Heart Disease Clinical Studies West Palm Beach Archives - Clinical Trials | Metabolic Research Institute

The Long Term Effects Of High Cholesterol

High cholesterol is one of the most common health issues that is found in adults. While there are some individuals who don’t take it seriously, the diagnosis of high cholesterol is something that requires immediate action. The longer high cholesterol goes without treatment, the worse the effects on your body will be. Many assume that high cholesterol is harmless in the long run, but in fact the opposite is quite true.

Studies show that the average American’s cholesterol level is in the borderline high range, and 1 in 6 Americans has high cholesterol. High cholesterol can lead to stomach pain from fatty deposits, atherosclerosis, and an increased strain on your heart. However, the two largest effects that a high cholesterol can have on your body are the increased chance of a stroke or a heart attack.

If there is a clog in one of your coronary artery, your heart doesn’t receive enough blood or oxygen. This ends up weakening your heart and creates long term damage. This can lead to a few things. A blood clot could form blocking the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart, it could also break off and make its way to one of your arteries. Once an artery is completely blocked, you have a heart attack.

The second risk that high cholesterol puts you at are the chances of a stroke. This happens from plaque buildup that keeps your brain from getting enough blood or oxygen. Through the same method as the heart attack arteries, if a clot blocks one of the arteries that feeds your brain blood and oxygen is blocked, you’ll have a stroke.

These long term effects are dangerous and life threatening. Both have the ability to completely take your life. The Metabolic Research Institute in West Palm Beach is working hard to discover a high cholesterol treatment for individuals at risk of a heart attack or stroke. If you’re aware that you have high cholesterol, talk with your doctor to determine which actions are best for you so that you can manage your cholesterol.

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Signs & Symptoms of High Cholesterol

Having high cholesterol is something that we hear on television commercials, in pamphlets inside of doctor’s offices and from family members that are concerned about our diet. Because we are so exposed to the words “high cholesterol”, we often trick ourselves into thinking that this is something that we can easily take care of if ever diagnosed. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case, and because of that too many people are stuck in situations where they suffer from high cholesterol and are grasping for straws to make it better. That being said, noticing signs and symptoms early on helps reduce the chances of high cholesterol from being out of our reach when trying to find solutions. Here are the most basic signs and symptoms that you’ll see when your cholesterol levels are high.
Tragic Health Decline

High cholesterol can go unnoticed for years to people that don’t visit the doctor on a regular basis. Unfortunately, sometimes the only way that people find out they have high cholesterol is after they’ve had a heart attack or stroke.
Pain In The Legs

Very often, cholesterol affects your legs first, so some of the main signs and symptoms that you’ll see will be pain in the legs. This happens because your arteries are clogged and aren’t able to deliver adequate amounts of blood to your legs. This can happen in any part of your leg, from the calves to your thighs, you will notice this pain whenever you’re upright, walking or traveling long distance by walking.

At the Metabolic Research Institute, we are constantly working towards treatments for difficult diseases like high cholesterol and diabetes. Learn about our current efforts to find a high cholesterol treatment and how you can be a part of this movement.

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Who’s Really At Risk For Heart Disease?

Bad habits are only deemed bad because they increase the risk of developing health issues down the road. When you accumulate bad habits, the chances of you developing a health issue increase even more. When it comes to developing heart disease, you aren’t always able to control your chances of developing it, but there are health factors that you can control. Here are a few of the health variables that you do have control over when it comes to heart disease.
Blood Pressure

Your blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing up against the walls of the arteries while your heart pumps blood through your body. When the pressure rises, your body notices negative reactions that put your health at risk. Individuals with a higher blood pressure are at a greater risk of heart disease. The best way to lower blood pressure is through routine exercise and a healthy diet.
Smoking

For women, smoking is the risk that heightens heart disease the most. The reason that smoking increases the risk of heart disease is because of the carbon monoxide that is in cigarettes. Carbon monoxide takes the blood from your oxygen, which creates a build up in your veins. Not only does smoking increase the chances of heart disease, but also of heart attacks and heart failure.

The basis of health factors that you can control really come down to participating in healthy activities, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy diet. At the Metabolic Research Institute, we work hard every day towards creating a treatment for heart disease. Learn more about our efforts when you visit our website.

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