High cholesterol: Nutritionist reveals top prevention tips

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High cholesterol refers to the presence of LDL particles circulating in blood. The longer the condition is left untreated, the greater the risk it poses to one’s health. This is because fatty molecules can latch onto the inner walls of the arteries, causing them to clog over time. As the arteries narrow, one nagging pain may arise at the back of the head.

When the arteries become progressively clogged, oxygen-rich blood is unable to reach the organs.

The pain associated with clogged arteries is often located in the chest and legs, but according to one medical source, it may also occur in the back of the head.

According to healthcare body Medicover Hospitals, a frequent headache in the back of the head may be indicative of high cholesterol.

“The blockage of blood vessels in the area around the head causes a headache in the back of the head,” explains the health body.

READ MORE: High cholesterol – six crucial warning signs of dangerously high cholesterol levels

“This occurs when the blood vessels get clogged up by the cholesterol plaque. If this is left unchecked, the blood vessels can rupture and cause a stroke.”

Clogging can also occur in the lumbar vessels, which are the arteries located in the lower back.

Studies probing the link between back pain and high cholesterol had found that high LDL and low HDL ratios are significantly associated with lower back pain.

HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is widely referred to as good cholesterol because it removes LDL (low-density lipoprotein) from the body, preventing it from clogging the arteries.

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“The arteries leading to the lower back are among the first in the body to accumulate plaque and show signs of blockage,” explains the Physicians Committee.

The health body explains that up to 10 percent of Americans experience clogging of the lumbar vessels by the age of 20.

“Reduced blood flow to the back can weaken the discs that cushion the vertebrae and lead to painful herniated disks and pinched nerves,” it explains.

“According to studies, people who suffer from chronic pain – the most common form of pain in the United States – are far more likely to have clogged lumbar arteries compared to those who do not experience back pain.”

But complications linked to clogged arteries are most frequently concentrated in the legs and chest.

This is because muscles in the limbs require higher volumes of oxygen as a result of greater physical exertion.

Clogging that occurs in the chest is medically referred to as angina.

This can cause pain in the left side of the chest, and warrants prompt medical attention.

How to prevent clogging of the arteries

There are many factors linked to arterial diseases, many of which can’t be modified, such as age and genetics.

Others, such as smoking, stress and alcohol, should be avoided at all costs. Adhering to a healthy diet and regular fitness regimen is also key to lowering levels of bad cholesterol in the blood.

Diets emphasising soluble fibre are encouraged, as it binds to cholesterol molecules in the digestive tract and drags it out of the body.

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