Your brain needs oxygen and nutrients supplied by the blood to function properly. Blood supply to the brain can be interrupted by a number of factors. When blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off, the brain cells begin to die and a stroke occurs. This is a medical emergency that requires prompt medical treatment. High cholesterol levels can put you at risk for a stroke.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is found in food and produced by the body. The liver manufactures cholesterol. It has several functions in the body, including production of bile for digestion, synthesis of hormones like cortisol, progesterone, testosterone and estrogen. Cholesterol and blood are like oil and water; they do not dissolve in each other. Because of this, cholesterol is transported to cells, where it is needed in packets called lipoproteins. There are two types of lipoproteins: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). They affect your risk of a stroke in different ways.
LDL and Strokes
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is often referred to as "bad cholesterol." It has the ability to slowly accumulate on the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the brain. When it combines with other substances found in your body, LDL becomes plaque and causes the normally flexible blood vessels to harden. This condition is called atherosclerosis and can lead to a heart attack, chest pain or a stroke.
If the plaque deposits get thick enough, they can cause a narrowing in the arteries that transport blood to the brain also known as the carotid arteries. This causes a reduction in the blood supply to parts of your brain and may lead to a stroke. Complete blockage of a carotid artery by plaque can also lead to a stroke, where a part of the brain is deprived of nutrients and oxygen.
HDL and Strokes
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is also called "good cholesterol." It has the ability to reduce your risk for heart disease and strokes, at normal levels. HDL collects cholesterol from different parts of the body and returns it to the liver for processing. The liver in turn prepares these cholesterol molecules for removal from your body. HDL also slows down the growth of stroke-causing plaque by removing LDL from the walls of your carotid arteries. Normal HDL levels reduces your blood cholesterol levels and decreases your chances of having a stroke. When HDL levels are low, your risk of having a stroke increases.
Triglycerides and Stroke
Triglycerides are fats found in the body that are part of your total cholesterol blood level. According to Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, high triglyceride levels may lead to atherosclerosis, which increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. A high LDL level is often associated with an increased level of triglycerides in the blood. Triglycerides come from foods you eat and are made by your body.
Prevention/Solution
There are several risk factors for developing a stroke, they include high blood cholesterol levels and heart disease. You can control your blood cholesterol levels by avoiding excessive amounts of foods that can increase your cholesterol levels, such as trans fats, and eating a heart-healthy diet that includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats. Exercise may also help reduce your blood cholesterol levels, in addition to healthy eating.
