Having trouble sleeping? It could be due to this silent killer

It is recommended that adults get at least seven hours of sleep each night. Insufficient sleep can be as a result of various factors including stress and anxiety. It could also point to more dangerous medical conditions related to high cholesterol.

The ‘silent killer’

High cholesterol is brought on by having too much fatty substance in the blood. It is known as the silent killer as it presents no symptoms but can lead to heart diseases. A 2014 study assessed the lifestyle habits of patients as well as their sleep duration and whether they snored.

The researchers also studied their lipid levels and concluded that those who slept for less than six hours each night were more likely to have high cholesterol levels.

Clinical lead at the Independent Pharmacy, Dr Don Grant said, although the research findings did not establish a strong link between sleep duration and high cholesterol levels, people should still pay attention to these signs and test regularly.

With there being a connection between these issues, it’s not unreasonable to say that if people do have problems getting to sleep or staying asleep then they may wish to consider getting a blood test to establish if they have high cholesterol.

Get tested

The NHS estimates that more than two out of five people in England have high cholesterol, with 6.5 million people on medication to reduce lipid (cholesterol levels), which costs the service more than £15 million per year.

Since it hardly shows any symptoms, the best way to know your cholesterol levels is through blood test. According to Dr Grant:

The blood test for checking high cholesterol is very simple and extremely accurate. A GP or nurse takes a blood sample. The blood is then tested for its levels of good cholesterol and bad cholesterol.

If you find out your levels are high, there are lifestyle changes you can make to reverse it such as cutting down on fatty foods, exercising regularly and quitting smoking.

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