High cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia, occurs when there is an excess of cholesterol in the blood, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular issues. About 86 million adults in the US have high cholesterol levels. The body needs cholesterol for different health functions like hormone synthesis and cell membrane function, but cholesterol levels become problematic when l low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels rise. High cholesterol can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, narrowing them and restricting blood flow.
Most people with high cholesterol have no symptoms, and the condition is often detected during routine blood tests. Some people may have fatty deposits on their skin or grayish rings around their eyes. High cholesterol is typically diagnosed through a lipid panel blood test that measures total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides.
The main causes of high cholesterol include an unhealthy diet high in saturated and trans fats, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and obesity. Genetics and medical conditions like diabetes, hypothyroidism, and kidney disease, along with certain medications like steroids, HIV medications, retinoids, and anti-cancers can also contribute to high cholesterol.
Conventional treatment for high cholesterol mainly involves medications like statins. However, some people may experience side effects, such as muscle pain, muscle breakdown, and increased diabetes risk, from cholesterol-lowering medications. Functional medicine, on the other hand, is a safer, more economical alternative treatment that focuses on natural methods to reduce cholesterol levels. Natural treatments for high cholesterol include consuming foods like oats, almonds, and avocados, along with increasing physical activity, reducing alcohol intake and smoking, and considering stress management practices like yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises.
Read on for more information about high cholesterol, its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options.
What Is High Cholesterol?
High cholesterol occurs when there is too much cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that serves several important health functions, including building up the cell membrane, synthesizing hormones, producing bile salts, and controlling the fluidity of the cell membrane. High cholesterol is also known as hypercholesterolemia or hyperlipidemia.
Cholesterol itself is not bad, and the body requires it for healthy living. However, cholesterol is fat-soluble and cannot dissolve in blood since the liquid part of the blood (plasma) is made of mostly water (92%). Therefore, cholesterol needs external assistance to be transported in the blood through small, round lipid (fat) and protein particles called lipoproteins.
There are two main types of lipoprotein particles – low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL carries cholesterol to the arteries (blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body), while HDL carries cholesterol from the blood into the liver, where it can be removed.
Too much LDL in the blood can cause plaque (fatty deposits) formation. Plaque narrows the arteries and increases the risk of cardiovascular conditions like stroke, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and heart attack. LDL’s role in increasing the risk of heart problems is why it is called the “bad” cholesterol. HDL, on the other hand, removes LDL from the blood and reduces the risk of heart problems, explaining why it is called the “good” cholesterol.
What Are the Symptoms of High Cholesterol?
High cholesterol typically does not cause any symptoms. Most people only find out they have high cholesterol during routine health checks or when high cholesterol has started to cause other health conditions, like stroke, heart attack, and angina (chest pain).
However, some people may still notice symptoms like fatty, yellowish bumps on their skin, especially on the buttocks, ankles, knees, elbows, hands, and above the eyelids. High cholesterol may also cause grayish-white rings at the edge of the iris (the colored part of the eye).
What Are the Causes of High Cholesterol?
The causes of high cholesterol are usually related to the individual’s lifestyle habits, especially eating a lot of fatty foods, living a sedentary life, smoking, and drinking. Medical conditions (diabetes, hypothyroidism, and kidney disease) and certain medications (steroids, cancer medications, and HIV medications) are also potential causes of high cholesterol.
Here is a list of some of the typical causes of high cholesterol levels.
- Eating lots of saturated fats (found in butter, lard, palm oil, pork, and coconut oil) and trans fatty acids (found in margarine, fried foods, pies, crackers, and biscuits).
- Physical inactivity
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Genetics
- Medical conditions like hypothyroidism (low thyroid activity), diabetes, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, sleep apnea, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
- Certain medications like steroids, HIV/AIDS medications, chemotherapy medications, acne medications (retinoids), and antihypertensives (especially diuretics like thiazides and beta-blockers like labetalol, atenolol, and bisoprolol).
High cholesterol that is due to an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, obesity, and smoking is called acquired hypercholesterolemia. Conversely, high cholesterol due to genetics is familial hypercholesterolemia.
What Are the Risk Factors of High Cholesterol?
The risk factors of high cholesterol include eating an unhealthy diet, obesity, smoking, drinking, physical inactivity, age, sex, race or ethnicity, genetics, and menopause. The more of these factors are present in an individual, the higher their risk of high cholesterol and cardiovascular problems.
Some of the risk factors for high cholesterol are listed below in more detail.
- Unhealthy diet. People who eat too much saturated fat (fatty cuts of meat, full-fat dairy products, bacon, sausages, cheese) and trans fat (margarine, fried foods, frozen pizza, pies, and cookies) are at a higher risk of high cholesterol levels.
- Obese or overweight people have a higher risk of high cholesterol
- Smoking. Cigarette smoking can increase the risk of high cholesterol as it lowers the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which carries cholesterol out of the bloodstream.
- Alcohol. Excess drinking can increase the risk of high cholesterol levels.
- Physical inactivity. Living a sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk of high cholesterol levels.
- Age. The risk of high cholesterol significantly increases over the age of 40, and most diagnoses of high cholesterol occur between 40 and 49.
- Sex. Men are at a higher risk of high cholesterol levels between the ages of 20 and 39. However, women are at a higher risk after menopause, which usually occurs around age 45.
- Race or ethnicity. Non-Hispanic White people have the highest risk of high cholesterol levels.
Diagnosis of High Cholesterol
The diagnosis of high cholesterol is usually a lipid panel (lipid profile) blood test, which determines the cholesterol concentration in a patient’s blood. Healthcare providers may request the patient come for the test on an empty stomach (an 8 – 12-hour fast) because the lipid panel test measures different substances in the blood that dietary components may affect.
There are two main ways of taking a cholesterol blood test: drawing blood from the arm with a needle or by a finger prick that collects a drop of blood onto a strip of paper. The first method (drawing blood from the arm) takes longer to show results, as the test is sent to a lab for analysis, and the results are not ready until days later. The finger prick method is much faster, taking only a few minutes, but it is not as comprehensive as the lab test method.
Blood tests that show total cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dl (milligrams of cholesterol in one deciliter of blood) or LDL cholesterol levels above 130 mg/dl indicate high cholesterol. Also, HDL cholesterol levels below 40 mg/dl in men and 50 mg/dl in women may point to the individual having high cholesterol levels.
Conventional vs. Functional Medicine Treatment of High Cholesterol
Conventional medicine’s treatment of high cholesterol revolves around cholesterol-lowering medications. Several medication classes, including statins, ezetimibe, and bile acid sequestrants, can reduce cholesterol levels. Functional medicine takes a more natural treatment approach to managing high cholesterol, involving a functional health practitioner considering the condition’s root cause and drafting a treatment plan comprising lifestyle and dietary changes.
Conventional medicine always uses medications to manage health conditions. Cholesterol-lowering medications, including statins, ezetimibe, bempedoic acid, bile acid sequestrants (cholestyramine, colesevelam), and PCSK9 inhibitors, are the first-line treatment options for high cholesterol. Statins are the most potent and common cholesterol-lowering medications, and they are effective in lowering LDL and increasing HDL levels.
However, statins may cause side effects in some individuals, and this is a common theme with all medications. Musculoskeletal side effects are the most common side effects of statins, and these include myalgia (muscle aches and pain) and rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown). Statins can also increase the risk of diabetes and neurological conditions, as well as influence abnormal liver enzyme tests.
The potential for side effects resulting from using statins has caused many patients to stop using statin therapy for their high cholesterol. Another common stumbling block for patients regarding the use of statins is their high costs. Therefore, many patients are constantly seeking alternative treatments for their high cholesterol that are safe, effective, and economical.
Functional medicine is an alternative treatment that can help reduce cholesterol levels without the accompanying adverse effects. Studies published by the Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, confirm the significant health benefits of using natural treatment options to lower cholesterol levels. Functional medicine is an evidence-based, science-backed branch of medicine that manages health conditions by identifying their root causes and developing a patient-specific treatment plan. Functional medicine is all about treating conditions naturally and holistically (holistic medicine is a form of medicine that treats a condition by considering all the contributing factors to a condition).
Natural Treatments for High Cholesterol
The natural treatment options for high cholesterol start with dietary changes, such as cutting out foods rich in saturated and trans fat and replacing them with low-fat, healthier alternatives. Other natural treatment options for reducing high cholesterol include being more physically active, proper stress management, cessation of smoking, and reducing alcohol intake.
Below are the natural treatment options for reducing high cholesterol levels.
Diet
Diet constitutes everything we eat and drink daily, which plays a key role in reducing cholesterol levels. An unhealthy diet is one of the primary causes of high cholesterol. Therefore, making the right dietary changes can potentially help reduce cholesterol levels. Here are some of the dietary components and how they relate to lowering high cholesterol levels.
Foods
Foods play a key role in regulating cholesterol levels. Foods rich in saturated and trans fats can increase cholesterol levels, while foods high in unsaturated and low in saturated fats can positively affect cholesterol levels. Below is a list of foods to avoid and foods to eat if you want to reduce cholesterol levels.
Foods to Avoid
- Cakes
- Cookies
- Crackers
- Margarine
- Canned meats
- Frozen pizza
- Fried foods, like fried donuts, fried chicken, and French fries
- Fatty cuts of meat
- Pork
- Coconut and palm oils
Food to Eat
- Oats
- Barley
- Psyllium
- Beans
- Vegetable oils
- Apples
- Soy protein
- Tomatoes
- Almonds
- Avocados
- Turmeric
All the foods to eat and foods to avoid recommended have theoretical and practical evidence of reducing or increasing cholesterol levels. However, what dietary changes work for each individual differs. Therefore, you should not make drastic diet changes without consulting your healthcare provider.
Drinks
The right drinks can also help reduce cholesterol levels. Cholesterol-lowering drinks typically contain antioxidant compounds and soluble fiber, which both have positive effects on cholesterol lowering. Below are some examples of drinks that can lower cholesterol levels.
- Green tea
- Tomato juice
- Soy drinks
- Oat milk
- Plant milk smoothies, usually of bananas, grapes, apples, plums, pears
- Berry smoothies, typically of blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries
- Pomegranate juice
There are also drinks that can increase cholesterol levels, and they include high-cream beverages, whole coconut drinks, high-fat milk drinks, and alcohol.
Exercise
Physical activity is one of the best ways to reduce cholesterol levels and improve cardiovascular health. Exercise can raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels, strengthen the heart and improve blood circulation, reduce weight, and reduce the risk of heart problems.
A study by Stanford University School of Medicine shows that regular exercise gives similar weight loss goals as dieting. Another Stanford University School of Medicine study in the finds that combining exercising with proper dieting can give more significant reductions in cholesterol levels compared to using just one of exercise or dieting.
The CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise for adults a week. You can achieve the exercise threshold the CDC recommends by walking, jogging, or swimming for 30 minutes, 5 days a week.
Stress Management
Reducing stress levels can help reduce cholesterol levels due to the relationship that exists between stress and cholesterol. Research by the University of Pittsburgh shows that acute and chronic stress can translate to high cholesterol levels. Therefore, stress management techniques and practices can help reduce cholesterol levels.
Examples of stress management techniques include meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, social interactions, and physical activity.
Stop Smoking
There is a dose-response relationship between smoking and high cholesterol levels. Therefore, the more cigarettes a person smokes, the higher their cholesterol levels. The chemicals in smoke also damage the heart and blood vessels, further increasing the risk of heart problems.
Quitting smoking is one of the most important ways of reducing cholesterol levels naturally. You can contact your healthcare provider if you have withdrawal symptoms or are finding it difficult to quit smoking.
Cut Down on Alcohol
Limiting alcohol intake can reduce cholesterol levels as the body breaks alcohol into cholesterol and triglycerides in the liver, which directly correlates to more cholesterol in the blood. Alcohol also contributes to high cholesterol by increasing body weight, which is generally accompanied by more cholesterol in the blood.
You don’t necessarily have to cut off alcohol completely from your diet. However, you should restrict yourself to no more than 2 standard drinks a day if you are a man and 1 standard drink a day as a woman. You should also have alcohol-free days and spread out your drinking across the week, rather than on a few days.
Remember, the downsides of alcohol often outweigh its advantages, and we will never recommend drinking alcohol to improve your health. Do not hesitate to contact your healthcare provider if you have issues reducing your alcohol intake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can High Cholesterol Go Away Without Treatment?
No, high cholesterol will not go away without making the necessary lifestyle changes or using cholesterol-reducing medications. Instead, the cholesterol levels may keep rising, increasing the risk of cardiovascular problems like stroke, heart attack, and coronary artery disease.
How Long Does It Take To Naturally Reduce Cholesterol Levels?
It takes between 3 to 6 months to reduce cholesterol levels naturally if you adopt the right lifestyle habits of eating low-fat foods, being physically active, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, and reducing stress levels. The exact time it takes for cholesterol levels to return to normal levels depends on multiple factors, including the initial cholesterol levels, the individual’s weight, and underlying health conditions. You can get more information about the timeline of reducing your cholesterol levels from a functional medicine practitioner.
Can You Prevent High Cholesterol?
Yes, you can prevent high cholesterol by adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle, which involves understanding your risk of heart disease and taking active preventive measures to lower the risk. Some of the measures to prevent high cholesterol are maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, being physically active, getting quality sleep, and proper stress management.
Who Is Most Likely to Have High Cholesterol?
People most likely to have high cholesterol include those with unhealthy diet consumption (foods high in saturated/trans fats), physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol intake. Medical conditions like diabetes, hypothyroidism, and kidney disease, along with certain medications, age (over 40), and genetics, also increase the risk, especially in non-Hispanic White individuals.
Is Dyslipidemia the Same as Hyperlipidemia (High Cholesterol)?
No, dyslipidemia is not the same as hyperlipidemia, despite many using both terms interchangeably. Dyslipidemia is an abnormal balance between HDL and LDL cholesterol levels without either being out of the normal range. Hyperlipidemia refers to high cholesterol levels. Both dyslipidemia and hyperlipidemia increase the risk of cardiovascular conditions like stroke, heart attack, angina, and coronary artery disease.
Conclusion
High cholesterol is a serious condition that increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. High cholesterol often has no symptoms, so early detection through regular health screenings and checkups is important.
Natural treatment options are safe, effective, and economical. Adopting a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress management can naturally help lower cholesterol. You can contact a functional health practitioner for a proper diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan that will guarantee holistic healing.
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