10 adults have 3 people carrying a “bomb” of stroke

Excess cholesterol alarm

According to the Ministry of Health, statistics in Vietnam show that 3 out of 10 adults have excess cholesterol. Accordingly, about 200,000 new strokes are recorded each year. In major hospitals, the number of strokes is 3-4 times higher than 5-10 years ago.

Stroke is the leading cause of death, and stroke is the leading cause of disability. Specifically, 50% of stroke patients have to depend on others, unable to live on their own.

According to Dr. Nguyen An Phap – Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, excess cholesterol will cause accumulation, creating atheroma plaques, narrowing blood vessels and eventually leading to blockage. Thereby, causing cerebral ischemia, leading to stroke.

Practical studies have shown that 25% of strokes are directly related to excess cholesterol by this mechanism.

Besides, excess cholesterol is also indirectly related to 50% of strokes for cases of hypertension, degeneration of small blood vessels.

According to French doctor, the cause of excess cholesterol is due to eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle. People who eat too many foods high in cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fat may have an increased risk of developing high cholesterol.

Other lifestyle factors that can also contribute to high cholesterol include a sedentary lifestyle, inactivity, and smoking.

In addition, genetics can also influence high cholesterol. Genes are passed from parents to children. Certain genes regulate how the body metabolizes cholesterol and fats. If a parent has high cholesterol, the child has a higher risk of developing it, too.

In rare cases, high cholesterol is caused by familial hypercholesterolemia. This genetic disorder prevents the body from getting rid of LDL.

Illustrated photo.

Other health conditions, such as diabetes and hypothyroidism, can also increase your risk of developing high cholesterol and related complications.

Excess cholesterol is worrisome in that it happens quite silently, with almost no obvious symptoms. Many people only find out they have high cholesterol when they have tests or have serious complications such as stroke. These cases require treatment but have no chance of prevention.

How to lower cholesterol

According to Dr. France, if the patient has a blood test if he has high cholesterol, the doctor may recommend lifestyle changes. For example, it may be recommended to change your diet, exercise routine, or quit smoking.

Your doctor may also prescribe medications or other treatments to help lower cholesterol levels.

Lower cholesterol through diet such as limiting foods high in cholesterol, saturated fat, choosing protein sources such as chicken, fish and legumes. Eat a variety of fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and choose baked, steamed, and roasted foods instead of fried foods.

People with excess cholesterol should avoid fast food and junk food, foods high in cholesterol, saturated fat. Red meat, organ meats, egg yolks and high-fat dairy products should also be limited. Deep-fried foods, such as chips, fried chicken, some cookies, and muffins.

Eating more fish and other foods containing omega-3 fatty acids can also help lower LDL levels. For example, salmon, mackerel, and herring are rich sources of omega-3s. Berries, almonds, ground flaxseed, and avocados also contain omega-3s.

If high cholesterol is hereditary, Dr. France said that genetic risk factors for high cholesterol cannot be controlled. However, lifestyle factors can be managed. You can maintain a nutritious diet low in cholesterol and animal fats, and rich in fiber, avoid excessive alcohol consumption, maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, and not smoke.

In addition, French doctor also recommends that people with high blood fat can use more herbs that support blood fat reduction such as basil leaves, celery, dandelion, cloves, cinnamon, ginseng, ginger, lingzhi, etc. burdock, dill, green tea.

The fruits that reduce blood fat such as grapes and grapefruit can be used by patients.

Khanh Chi