What causes high cholesterol?

[Cymbeline]

My father is the healthiest man I know in terms of diet and physical exercise. He is 55 and he has always had to keep an eye on his cholesterol levels but now he has been told that they are dangerously high. His father had a heart attack at 57. Is it hereditary and therefore there is nothing he can do about it? The only vice he has is that he drinks far too much alcohol but I didn't think this was a cause of high cholesterol.

[gerkin]

The liver regulates cholestoral in your body - more effieciently for some than for others

[alijangra]

There is a condition called hyperlipidaemia which is hereditary and it may be the case he has had this as you say he has always had to watch his levels.

it basically means HYPER= excess, LIPID= fats, AEMIA= blood

There are many products on the market which help lower cholesterol and would suggest he tries them if you say his diet is already low in fat. They are a bit more pricey but most definately worth it in the long run.

Im assuming that if his levels are so high he has been commenced on medication? These drugs are called 'statins' ie simvastatin, atorvastatin etc and significantly reduce the blood lipid levels.

This condition runs in my family on both sides so even when I was 17 and skinny my cholesterol levels were on the high side. Two of my sisters and my father all have cardiac problems due to this so it cannot be ignored.

Too many people believe because they are not overweight and exercise regularly that they are not at risk. How many people do you know that have had heart attacks and thought they were healthy? Its often put down to stress, and while this is a major contributory factor, the arteries still have to have been in a bit of a state for the heart attack to occur.

Im sorry if I seem to be going on a bit but there has been alot of heartache in my family due to this problem, the worst being my uncle (my dads younger brother) dying suddenly at 43 from a heart attack.

Everyone needs to take responsibility for themselves, get checked and if need be, do something about it.

[diana.m]

Alcohol does have effect on cholesterol levels, alchol is high in sugar and too much sugar turns to fat which can effect cholesterol levels. The body needs cholesterol but levels rise if one eats too much saturated fats (usually means fats that stay hard at room temperature) are the bad ones. Olive oil sunflower etc are good fats. Its a complicated matter, the body needs certain types of fats to help regulate normal levels of cholesterol. There are things that can be done even if it is the hereditory condition. Cut out cheese butter, full fat milk, margerine made of hydrogenated fats is bad, worse than butter for the body in fact. I Hope he manages to reduce his levels and avoid any illness.

[alijangra]

Sorry DianaM but I really have to disagree with your statement. High alcohol intake does not in itself increase cholesterol levels. Studies show, in fact, that moderate alcohol consumption actually lowers LDL cholesterol and it also thins the blood. Doctors would never advocate taking alcohol for this reason though due to the other deterimental effects it has on the body ie liver cirrhosis. The process of breaking down the sugars in alcohol is a lot more complex than it simply being turned into fat and turning into cholesterol in the bloodstream.

While I agree that it would be advisable for Cymbelines father to reduce his alchohol intake if it is above the recommended levels, I think it is inaccurate to suggest that his alcohol is causing the dangerously high cholesterol levels.

It is well documented that the main causes of high cholesterol are diet and hereditary factors. As diet does not seem to be an issue in this case then I really suggest that he seeks medical advice with regard to lipid lowering medication. This will potentially save his life.

[diana.m]

I wasnt suggesting that high intake of alcohol was the sole cause of her fathers high cholesterol levels but suggesting that it could have an affect on his cholesterol levels. Cymbeline stated he drank far too much alcohol. I agree that I gave a simplified explanation on a complex process how excess carbohydrates are stored by the body. Thank you for your information.