Diseases that Cause High Cholesterol

Diseases that Cause High Cholesterol

For a large number of people, cholesterol can be controlled by eating cholesterol-lowering foods, losing weight and by taking cholesterol-lowering drugs. 

However, what about the smaller percentage of people that adhere to these measures yet still have a high cholesterol level? 

They should have their doctors investigate whether they have a more serious condition. 

Diseases that can cause high cholesterol levels include: diabetes, hypothyroidism, liver conditions, kidney conditions and hypertension.

Diabetes is a disease where the body is unable to metabolize or produce insulin. 

Three types of diabetes exist: Type I, Type II and gestational.  Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, prohibits the pancreas from creating insulin.  Type II diabetes, also known as “adult-onset diabetes”, is when the body produces insulin but it is either not enough for healthy functioning or it is enough yet it cannot be used by the body’s cells.  Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy.  Of these forms of diabetes, Type II and gestational diabetes are responsible for high cholesterol levels.  This is because the insulin, unable to be processed by the body, causes the glucose levels to be so high that the arteries become narrowed.  These narrowed arteries result in an increase of LDL cholesterol.  If high cholesterol is indeed caused by diabetes, you will need to treat the diabetes in order to get the cholesterol level back to normal.  To treat diabetes, you will need exercise, diet, insulin, (in the case of Type I diabetes), and, if the diabetes is severe, drugs.  It is very important that you seek treatment if you suspect you have diabetes, because it is not the type of condition that can naturally go away.  Make sure to go to the doctor if you have any of the following symptoms: constant urination, blurred vision, unexplained weight loss, excessive tiredness and frequent hunger.

Hypothyroidism, also known as underactive thyroid, is when the body’s thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroxin. 

This causes a person to have a variety of problems including weight gain, depression, goiters, hearing loss, menstrual issues, constipation, tiredness and of course, high cholesterol.  How does hypothyroidism cause one’s cholesterol level to be high?  It’s because without the necessary amount of thyroxin, the body is unable to properly metabolize extra cholesterol in the blood.  No amount of healthy eating will change this fact.  Thus, if hypothyroidism is causing high cholesterol levels, the only solution is to treat the condition through thyroid medication.  Yet, don’t think that you’re in the clear if you haven’t received an official diagnosis of hypothyroidism from your doctor.  This is because hypothyroidism is a condition that is under-diagnosed or even misdiagnosed.  So, it’s best to bring the issue up with the doctor directly.  Additionally, there is a self-test you can perform to see if you have hypothyroidism.  It’s called the thyroid neck test, and it works by first looking at your thyroid area in the mirror.  This area is in your neck located below the Adam’s apple, (for women this is towards the center of the neck).  You tilt your head back then drink some water.  The only part that should be moving is your throat when you swallow… if you see movement from unusual-looking bulges, you could have hypothyroidism. 

Next, there are liver diseases. 

These cause cholesterol problems because the liver is the primary organ responsible for cholesterol production.  If it is diseased it can either not make enough cholesterol, (causing cholesterol to be too low, a phenomenon examined earlier in this e-book), or it cannot properly metabolize the cholesterol it does make, elevating one’s cholesterol level.  Some of the symptoms that are common to most liver diseases include: jaundice, weight problems, depression, low blood sugar, diarrhea, muscle aches, malaise and discolored urine.  If your doctor suspects liver disease he or she will administer a liver function test.  They may also perform additional tests, including X-rays, blood tests, GI examination, ultrasounds and liver scans.  Treatment for liver disease depends on the cause and the severity of liver damage.  Some can be treated by proper diet and, if necessary, medication.  Others, such as cirrhosis, can damage the liver so much that a liver transplant is needed.  For this reason it is best to try to take preventative measures to prevent the likelihood of contracting liver disease.  These include proper hygiene, healthy eating and avoiding excessive amounts of alcohol. 

Thirdly, there are kidney diseases. 

Kidney diseases interfere with kidney function, which is essential for filtering the blood of excessive LDL cholesterol.  Symptoms of kidney diseases include: urination problems, problems with concentration, nausea, vomiting, bad breath, anemia and pain in the legs.  Treatment of kidney diseases varies.  Some respond to a combination of diet and medication, while others can be more serious.  If kidney functioning is severely limited due to kidney disease, a person may require dialysis or a kidney transplant.  Kidney transplants tend to be what most seek, because it is the only procedure that can ‘cure’ kidney failure; dialysis only cleans the blood.  However, getting a kidney can be very difficult.  For this reason many opt to not do anything about their kidney failure, which ultimately results in their death.  If a person goes this route it is recommended they spend their last days in a hospice, since these facilities are designed to make dying more comfortable.

Lastly, there is hypertension. 

Hypertension is defined as an abnormal elevation in blood pressure.  There can be no obvious cause for it, or it could be the result of another condition, such as kidney disease or tumors.  Regardless, hypertension can have a negative effect on cholesterol levels because it causes the blood vessels to constrict.  How can you tell if you have hypertension?  Many times you won’t be able to.  Other times, you may have unexplained headaches, dizziness and papilledema, (which is swelling of the optic nerve).  If hypertension continues, whether there are symptoms or not, you run the risk of heart complications, which could be severe enough to kill you.  This is why it is very important you keep track of your blood pressure.  If it is higher than normal, (which ranges from 120/80 to 140/90), talk with your doctor.  If you do have hypertension, you will be given medication along with recommendations on what type of diet you should adhere to.  Within time this diet and medication will also help to lower your cholesterol.