Common Conditions and Diseases that can be Affected by High Cholesterol
There are several conditions and diseases that may not be thought to have any connection to your cholesterol level that can actually be connected to the presence of high LDL blood cholesterol.
One of those conditions affects many males, erectile dysfunction. It has been shown that males, who have high level of the blood cholesterol LDL, can be at higher risk for erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to either achieve or maintain an erection during sexual activity. ED can be the result of either psychological or physical problems. The most common physical contributing factors to erectile dysfunction is the presence of high cholesterol and other vascular issues. Atherosclerosis occurs when plaque builds up in arteries due to high levels of LDL cholesterol. This plaque can obstruct and narrow the arteries resulting in the restriction of blood flow. Erectile dysfunction can result when the blood flow to the arteries of the penis are restricted due to atherosclerosis.
Nephrotic syndrome is another heath condition that can be connected to high LDL cholesterol in both adults and children. This is a potentially dangerous condition in that it occurs when blood vessels that have the purpose of filtering blood and then sending it to the bladder are damaged. Normally there is very little protein in the urine. Individuals with nephrotic syndrome have vast amounts of protein leakage into their urine, which can lead to kidney disease and the need for dialysis or kidney transplants putting the individual at health risk.
The exact cause of nephrotic syndrome is not clear, but it has been shown that a combination of decreasing blood pressure, decreasing protein intake, and lowering cholesterol levels, through diet and medication has shown to have an impact on the occurrence of nephrotic syndrome.
Typically individuals with nephrotic syndrome have been tested and found to have high LDL cholesterol levels.
Peripheral Artery Disease:
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a common form of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Individuals with atherosclerosis, or who suffer from coronary artery disease, have suffered a heart attack or stroke are at increased risk for peripheral artery disease.
High cholesterol levels are found to be one risk factor for PAD as well as other risk factors such as having diabetes, being obese, being a smoker, or not participating in daily active exercise.
Symptoms of PAD include having foot pain and wounds on the feet that do not heal as quickly as they should or that become gangrene. Individuals with PAD may also have a drop in temperature in the lower extremities, pain in the hips, thighs and calves of their legs that do not go away after activity has stopped. These symptoms may not be the same for everyone with PAD, and males typically experience more symptoms than females who have the disease.
Individuals can have a positive affect on their PAD by controlling lifestyle factors, diet and their activity levels that will decrease the LDL cholesterol level of their blood.
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