An Overview
Cholesterol is a waxy substance. Your body makes it and uses it to build your cells. You also get it from many foods. But having too much cholesterol can lead to health problems. High cholesterol can build up in arteries to increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke. It turns out that high cholesterol isn’t good for your kidneys either.
Abnormal cholesterol levels are a hazard to the kidneys, according to the Physicians’ Health Study. This study has been following about 4500 men for 14 years. People with high total cholesterol or reduced HDL (“good”) cholesterol were more likely to have reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR). This is the best way to assess kidney function. A GFR of 60 or lower usually means chronic kidney disease. In fact, people with cholesterol problems were twice as likely to have chronic kidney disease over time.
Some of the first clues linking high cholesterol to kidney disease came from a study called the Physicians’ Health Study. In it, researchers followed about 4,500 healthy men and collected samples of their blood over more than 10 years.
The researchers looked at how well the men’s kidneys were working using a creatinine test. This test shows how well your kidneys get waste out of your blood. They also looked at cholesterol levels.
When they looked at kidney function and cholesterol together, the researchers found that high total cholesterol and high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol, showed up more often in men whose kidneys weren’t working as well.
Why is cholesterol important?
Too much cholesterol can build up in your blood vessels. This build up can narrow the vessels and lead to a blockage, preventing blood from getting to a certain area of your body. When this occurs in your heart vessels, it is called coronary heart disease and can cause a heart attack or stroke.
In people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), heart and blood vessel disease is very common. It is suggested that people with CKD have cholesterol labs drawn at least yearly. Your doctor may want to do them more frequently if something has changed with your health.
Types of Cholesterol
• LDL cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol, the main lipid that causes damaging buildup and blockage in your arteries.
• HDL cholesterol is actually a “good” type of cholesterol that helps to prevent cholesterol from building up in your arteries.
• Triglyceride is another lipid that may increase your risk for heart disease.
Healthy lipid levels?
• Your total cholesterol should be less than 200.
• Your HDL cholesterol should be 40 or higher.
• Your LDL cholesterol should be less than 100. Ask your doctor.
• Your triglyceride level should be less than 150.
Symptoms for Cholesterol in Kidney
High cholesterol has no symptoms. A blood test is the only way to detect if you have it.
Causes of Cholesterol in Kidney
Cholesterol is carried through your blood, attached to proteins. This combination of proteins and cholesterol is called a lipoprotein. There are different types of cholesterol, based on what the lipoprotein carries. They are:
• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL, the “bad” cholesterol, transports cholesterol particles throughout your body. LDL cholesterol builds up in the walls of your arteries, making them hard and narrow.
• High-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL, the “good” cholesterol, picks up excess cholesterol and takes it back to your liver.
• Consumption of drugs can increase cholesterol levels
• A diet high in fat and cholesterol increases the level of cholesterol in the blood
• High blood pressure also causes elevated cholesterol levels
• Anxiety, stress, or depression might cause a problem of high cholesterol levels
A lipid profile also typically measures triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood. Having a high triglyceride level also can increase your risk of heart disease.
Risk factors
Factors that can increase your risk of unhealthy cholesterol levels include:
• Poor diet. Eating too much saturated fat or trans fats can result in unhealthy cholesterol levels. Saturated fats are found in fatty cuts of meat and full-fat dairy products. Trans fats are often found in packaged snacks or desserts.
• Obesity. Having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater puts you at risk of high cholesterol.
• Lack of exercise. Exercise helps boost your body’s HDL, the “good,” cholesterol.
• Smoking. Cigarette smoking may lower your level of HDL, the “good,” cholesterol.
• Alcohol. Drinking too much alcohol can increase your total cholesterol level.
• Age. Even young children can have unhealthy cholesterol, but it’s much more common in people over 40. As you age, your liver becomes less able to removeLDL cholesterol.
Prevention
The same heart-healthy lifestyle changes that can lower your cholesterol can help prevent you from having high cholesterol in the first place. To help prevent high cholesterol, you can:
• Eat a low-salt diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables and whole grains
• Limit the amount of animal fats and use good fats in moderation
• Lose extra pounds and maintain a healthy weight
• Quit smoking
• Exercise on most days of the week for at least 30 minutes
• Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all
• Manage stress
Treatment
High cholesterol level is one of the symptoms of kidney disease that occurs when wastes accumulate in the blood, and the kidneys get inefficient to eliminate them out with the urine. It is very vital to keep your kidneys healthy and free from diseases by Ayurveda.
• Yes, chronic kidney disease treatment in Ayurveda is the way through which kidney patients can rejuvenate the damaged filters and tissues of the diseased kidney. I