Cholesterol is essential for health. It is a part of our cells. But, there are two types of cholesterol in our bodies. Once the ‘bad’ cholesterol builds up, it can cause a condition called atherosclerosis, also known as the “hardening of the arteries.” Cholesterol is a waxy material needed to build cells.
Our liver produces the cholesterol needed for our body. The second source of cholesterol comes from the foods we eat, especially the ones derived from animals. If the cholesterol content increases in your body, you will develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Therefore, before making any complications, you should get your varicose vein treatment from the best healthcare.
Why cholesterol and atherosclerosis are a problem
The two types of cholesterol are HDL cholesterol (the good kind) and LDL cholesterol (the bad kind).
When our liver produces excess cholesterol in addition to your diet, the extra cholesterol does not get into your cells. Instead, it reacts with other substances and deposits along the walls of your arteries. When the hardened cholesterol forms, two things happen. The blood flow passage becomes narrower, causing less blood flow and high blood pressure. Secondly, your arteries and veins become less flexible, affecting the blood flow.
The deposited cholesterol gets hardened, and then the problem begins. When it happens, it forms a condition known as atherosclerosis.
It may seem that cholesterol has an easier time settling in the veins, but it only happens in arteries. Arteries are designed to handle a lot of stress going on at once. The high pressure leads to plaques. But the veins are a low-pressure system. Veins can work like arteries, but they become vulnerable to atherosclerosis when connected to the high-pressure part of the circulatory system.
Consequences of decreased blood flow
Decreased blood flow means that the blood required for our organs will no longer flow effectively. This will lead to the organ not working efficiently, causing a disruption. Also, various body areas can be affected in the part where the plaque builds up. We know it can cause strokes and heart attacks, but it can also impact the kidneys.
When the arteries coming and going back to the heart get clogged, a heart attack can occur. In the same way, arteries going and coming back from the brain can also get blocked, causing a stroke.
High cholesterol levels also cause Alzheimer’s disease. Excess cholesterol accelerates the formation of certain plaques known as beta-amyloid plaques that get deposited in the brain with this condition.
Michael C Vang is a passionate blogger. He has been blogging since 2013 on a variety of topics. He is committed to creating informative and engaging content that helps readers learn more about everything.
