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Essay / Hypercholesterolemia - 638
Hypercholesterolemia is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance and is a major class of lipids, so it enters the bloodstream through lipoproteins [1]. A high level of lipoproteins is unhealthy. A high level can lead to a high risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease [2]. Elevated lipoprotein levels are often influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors such as obesity or dietary habits [2]. High cholesterol can be caused by mutations in the following genes: APOB, LDLR, LDLRAP1 and PCSK9 [3]. Mutations in the LDLR gene are responsible for familial hypercholesterolemia, which is the most commonly observed form of hereditary hypercholesterolemia [3]. The LDLR gene contains instructions for making LDL receptors or low-density lipoprotein receptors. LDL receptors play a critical role in regulating blood cholesterol levels by removing low-density lipoproteins from the bloodstream. Mutations in the LDLR gene can cause the amount of LDL receptors produced to be lower than normal or affect their function in removing low-density lipoproteins from the blood [4]. People with these mutations will have higher cholesterol levels. The environment can affect blood cholesterol levels in many ways. Reducing the amount of dietary fat you consume lowers the total amount of cholesterol in your blood [5]. Sucrose and fructose can increase the amount of LDL in the blood. Reducing fatty foods will, however, reduce the amount of LDL [5]. Having a healthy body and maintaining physical activity play a key role in keeping your cholesterol levels at a healthy level. If you are overweight or obese, you can lower your cholesterol levels by simply losing ...... middle of paper ...... e two modified copies of the LDLR gene, one from each parent. This leads to a more serious and even fatal case of high cholesterol. In the LDLRAP1 gene, it is an autosomal recessive pattern [10]. This means that an altered copy of the gene is passed down from each parent, but their cholesterol levels are within the normal range [10]. High cholesterol is a serious problem, but it can be treated and controlled with the right mindset. A healthy diet, exercise and patience are enough to lead a comfortable life with high cholesterol. If you know your levels are above average, don't wait to fix the problem because it will only get worse. Additionally, you should treat high cholesterol as you would any other serious illness. Acting like it's not a big deal is a big mistake. It could make your life shorter than it should be..