others.

Cholesterol risk factors

If any of the following applies to you, then maybe having more risk to hyperlipidemia.

• Regularly choose to eat prepared or fast food.
• Eat too-much of cheese and whole milk.
• Have smoke habit.
• Frequently indulge in fatty meats, such as ribs, bacon, or pork chops.
• Physically inactive or get little exercise.
• Obese or overweight, means the body has stores of more fats and cholesterol.
• Not go for routine check for cholesterol level.

As per the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines, indicates that everyone aged 20 years and older should need their blood cholesterol level checked at least once every five years. It is best to have a blood test called a lipoprotein profile to find out cholesterol levels. This blood test is done after a 9 to 12-hour fasting.