High blood pressure is often accompanied by high cholesterol. This can be because of lifestyle choices or something uncontrollable like genetics.
Different Types of Cholesterol
Not all cholesterol is the same. It is a common misconception that all cholesterol is bad. The truth is that we all do need some cholesterol in our bodies in order to be healthy. There are two different forms of cholesterol that are found in the body.
- LDLs: LDLs or low density lipoproteins are typically known as the “bad” type of cholesterol. Having a high level of LDLs can cause build up in the arteries leading to blockages that can be life threatening and cause heart attacks and strokes. It also can be attributed to hypertensive states.
- HDLs: HDLs, or high density lipoproteins, are currently considered the “good” cholesterol. HDLs remove the bad cholesterol from areas of the body and take it to the liver where it disposes of it.
Symptoms of High Cholesterol
High cholesterol is almost impossible to know that you have unless you get checked by your doctor. Symptoms are common to that of high blood pressure. Typically, you will not know that you have high cholesterol until you have a medical emergency, such as a heart attack.
Managing High Cholesterol
It is important that you have a doctor that you can see for regular check-ups in order to properly diagnose and treat high cholesterol. Know your numbers. Keeping a log of all your blood pressure readings is very important in managing this condition. Places like clinics and pharmacies are good places to have your pressure checked between visits. Getting a blood pressure device to keep at home is a good idea for those who have chronically high pressure readings. Cholesterol levels can be obtained through blood work that is routinely done at your primary care doctors office.
High cholesterol can be managed in several ways including:
- Diet and exercise: For some people, no medication is needed to manage their blood pressure. Changing their diet by avoiding high fat foods, fried foods and foods with high salt content can be enough to bring their blood pressure and cholesterol to a safe level. Exercise also has been shown to be effective. It does not have to be high impact exercises like running. Things like walking, swimming and bike riding have been shown to lower blood pressure levels and increase heart health. Do what you can tolerate and discuss an exercise regimen with your doctor to ensure that you are healthy enough for exercise.
- Medications: There are many different types of medications available for managing high blood pressure as well as high cholesterol. Some people may even require more than one type of medicine to achieve proper levels. It is also important to note that there is no one medication that will work for everyone. Some people respond better than others to any given medication. Also, various other medical conditions can make certain medications dangerous for some or ineffective for others. It is important to discuss these things with your doctor so that you can both discover the best treatment for you. Sometimes, some medications can work for a while and suddenly these medications may become ineffective. Once again, this is why it is so important to monitor your blood pressure on a regular basis as well as get regular blood draws so that cholesterol can be monitored. These blood results can monitor not only levels of cholesterol in the blood but damage being done to various organs, like the kidneys and liver.
Causes of High Cholesterol and Hypertension
In order to properly manage these conditions it is important to understand what can cause them. Some of these things can be preventable through various lifestyle choices while others are harder to control, like genetics. However; even if it is a genetic situation, it still can be managed and damage done to the body can be minimal.
- Smoking
- Diet
- Obesity
- Genetics
- Lack of Exercise
- Regular doctor visits
Know Your Numbers!
Hypertension can be devastating to your health. It is important to remember that no two people are identical and the way that their medical problems should be treated is not identical either. Knowledge is power. Know your numbers and educate yourself. Find a doctor that you can develop a good professional relationship with and do your part to maintain your health. Remember, your doctor can only advise you on the proper course to take to be healthy. It is up to you, and you alone, to make the right decisions so that you can live a long and healthy life. If you have questions or need to find a health care provider for an evaluation please contact us.
