Hypercholesterolemia is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol is a waxy fat-like substance and is a major class of lipid, so it gets into the blood by lipoproteins [1]. A high level of lipoproteins is unhealthy. A high level can result in an elevated risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease [2]. The high levels of lipoproteins are often influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors such as obesity or dieting habits [2]. High cholesterol can be caused by mutations in the following genes: APOB, LDLR, LDLRAP1, and PCSK9 [3]. Mutations in the LDLR gene are responsible for causing familial hypercholesterolemia, which is the most commonly seen form of inherited high cholesterol [3]. The LDLR gene contains instructions for making LDL receptors or low-density lipoprotein receptors. LDL receptors play critical roles in regulating levels of cholesterol in the blood by removing low-density lipoproteins from the bloodstream. Mutations in the LDLR gene can make the amount of LDL receptors produced less than normal or affect their job of removing the low-density lipoproteins in the blood [4]. People who have these mutations will have higher levels of cholesterol. There are many ways that the environment can affect the levels of cholesterol in the blood. Reducing the amount of dietary fat you consume lowers the total amount of cholesterol in the blood [5]. Sucrose and fructose can raise the amount of LDL in the blood. Reducing fatty foods will however lower the amount of LDL [5]. Having a healthy body and maintaining physical exercise plays a key role in keeping your cholesterol at a healthy level. If you are overweight or obese you can lower your cholesterol levels by simply losing ...
... middle of paper ...
...e two altered copies of the LDLR gene, one from each parent. This results in a more severe and even fatal case of high cholesterol. In the LDLRAP1 gene it is an autosomal recessive pattern [10]. This means that one altered copy of the gene is passed down from each parent but their cholesterol numbers are in the normal range [10]. Having high cholesterol is a serious issue but it can be treated and controlled with the correct mindset. A healthy diet, physical exercise, and patience is all it takes to live a comfortable lifestyle with hypercholesterolemia. If you know you have higher than average levels don’t wait to fix the problem because it will only become worse. Also, you should treat high cholesterol like you would any other serious disease. Acting like it is not a big deal is a huge mistake. This could result in making your life shorter than it was meant to be.
The family has a tendency for eating fried foods, potato chips, etc., which can lead to high amounts of saturated fats and trans fats in the diet. Therefore, can raise LDL levels and put the family at risk for heart disease, especially the older family members. They also consume high amounts of refined and added sugars that can lead to elevated triglycerides, which
Most individual would think that the cause of diabetes, heart disease, or other chronic disease is because of their own unhealthy lifestyle decisions. For instance, most people would think because of smoking, stress, and not enough exercise can have a higher chance of attending those disease. However, Barker have a different point of view. As D.J.P Barker state in his article titled, Fetal and Infant Origins of Adult Disease Hypothesis that adaptations that fetus make when is under-nourished rather than adaptations made in adult life and those made during early development tends to have permanent effect on body's structure and function (Barker, 2001). He hypothesize that low birth weight is a factor contributing to development of coronary heart disease in adulthood but he neglected there are sociological factors during adult life can also trigger the development of coronary heart disease as well. Even though the Fetal Origins Hypothesis used an biological explanation to the development of coronary heart disease but it fails to recognize the sociological factors to coronary heart disease. One's position on the socioeconomic gradient has a contribution to the risk of coronary heart disease.
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood through your body. Hypertension is another term used to describe high blood pressure. This common condition increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death for Americans. High blood pressure contributed to more than 362,895 deaths in the United States during 2010. Approximately 67 million persons in the United States have high blood pressure, and only half of those have their condition under control. An estimated 46,000 deaths could be avoided annually if 70% of patients with high blood pressure were treated according to published guidelines (Patel, Datu, Roman, Barton, Ritchey, Wall, Loustalot; 2014).
Research into gene-environment interactions have shown the presence of the TCF7L2 gene may magnify the risk of type 2 diabetes in situations of high glucose concentrations and insulin demand (Cornelis et al, 2009). Individuals who have the TCF7L2 alleles may therefore benefit from dietary intervention (Cornelis et al, 2009).
Your genetic information determines the genes you inherit that may cause or elevate your risk of certain medical conditions. My family genogram clearly indicates the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), heart disease (HD), hypercholesterolemia (HC) and hypertension (HTN). Heart disease is indicated on both maternal and paternal side and even though T2D only shows on my paternal side, the other diseases such as HC and HTN that are on my maternal side are risk factors for developing diabetes. According to Pessoa Marinho et al. (2013), the genetic and environmental risk factors that influence T2D development are: “age, gender, ethnicity, family history, obesity, inactivity, gestational diabetes, macrosomia, hypertension, decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, increased triglycerides, cardiovascular diseases, micropolycystic ovary syndrome, high blood glucose on previous testing, impaired glucose tolerance and glycated hemoglobin ≥5.7%” (Pessoa Marinho et al., 2013, p. 570). Bianco et al. (2013) states, “the maternal influence confirms the hereditary role in the diabetes pathogenesis that women with positive family history to the illness presented...
Coronary Heart Disease Coronary heart disease is the most common form of heart disease. It is a general term for both heart attack and angina. Many people suffer from it and 500,000 Americans die from it each year. It is much more common in older people and in males. However, women tend to be older and sicker when they are first treated for a heart attack.
Liver makes cholesterol from the saturated fats in the blood; it enters the blood and is transported around by proteins known as “lipoproteins”. There are two types of lipoproteins low density and high d... ... middle of paper ... ... its along with environmental risks can both contribute to causing heart disease and the same symptoms. Bibliography 1.
Cholesterol levels are also related to a person’s risk of heart disease. Many times cholesterol can be maintained by diet, while others may need to take medication to treat it. A study reported by the American Journal of Cardiology found that HDL (high-density lipoprotein) levels were the most important predictor of your heart health. The higher a woman’s HDL is the less likely she is to have heart problems.
There are so many complex factors for high blood pressure. There are environmental factors. There are genetic factors. Even race plays a huge role in what type of blood pressure is natural for that specific race. You would be amazed of how many factors are in a human being having high or low blood pressure. The traits in having high blood pressure are so complex. And what is amazing about all of these traits and environmental factors is that they are all linked together in a way. And in this essay I will explain how these traits, environmental factors, and even race are all linked in a certain complex way.
Cardiovascular disease is currently the nation’s leading non-communicable cause of morbidity and mortality. According to the American Heart Association, the most common form of cardiovascular disease is coronary artery disease, a condition in which the heart’s blood supply is reduced due to a narrowing of the coronary arteries. These arteries play a significant role in regulating the flow of oxygenated blood to the heart. As blood circulates through the arteries, it exerts a force against the vessel walls, known as blood pressure. To withstand this pressure, elastic fibers interspersed along the artery walls allow the arteries to expand and recoil. Abnormally high blood pressure, however, will cause these muscles to thicken as a result of tears in the damaged artery walls trapping particles that aggregate as plaque. Progressive build-up of plaque ultimately leads to a narrowing of the arteries, subsequently diminishing blood flow to the heart and other body organs. This cascade of events triggered by high blood pressure illustrates why hypertension is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Affecting 1 in every 3 adults in the United States alone, hypertension substantially raises the risk for heart disease in an affected individual who, most likely, does not show any signs or symptoms. In addition to the risks associated with this “silent killer,” comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol can drastically worsen health outcomes in hypertensive patients. Given the high prevalence and severe consequences of hypertension if undetected, researching this particular topic will increase our understanding of the causes of hypertension by identifying and narrowing down lead candidates for pot...
High blood pressure can damage and weaken you arteries. It is known as the silent killer because many people do not know they have the condition. High blood pressure is common in some areas of the United States than in others. High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for strokes. It can be controlled by several different ways. You can take medication, lose weight, exercise regularly, eat healthy, reduce sodium in your diet, limited your alcohol you drink, avoid tobacco and secondhand smoke, cut back on caffeine, reduce your stress, monitor your blood pressure at home, and get support from your family and friends
Six moths ago I scheduled a physical and blood work, a month later I was diagnosed with high cholesterol. My total cholesterol levels were at 250, with and LDL of 150, which puts me at a higher risk of cardiovascular illness. I was given the option of changing my eating habits with a combination of exercise to manage and lower my cholesterol levels, thus avoiding the need for medication. The dr. was very supportive, he had many helpful suggestions and showed me several ways in which I could lower my cholesterol by making simple food choices. After a long discussion I decided this was the way to go, I hate taking medication. When I reviewed the analysis report and saw that my cholesterol continues to be above the recommended range I let out a huge sigh, it took a few seconds to compose myself before I continued to look over it. This whole time I thought I had maintained my cholesterol under control, the analysis report proved that I was wrong. It is important that I make changes on how I eat. High cholesterol is indicative of cardiovascular illnesses that possibly result in serious chronic diseases. Diseases that are linked to high cholesterol are Coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. The main risk from cholesterol is heart attacks. If the cholesterol remains high, it can build up overtime in the walls of the arteries forming a build up known as plaque. This plaque will cause the arteries
What is Familial hypercholesterolemia and how familial hypercholesterolemia can affect you a person? Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited condition that can lead to problem within your heart. This genetic disorder can cause high levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels that begins at birth and can led to a number of heart attacks for a person at a young age. We all need some cholesterol to work certain things in your body properly but if you have way too much cholesterol in your blood stream it will start to build up in the walls of the arteries and cause an increasing chance of you getting heart disease. If a person’s have familial hypercholesterolemia they have levels of LDL cholesterol which means that your liver
My cholesterol was 699.83 mg, and since it is hard to determine between HDL and LDL through a food tracking application there was no Daily Recommended Intake. Yet, for a 2,000-calorie diet, it suggests 653mg as a maximum. I should reduce my cholesterol levels, because high cholesterol levels can increase risk of heart disease and stroke due to the plaque that can build up in the arteries. My total fat levels were 251% above my Daily Recommended Intake, and I should reduce total fat intake. Of the fat intake, I should reduce saturated fat the most, which was 138% of my Daily Recommended Intake. Saturated fats can increase risk for heart disease by increasing blood cholesterol. To reduce my fat intake I can replace foods like hamburgers with a leaner cut of meat, or chicken. I can reduce fat levels by using less butter to cook my meals, and less cheese. A good option would be a whole grain bread with turkey deli meat, which only has 1.4g of fat per serving. My sodium levels are also abnormally high; I consumed 7,053 mg of sodium, which is 5,553 mg over my Daily Recommended Intake. High sodium diets can increase blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease. To reduce sodium in my diet I can consume less packaged products, mostly meat products and choose a freshly cooked option. I should stay clear of frozen vegetables that have “fresh frozen” because they do not include added sodium. When deciding condiments, I should stay clear of high sodium products such as ketchup, soy sauce, dips and mustard. An easy away to identify food with recommended sodium levels in a grocery store is the “American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark”. I consume a supplemental protein shake after each workout within thirty minutes to maximize my recovery and absorption of protein. I also have 25g of supplemental whey protein, and 40 grams of casein protein. Both of these products are
My DRI of cholesterol was maxed at 300mg and my intake was 267mg. Still relatively high so could start consuming Oatmeal for breakfast in which reduces your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the "bad" cholesterol. Also, I...