Keeping your Cardio vascular system healthy is a significant part of maintaining good quality of life. Our blood cholesterol level has a lot to do with chances of getting a heart disease. Cholesterol is an essential fatty substance made by the liver and is necessary for certain metabolic functions. Cholesterol itself is not harmful but when our bodies make too much cholesterol or too much is absorbed from the foods that we eat, it leads to the formation of plaque that accumulates in and blocks the arteries, as a result of which less blood and oxygen can get to the heart leading to a heart attack. Being insoluble in blood, cholesterol is circulated around the body with the help of protein carriers called lipoproteins:
- LDL cholesterol (low density lipoprotein) is also known as bad cholesterol, due to its bad effect on the heart. This LDL cholesterol contains the highest amount of cholesterol and gets deposited on the walls of the arteries and makes blood vessels hard and narrow.
- HDL cholesterol (high density lipoprotein) is also named as good cholesterol since it is good for the heart. It contains the highest amount of protein and can remove the fat deposits from the arteries and bring them back to the liver.
- VLDL cholesterol (very low density lipoprotein) is the highest amount of triglycerides and is the smallest mass of lipoproteins produced by the liver from carbohydrates. Then it is carried to other tissues for storage.
- Total cholesterol is the sum of LDL + HDL + VLDL.
Causes of High Blood Cholesterol
- High cholesterol is often found to run in families.
- Altered Oestrogen levels may increase LDL Cholesterol levels in women during Pregnancy and Post-menopausal.
- Diet – Food rich in saturated fats like meat, chicken, eggs, oil, etc. will raise LDL cholesterol levels.
- Smoking, alcohol and sedentary lifestyle can also raise cholesterol levels.
- Being overweight may be the cause but all fat people will not have high cholesterol in blood, as obesity may be part of their constitution. Likewise, even a lean person can have high cholesterol level in blood. So, it is more concerned with mobilization & utilization of fat.
- Certain diseases like Diabetes, Hypothyroidism, Kidney failure, Gall bladder diseases, etc. are also known to raise cholesterol levels.
Symptoms of High Blood Cholesterol
High blood cholesterol is known as a silent killer as it does not manifest any symptoms, so many people are unaware that their cholesterol level is too high.
Complications of High Blood Cholesterol
Excess cholesterol deposits in the blood vessels cause hardening of arteries, which will be the main reason or cause for hypertension (by narrowing the blood vessels), ischemic heart disorders (by blocking the coronary arteries), stroke, can also complicate diabetes, ulcers, gall stones, impotency, and even indigestion.
Homeopathic Approach to Controlling High Blood Cholesterol
High blood cholesterol is supposed to be a constitutional disease, so treatment also should be constitutional. Normal levels can be absolutely attained and maintained if Homeopathic treatment is started earlier. Unlike other systems of medicine, which are toxic in nature during continuous usage, remedies used in Homeopathy are safe, natural and without any side-effects. In Homeopathy,remedies are highly individualized to the patient and this will help lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, raise HDL cholesterol, inhibit the formation of plaque, lower high blood pressure, detoxify the body and also enhance your immunity system. Homeopathic remedies can help maintain cardiovascular function and a healthier circulatory system. People on multiple medications can safely take Homeopathic medicines. Homeopathic remedies are non-habit forming and have no addictive characteristics. Homeopathy has an exceptional proven safety record with the FDA with 200 years of clinical effectiveness. Homeopathic remedies are easy to take and are regulated by the FDA and prepared according to the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States.
Home Measures to Help Control Cholesterol Levels
- Exercise regularly and reduce weight. Doing exercise regularly will keep LDL cholesterol at low level and HDL cholesterol at high level, which is good for the heart.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol.
- Avoid saturated fats and high cholesterol foods like meat, cakes, pastries, cookies, nuts, milk products, butter, ghee, sugary and fried foods.
- Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, cereals, pulses and grains.
- Using garlic in food is considered as traditional medicine for controlling cholesterol.
- Fenugreek seeds can decrease LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and increase HDL cholesterol levels. This is due to the high fiber content of the seed and its effect on reducing intestinal absorption of cholesterol.
- Using gugul-Lipids helps to reduce the cholesterol.
- Use monosaturated oils such as olive or canola oil.
Hence to have a low risk of heart disease, by maintaining normal cholesterol levels, good cardiovascular function and a healthy circulatory system consider constitutional homeopathic treatment along with certain lifestyle changes. This will maintain your lipid levels to:
- LDL less than 130 mg/dl.
- HDL greater than 40 mg/dl in men and 50 mg/dl in women.
- Total cholesterol less than 200 mg/dl.
- Triglycerides less than 200 mg/dl.
