We all know that February is heart month where we bring awareness to cardiovascular diseases. Some may think high blood pressure is the main factor for cardiovascular disease. However, high blood pressure is just one main factor. Did you know the link between high blood pressure and high cholesterol puts you at a greater risk for heart disease? Show
What is the relationship between high cholesterol and high blood pressure?High cholesterol and high blood pressure are the two main risk factors for heart disease and stroke. They are among a cluster of conditions that together are called metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome raises your risk for diabetes as well as heart disease and stroke (as mentioned previously). When both high blood pressure and high cholesterol occur together, they can damage blood vessels, greatly increasing the risk for future complications. To prevent heart disease and stroke, it’s vital to get your cholesterol and blood pressure under control. Does lowering your cholesterol lower your blood pressure?Certain lifestyle changes that lower cholesterol can also lower your blood pressure. Such as: eating a healthy diet and exercising can help lower both cholesterol and blood pressure. Medications that lower cholesterol do not have as much of an impact on lowering blood pressure, so people with both high blood pressure and high cholesterol typically need separate medications that target each problem separately. Tips to managing your blood pressureOne symptom of metabolic syndrome in adults is when one or both blood pressure numbers are high. Blood pressure numbers of 120/80 mm Hg or higher are considered high blood pressure, or hypertension. To keep your numbers down:
Your blood pressure can easily be checked with at home monitoring or making an appointment with your primary caredoctor to get screened. RELATED: Checking your blood pressure at home What can I do to manage my cholesterol?One thing to note is that high cholesterol can start early in life and continue throughout your lifetime. It can increase your risk of developing heart diseases over time. Besides taking medication to help maintain normal cholesterol levels, the same lifestyle changes you make to keep your blood pressure numbers down, would be the same for lowering your cholesterol: quit smoking if you smoke, increase your physical activity, eat heart healthy foods, and lose weight if you are overweight. How often do I need to get screened?Managing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels is an important part of staying healthy. Blood pressure screening. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, so it can’t be detected without being measured. Follow these guidelines for blood pressure screening:
Cholesterol screening. High cholesterol doesn’t have any symptoms, so a blood test is the only way to know if your cholesterol levels are higher than they should be. Follow these guidelines for cholesterol screening:
For more information on heart and vascular care, visit touro.com/heart.Having high cholesterol can increase your risk of heart and circulatory diseases such as heart attack, stroke and vascular dementia. Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in your blood. It's produced naturally in the liver. Everyone has cholesterol. We need it to stay healthy because every cell in our body uses it. Some of this cholesterol comes from the food we eat. High cholesterol is when you have too much cholesterol in your blood. This can increase your risk of heart and circulatory diseases such as
heart attack and stroke. There are two main types of cholesterol, one good and the other bad. Having too much 'bad' cholesterol can cause problems with your health. Cholesterol is carried in your
blood by proteins. When cholesterol and proteins combine, they're called lipoproteins. High-density lipoproteins or HDL is called ‘good’ cholesterol. This is because it gets rid of the ‘bad’ cholesterol from your blood. It takes cholesterol that you don’t need back to the liver. The liver breaks it down so it can be passed out of your body. Non-high-density lipoproteins or non-HDL is called 'bad'
cholesterol. This is because when there is too much of it, it can build up inside the walls of the blood vessels. This clogs them up causing narrowing of the arteries which increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. You may have also heard 'bad' cholesterol being called 'LDL' cholesterol. This was previously used as the main measure of bad cholesterol but we now know that other forms of non-HDL cholesterol are also harmful. Our blood also contains a type of fat called triglycerides. This is stored in the body's fat cells. Being very overweight, eating a lot of fatty and sugary foods or drinking too much alcohol can make you more likely to have a high triglyceride level. Triglycerides can also contribute to the narrowing of the artery walls, increasing your risk. You may see it on your cholesterol reading results, and your doctor will be able to tell you if it's too high. You can have a normal level of HDL and non-HDL cholesterol but still have a high triglyceride level. Why is high cholesterol bad for you?Non-HDL take cholesterol from the liver to the cells around your body. Too much bad cholesterol (non-HDL) can be harmful because it sticks to the inside walls of your arteries. This can lead to fatty material (atheroma) building up - this process is known as atherosclerosis. It makes it harder for blood to flow through, which can lead to a heart attack or a stroke. If your total cholesterol is high, it can mean that you have a lot of bad (non-HDL) cholesterol in your blood. A high level of good (HDL) cholesterol can help keep that bad cholesterol in check and remove it from your body. What should my cholesterol level be?There is no specific target cholesterol level because your doctor is looking at your overall risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases. Our nurse talks about cholesterol numbers in our below video: What causes high cholesterol?Anyone can get high cholesterol, and it can be caused by many different things. Some things you can control like lifestyle habits, others you can’t. As long as you take care of the things you can control, you’ll help lower your risk. Things that cause high cholesterol you can control:
Smoking can lead to high cholesterol levels, and the build-up of tar it causes in your arteries makes it easier for cholesterol to stick to your artery walls. If you are overweight or have diabetes, you are at greater risk of having high cholesterol. Things that cause high cholesterol you can't control:
Signs and symptoms of high cholesterolThere aren't usually any typical signs you have high cholesterol which is why it's so important to get it checked out. It's a hidden risk factor which means it happens without us knowing until it's too late. How is cholesterol measured?Blood cholesterol levels are measured using a simple blood test. Your GP or practice nurse will take a blood sample, usually by pricking your finger or you might be asked to go for a blood test at your local hospital. Your blood is then checked for levels of good (HDL) cholesterol, bad (non-HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as getting a total cholesterol result. Cholesterol and triglycerides are measured in units called millimoles per litre of blood, usually shortened to 'mmol/Litre' or 'mmol/L'. Generally speaking, for a healthy heart the aim is to have a low non-HDL level and a higher HDL level. If you have been told you have a high cholesterol level, you have too much 'bad' cholesterol in your bloodstream which increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. But a high level of 'good' (HDL) cholesterol can help keep that 'bad' (non-HDL) cholesterol in check. What does having high cholesterol mean for my health?Your risk of heart and circulatory disease is increased if you have high cholesterol as well as other risk factors, such as:
The more risk factors you have, the higher your risk of developing a heart or circulatory disease such as a heart attack, stroke or vascular dementia. How can I lower my cholesterol levels?
Find out more about living a healthy lifestyle and simple swaps you can make to help reduce your cholesterol. OUR 5 TOP WAYS TO LOWER CHOLESTEROLMedications and treatments for high cholesterolIf your cholesterol is very high and if lifestyle changes are not enough, your doctor might suggest controlling it with medication. Statins are the main type of medicine used to reduce cholesterol. Your doctor will let you know if you need to take any other drugs which help control your cholesterol levels. They may also refer you to a specialist called a lipidologist. If you have questions about your medicines, speak with your doctor or call our Heart Helpline on 0300 330 3311. You can also look at our publications for more information. Help and supportIf you are aged 40-74 you can ask for an NHS health check in England only, but similar schemes are available in other parts of the UK. Your doctor should write to you every five years about this, but you can also just make an appointment to check your blood pressure. If you have high cholesterol, it's important to know that you're not alone. Find support from healthcare professionals and the people around you. Call our Heart Helpline at 0300 330 3311 to speak to one of our Cardiac Nurses. They can give you information and support about heart and circulatory diseases, and their risk factors. Join our HealthUnlocked community. Manage your cholesterolOur cholesterol hub answers all your questions about cholesterol, including how to manage it, when to get checks and more about statins. More about cholesterol Want to know more?Order or download our publications:  What happens if you have high blood pressure and high cholesterol?High blood pressure (hypertension) and high cholesterol are linked. Cholesterol plaque and calcium cause your arteries to become hard and narrow. So, your heart has to strain much harder to pump blood through them. As a result, your blood pressure becomes too high.
What foods should I avoid if I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol?50 foods and drinks to avoid for people with high blood pressure. Salty foods.. Sugary foods.. Red meat.. Sugary drinks.. Alcohol.. Saturated fats.. Processed and prepackaged foods.. Condiments.. Does drinking water help with cholesterol?The bad cholesterol is called LDL and the good cholesterol is called HDL. When people have high cholesterol their LDL (bad) is high and their HDL (good) is low. Eating healthy, regular exercise and drinking plenty of water will help to bring down cholesterol levels within 2-3 weeks.
What foods help to lower cholesterol and high blood pressure?Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
But they have other heart-healthy benefits, including reducing blood pressure. Foods with omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, mackerel, herring, walnuts and flaxseeds.
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What should i do if i have high cholesterol and high blood pressure
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