Shortness of breath or breathing difficulty may be triggered by various risk factors. It may also develop from stress and anxiety. Shortness of breath can possibly be experienced by adults, children, or the elderly. Although may be caused by variety of factors, these factors are usually rooted in lung-related and heart-related conditions. Lung and heart problems, such as asthma and blocked oxygen are some of the most common cause that make a person short of breath. Continuous stress and high cholesterol are also commonly related to this health problem.
Can high cholesterol make you short of breath?
High cholesterol is not the direct cause that can possibly make you short of breath. However, if you have a high cholesterol level, you can probably experience shortness of breath that is sudden and recurrent. It is possible because high blood cholesterol does contribute to arteries thickening, which may lead into cardiovascular diseases. One of the main symptom of this health problem is shortness of breath, which is contributed initially by high blood cholesterol.
How high cholesterol contributes to shortness of breath?
When you have a high cholesterol level, it is possible for the exceeded waxy substance to cause build up around the artery walls. However, this health condition does not necessarily show any visible symptoms, which make this condition very hard to observe. Despite this, high cholesterol can be a trigger for the occurrence of breathing difficulties within individuals.
When someone’s blood cholesterol is at high level, it is hard for these cholesterol to be disposed by the body through the liver. Instead, it is stored and attach to the blood vessel walls. When the arteries, which carry oxygen-rich blood throughout the body is blocked with cholesterol or get thickened by its build ups, the oxygen is also blocked. When these oxygen is not thoroughly passed through the blood vessels to and from the heart, the sufferer may experience shortness of breath.
Other risk factors of shortness of breath
High cholesterol which ends up in arteries build ups and thickened blood vessels is a common triggering factor of shortness of breath. This happens especially to women aged over sixty with high blood cholesterol level, although men may also experience the problem. People with family history of breathing difficulty may also inherit the health problem. However, breathing difficulty is not merely triggered by high cholesterol level. Simple environmental factors may also trigger shortness of breath. These factors include:
- Allergies to foods, dust, mites, or pollen. Allergies may trigger some visible symptoms, such as itching, rashes, and blood shot eye. In severe conditions, primary effects of allergies that are not treated might lead to breathing difficulty that can be life-threatening.
- Stress and anxiety. These factors trigger faster heart rate, which may occur in cut-off oxygen level that promotes shortness of breath.
- Heavy activities and sports, which are done too suddenly. If you are doing sports, it is important to do it in moderation. Do not escalate the level too quickly, as this may distract your heart rates. When you are not accustomed to doing heavy activities, such as aerobics or climbing, it is possible for shortness of breath to be experienced.
Preventing high cholesterol-induced shortness of breath
To prevent shortness of breath that is induced by high cholesterol is not an easy thing to do. This is because high cholesterol level in the bloodstream cannot be easily detected and observed. You will need to undergo a cholesterol check to know your bad cholesterol level that may end up in shortness of breath. However, there are some things you can do to keep your cholesterol under control and thus, prevent from getting short of breath, such as:
- Avoid smoking, since this may constrict your blood vessels and may lead you to limited level of oxygen-rich blood that causes shortness of breath.
- Prevent excessive weight gain, especially which happens too quickly.
- Exercise regularly, but do not over exercising. Start by those exercises which regulate your heart rates. It is better to start your daily exercises with cardio exercises, such as light running, jogging, walking, or stair climbing and continues it with strength-involving activities.
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