Beware of Rising Cholesterol After Eid

Cholesterol is a fatty compound that is produced by various cells in the body, and about a quarter of the cholesterol that is produced in the body is produced by liver cells. Basically, the body needs cholesterol to stay healthy.

Cholesterol is divided into two types, namely good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL). Good cholesterol, or HDL, is able to absorb cholesterol and bring it back to the liver, then throw it out of the body. Conversely, bad cholesterol can accumulate in the walls of blood vessels, which can clog and increase the risk of a number of diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes. People with high cholesterol levels need to start managing their diet to avoid various dangerous diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes. One way is by consuming cholesterol-lowering foods.

Eid is synonymous with family gatherings and meals. The food served usually contains coconut milk and fatty meat. After a month of fasting with a controlled diet, be careful of coconut milk and fatty foods on Hari Raya, which can cause high cholesterol. People with high cholesterol are often unaware of the symptoms they are experiencing. The following are symptoms of high cholesterol:

1. Easy Drowsiness

Frequent yawning occurs due to a reduced oxygen supply to the brain. If the frequency of yawning is not normal, you should be suspicious because it could be due to the accumulation of high cholesterol, which means that the supply of oxygen to the brain is not optimal.

2. Tingling

Often, feeling tingling in the feet, hands, or certain parts of the body is one of the symptoms of poor blood flow. As a result, there are nerves that do not get optimal blood supply. In general, the cause of poor blood flow is cholesterol.

3. Stiff neck or shoulders

A sore neck or shoulders can be caused by a lack of oxygen and blood supply to the area due to cholesterol buildup. Immediately overcome it so that it is not sustainable.

4. Pain in the legs

Pain in the legs can be a symptom of high cholesterol due to blockage of flow in the arteries, so that blood flow to the legs is obstructed.

5. Xanthelasma

Specifically, cholesterol deposits that are under the skin tissue If this happens, you will usually see a light yellow stain at the end of your eyelid or a small, solid lump in the folds of your body, such as your heel, elbow, or knee.

6. Fatty Liver

When the liver is filled with high levels of fat, complaints arise in the form of discomfort, bloating, and even nausea. Circumstances like this can increase the risk of cirrhosis and even liver cancer.

7. Stroke symptoms

High cholesterol can cause blockages of blood vessels in the brain due to a lack of oxygen and blood intake. This condition causes a person to experience symptoms of weakness on one side of the body, vomiting, or severe headaches.

8. Cramps

Symptoms of high cholesterol can also include cramps in several parts of the body at night when you wake up from sleep. Cramps occur in the heels, soles, and others. The pain will disappear when the body is moved.

9. Chest Pain

Chest pain can be a sign of high cholesterol complications. This condition occurs due to the presence of plaque on the artery walls, so the heart does not get an adequate blood supply.

10. Erectile dysfunction

Plaque formed due to high cholesterol not only causes chest pain but also causes erectile dysfunction. This condition occurs due to the blood flow to the penis being obstructed by the plaque.

11.Xanthoma

Xanthoma is a skin disorder characterized by fat accumulation that forms small lumps (papules). This condition can appear in any part of the body but is more common in the joints, especially the knees and elbows.

High cholesterol prevention

1. Implement a healthy diet. Limit the consumption of foods that contain cholesterol and avoid consuming alcoholic beverages. Eat more vegetables, fruits, and fish.
2. Maintain an ideal body weight. Overweight or obesity can increase levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood. Losing weight can help lower LDL levels in the blood. The ideal body weight can be measured by the size of the body mass index (BMI). The size is measured by weight and height. The ideal BMI value for adults is 18.5-24.5. In addition, the size of the abdominal circumference also affects cholesterol levels in the blood, namely no more than 80cm for women and 90cm for men.
3. Exercise regularly. Physical activity can help stabilize body weight and lower bad cholesterol (LDL) levels. The recommended time for adults to exercise from light to heavy is 30 minutes to 2 hours per week.
4. Avoid smoking. Smoking can injure blood vessels and accelerate damage to the arteries. Smoking can increase a person's risk for heart disease and stroke. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you smoke, stop slowly to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. The risk of heart disease and stroke due to high blood cholesterol is not only experienced by active smokers but also by passive smokers.

If you already suffer from high cholesterol. Cholesterol levels in the blood can be controlled by consuming various cholesterol-lowering foods and drinks, namely:

1. Green Vegetables

Green vegetables, such as spinach, arugula, and kale, have been shown to help lower cholesterol levels. This is because the antioxidants contained in green vegetables are able to bind bile acids, which are made of cholesterol, thus preventing the accumulation of cholesterol in the blood.

2. Nuts

Nuts also help lower cholesterol because the content of phytosterols in them can inhibit the absorption of bad cholesterol in the blood.

3. Bananas

The substance inulin in bananas is useful for reducing cholesterol from the food you consume. This helps you control cholesterol levels.

4. Oats

Oats, made from wheat, contain beta-glucan, which can lower bad cholesterol in the blood. In addition, beta-glucan in oats can also reduce cholesterol absorption from the food you eat.

5. Black Tea

Black tea is one type of drink that can maintain cholesterol levels in the blood. The content of flavonoids in black tea is known to help heart performance, lower cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of hypertension.

6. Soy milk

Another drink that can also be used as a cholesterol-lowering agent is soy milk. Soy milk itself contains isoflavones, which are useful for lowering cholesterol levels in the blood. Not only soy milk, but foods derived from processed donkey nuts also contain high levels of isoflavones, such as tempeh and tofu.

7. Carrots

Carrots are vegetables that people with high cholesterol can eat. This orange-colored vegetable contains fiber (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin), which is considered to improve the absorption of cholesterol from the digestive tract and lower its levels in the blood.

8. Eggplant

In a study on test animals, as much as 10 milliliters (ml) of eggplant juice was shown to reduce levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides. This is not surprising because one cup of eggplant (94 grams) contains 2.4 grams of fiber. Even so, further research is needed in humans to prove the effectiveness of eggplant in lowering cholesterol.

9. Okra

Okra is a vegetable that is known to contain a lot of fiber. In every 100-gram portion, it contains about 3.2 grams of fiber. Therefore, okra is considered a vegetable that can be used as a natural remedy for high cholesterol.

10. Radish

Radishes are vegetables that are still in the same family as carrots. In every half-cup serving, these vegetables contain about 3 grams of fiber. The fiber content of radish is not only considered able to reduce cholesterol levels but also reduces the risk of blood sugar disease and high blood pressure (hypertension).

If you experience symptoms or problems as described above, immediately consult Dr. Dania Artriana, Sp.PD. She is an internal medicine specialist at Hermina Tasikmalaya Hospital.