Medical experts believe that elevated levels of cholesterol in the body can be a silent killer, without showing symptoms for prolonged periods. The experts explain that such elevated levels, known as hypercholesterolemia in medical sciences, is not limited to only adults.
According to their findings, being a genetic condition, cholesterol can be inherited and as such, children with familial history need to start routine check-ups from as early as the age of 5.
However, without accurate statistics on the condition, experts believe that many Nigerian adults are unaware that they have elevated cholesterol levels. Less than one per cent of children are affected, while over 30 per cent of the elderly, aged 65 years and above, suffer this condition.
According to findings, unchecked hypercholesterolemia in individuals can lead to the formation of plaques in the arteries, which can cause atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis, a hardening or narrowing of the arteries, which can further lead to eruptions of the plaque in the vessels. These eruptions can be associated with bleeding and formation of blood clots in those areas.
From here, the clots can further be released into the blood vessels in a solid mass that can block the flow of blood to major organs via the artery.
Explaining further, medical experts defined cholesterol as a fatty substance produced in the liver and on normal levels; it maintains proper functioning of the body like the conduction of nerve impulses and maintaining the frigidity of cells.
More so, the body produces these high-density lipoproteins and the low density lipoproteins at rates considered safe for the body. The high-density lipoproteins are known as the good cholesterol while the low density lipoproteins are the bad cholesterol.
Coincidentally, the sources of this bad cholesterol include everyday meals we indulge ourselves in like fish, shrimps, egg yolk, red meat, animal fat, vegetable oil, red oil and, in poultry, mainly the skin.
Experts suggest that hypercholesterolemia is usually caused by genetic contributions or when a person’s diet is left unchecked. This, they believe, can lead to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. They further warn that habits like cigarette smoking can escalate such condition.
Due to the nature of hypercholesterolemia, which is usually asymptomatic, experts advise that people should eat less of fatty foods, but instead, eat moderately and indulge more in vegetables and fruits. This, alongside regular workouts, will keep cholesterol levels in check.
In Nigeria, there is little awareness about the effects of excess cholesterol in the body just as many people are unaware that children can be affected as well. A Child and Public Health Physician, Dr. Rotimi Adesanya, said that, though elevated cholesterol was asymptomatic, “when it is higher than the normal range of 200mg in the body, some symptoms like increased blood pressure and heart problems may begin to manifest.”
He added that adults from the age of 40 years and above, should do annual general check-up because it would involve the lipid profile, which would analyse the cholesterol levels. He explained that kids with familial history would always show symptoms like obesity, and falling ill regularly, among others.
“Such kids should be subjected to regular medical tests on cholesterol as from the age of 5 and it should be done annually,” he said.
Another practitioner with Careway Specialist Hospital, Dr. Innocent Opara, explained that excessive cholesterol in the body was usually obtained from the food ingested. He added that when a person consumed fatty foods, the body would not absorb it immediately; because it had already synthesised enough food. The cholesterol can only be absorbed after some hours, before it is then transported into the blood stream.
sources of bad cholesterol include everyday meals we indulge ourselves in like fish, shrimps, egg yolk, red meat, animal fat, vegetable oil, red oil and, in poultry, mainly the skin
“Although causes of hypercholeteroleia may include one’s diet and multiple or single gene difference such as low-density lipoprotein receptor mutation, there are secondary causes which include diabetes mellitus type 11, obesity, and alcohol, among others,” Opara summed up.
