Are there any visible high cholesterol symptoms to note? Is there an effective way to detect high cholesterol? Read on to learn how you can manage your health.
Cholesterol is a naturally occurring substance that is produced by the body. There is both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol in the body. The good cholesterol is known as HDL, and the bad cholesterol is known as LDL. Having an excess of ‘bad’ cholesterol can have an adverse effect to your health.
What is high cholesterol?
High cholesterol is a chronic condition that is thus usually referred to as having too much LDL or triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat (or lipid) found in the blood. When screening for cholesterol, your triglyceride levels are also tested. Although most patients with high cholesterol do not display high cholesterol symptoms, the condition may increase your risk of other complications. This generally occurs due to plaque deposits in the blood vessels, which can break off and cause blockages, resulting in heart attacks and strokes.
Although most patients with high cholesterol do not display high cholesterol symptoms, the condition may increase your risk of other complications. | Image source: iStock
How common is high cholesterol in Singapore?
33.6% of people in Singapore suffer from high cholesterol in Singapore as of 2017. A third of all coronary heart diseases globally are caused by this condition. The only way to detect high cholesterol is through a blood test, so if you would like to find out your cholesterol levels, get in touch with us at +65 8180 8948 to schedule an appointment.
General treatment for high cholesterol
- Reduce intake of saturated fats and use good fats in moderation.
- Quit smoking. Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol, which is the “good” cholesterol. In addition, smoking increases your risk of coronary heart disease if you already have high cholesterol.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Exercise regularly and eat a heart-healthy diet that is low in sodium and high in fruits and vegetables.
- Consult your doctor who can prescribe cholesterol-lowering medications if the above actions are not effective. Statins and other medications may be prescribed in such cases.
Image source: iStock
What happens when high cholesterol is not well-managed?
High cholesterol is a significant risk factor for angina, stroke, coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases. The development of health complications will lead to hospitalization and additional treatment costs. High cholesterol levels may be associated with high blood pressure and diabetes, so it is recommended that you also receive screening for these two conditions.
Sign up for our Chronic Disease Home Management (CDHM)™ Package and let Speedoc help manage your cholesterol
Be it regular follow-ups and blood tests to assess your cholesterol levels, investigation for other possible complications or medicine refills, Speedoc can help streamline and simplify the processes and let you keep high cholesterol under good control from home with our Chronic Disease Home Management (CDHM)™ Package. Plus, you get 10 additional teleconsultations included that can be used by any family member, for any condition.
Learn more about Speedoc and how it can help you get professional healthcare whenever you need it, wherever you are. Visit their website at: https://speedoc.com/sg/
This article was first published in Speedoc and republished on theAsianparent with permission.
Lead image source: iStock
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