3 Review(s)

Hypercholesterolemia (HC) and Hypertension (HT) are both major risk factors for the development and progression of atherosclerotic heart disease and their co-existence has been associated with an increased incidence of cardiac events. HC and HT are individually associated with abnormal myocardial vascular function.Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in arteries. The more blood heart pumps and narrower the arteries, higher the blood pressure.Although a few people with early-stage high blood pressure may have dull headaches, dizzy spells or a few more nosebleeds than normal, these signs and symptoms usually don't occur until high blood pressure has reached a severe or life-threatening stage.Even without symptoms, damage to blood vessels and heart continues and can be detected. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is dangerous because it can lead to strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, or kidney disease.Normal B.P. is when blood pressure is lower than 120/80 mmHg most of the time.High B.P. (hypertension) is when blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or above most of the time.If B.P. numbers are 120/80 or higher, but below 140/90, it is called pre-hypertension.Hypercholesterolemia is a disorder characterized by high levels of blood cholesterol.If blood cholesterol levels are elevated, large amounts of LDL (so-called bad) cholesterol deposit in the arterial walls. These deposits represent the first stage of atherosclerosis, or narrowing of the arteries. As hypercholesterolemia causes no symptoms, preventive measures and regular measurement of cholesterol levels are important for people in high-risk categories. Left untreated, hypercholesterolemia can eventually lead to a heart attack due to coronary artery disease or a stroke due to narrowed arteries supplying the brain. 88% of people with low HDL and 84% with high triglycerides also have insulin resistance (which leads to high blood sugar levels). Many people with insulin resistance go on to develop Diabetes.The normal range for total blood cholesterol is between 140 and 200 mg per decilitre (mg/dL) of blood. The amount of HDL relative to LDL is considered a more important indicator of heart disease risk. There is a third kind of fatty material called triglycerides found in the blood. They also play a role (generally as triglyceride levels rise, "good" HDL cholesterol falls).