Four habits that indicate high blood cholesterol

The presence of high cholesterol in the blood is not felt by people, but can be guessed by certain habits, medical experts told the magazine Eat This, Not That.

Elevated cholesterol is known to be dangerous because it leads to the formation and accumulation of plaques in the arteries, which can lead to coronary heart disease.

The following habits, doctors say, are associated with elevated cholesterol levels:

1.  Smoking

Smoking not only raises levels of bad LDL cholesterol, but also makes it more viscous and more dangerous to the blood vessels. According to Johns Hopkins Hospital, smokers have a 2-4 times increased risk of heart disease and twice the risk of stroke. 

     2.  Low Mobility

The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology recommend movement and exercise about 30 minutes a day. Lack of proper exercise has a significant negative effect on cholesterol levels. People who spend many hours in a sedentary position are likely to have elevated cholesterol.

    3.  Craving for sweets 

Consuming large amounts of sugar and other carbohydrates increases triglyceride levels in the blood and lowers levels of "good" high-density cholesterol, which acts as a vascular cleaner against "bad" low-density cholesterol (LDL) that leads to atherosclerosis. Doctors recommend everyone who is worried about their cholesterol levels to remember the dangers of refined carbohydrates for blood vessels - their abundance in the diet increases LDL-cholesterol levels.

    4.  Poor nutrition

To avoid high cholesterol, you should avoid foods high in trans fats, which are often labeled as hydrogenated oils or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils on food labels. People whose diets contain a lot of these foods risk their blood vessels.

Cholesterol is also elevated in people who eat large amounts of saturated fats.

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