Hyperlipidemia is the most common chronic disease in our daily lives, also known as “rich man’s disease.”
Nowadays, abnormal blood lipids are no longer exclusive to the elderly. The age group of 30-60 is becoming more prevalent in symptoms of hyperlipidemia.
Although the current medical level is advanced, diseases like hyperlipidemia cannot be completely cured. Diagnosed patients need to take medication for a long time.
Hyperlipidemia is known as a hidden killer, often striking in an instant. One moment you are fine, the next moment you collapse, giving a sense of being caught off guard.
When blood lipids rise, the body shows 5 signals!
1. Dark facial spots
As age increases, elderly people develop patches; while hyperlipidemia rises along with blood lipids, leading to more patches.
If the color of facial dark spots darkens, it indicates an increase in blood lipids, affecting facial blood circulation. When facial blood flow is hindered, dark spots form. Also, memory and reaction abilities may decrease to varying degrees.
2. Dizziness
The negative impacts of high blood lipids are noticeable, and many people experience elevated blood lipids. Feeling dizzy when blood lipids are elevated suggests possible blood lipid levels exceeding the limit.
When blood lipid levels rise significantly, normal circulation is obstructed, causing a delay in providing blood to the brain tissues, leading to a feeling of dizziness. Therefore, timely lowering of blood lipids is necessary when these signals occur.
3. Difficulty breathing
Feeling constantly short of breath or having difficulty breathing indicates a need to check promptly for high blood lipids.
Persistent high blood lipids can cause blood thickening, making it difficult for blood to flow promptly to the needed body parts.
With significant impact on the heart due to reduced blood supply, lung function is also limited, resulting in insufficient oxygen and blood supply. Breathing becomes difficult, with noticeable signs of shortness of breath, which is a symptom of high blood lipids.
4. Leg cramps during sleep
During nighttime sleep, leg cramps may occur, indicating high blood lipids to be cautious about.
When cholesterol metabolism in the blood is abnormal and accumulates in muscles, muscle contractions may lead to cramps.
5. Numbness in hands and feet
High blood lipids can impact overall health. Prolonged high blood lipids may cause a sensation of numbness in the body, particularly prominent in the hands and feet, possibly due to elevated blood lipids.
When circulation is hindered, blood viscosity increases, leading to delayed blood supply to the hands and feet, resulting in localized numbness. Individuals experiencing frequent numbness in hands and feet should not ignore it and check their blood lipid levels. If related to high blood lipids, timely treatment is necessary.
Can eating less meat and more vegetables really reduce blood lipids?
Doctor: Eating less fatty meat and more vegetables might not necessarily lower blood lipids
Doctors typically advise reducing fatty meat intake because excessive consumption can lead to fat accumulation in the blood, causing an increase in blood lipids. Incorrect dietary habits are a significant factor in triggering high blood lipids.
If one avoids meat for an extended period, the body needs to compensate for the energy from other foods, resulting in no overall reduction in caloric intake. While dietary adjustments are crucial in managing hyperlipidemia, solely eating vegetables without meat could disrupt metabolism and further elevate blood lipids.
92-year-old Academician Chen Keji studies blood lipids for 50 years, warns: Besides meat, 4 types of vegetables should also be eaten sparingly
Academician Chen Keji, aged 92, has been dedicated to cardiovascular disease research for over 50 years, gaining extensive experience in the prevention and treatment of high blood lipids.
In 1963, under Chen Keji’s initiative, the West Yuan Hospital Cardiovascular Research Department conducted a study on hypertension, arteriosclerosis, heart disease, blood lipid levels, and Chinese medicine syndromes in monks over 63 years of age with a vegetarian history ranging from 14 to 72 years in various temples in Beijing, with a same-age control group.
The results showed that long-term strict vegetarianism and imbalanced diet could cause endogenous lipid metabolism disorders, leading to increased heart-related diseases, despite not necessarily resulting in obesity.
Patients with high blood lipids should not blindly follow a vegetarian diet. Even with long-term vegetarianism, the body might synthesize large amounts of cholesterol, leading to symptoms of high blood lipids. This explains why some individuals, despite being slim, still have high blood lipid issues.
In addition to reducing meat intake, the following vegetables should not be consumed excessively to prevent adverse effects.
1. Chili peppers
The capsaicin in chili peppers, when consumed excessively, can cause continuous erosion of the gastric mucosa. This upsets individual gastric acid secretion, resulting in discomfort like bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
For individuals with high blood lipids, it’s advisable to take anticoagulant drugs under medical guidance. While statins help lower blood lipids, it’s essential to consume fewer spicy vegetables to avoid disturbances in fat metabolism, leading to increased cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
2. Lotus stem
The sugar content in lotus stems, also known as “red lotus roots,” is high with a soft and sticky texture suitable for soup. However, it’s not recommended for high blood lipid patients due to its high starch and carbohydrate content.
Excessive intake of starch and carbohydrates is unfavorable for controlling the condition in such patients; hence, consuming it sparingly is advised, and opting for white lotus roots, with high water content and low starch, is a better option.
3. Fennel
Fennel has a high sodium content, with about 100 mg of sodium ions per 100 grams, classifying it as a high-sodium vegetable. Excessive consumption of sodium ions by patients with hyperlipidemia can interfere with lipid metabolism, disrupt normal blood circulation, thicken blood, and impede disease recovery.
Some people may choose to use fennel as dumpling filling, which is indeed tasty. However, it’s not very friendly to individuals with high blood lipids. It’s advisable to moderate intake, as occasional consumption might not significantly impact blood vessels. Exercise caution with the quantity consumed.
4. Chinese toon
Chinese toon, known as “tree vegetable,” is nutritionally rich and can aid digestion when consumed appropriately.
However, individuals with cardiovascular diseases need to be cautious, as Chinese toon is a heat-inducing substance that rapidly elevates blood pressure and lipids, making it unfavorable for lipid stability.
Furthermore, Chinese toon contains nitrites. Prior to consumption, it is crucial to briefly blanch the Chinese toon in boiling water to remove most nitrites.
