Dr Chris reveals how eyes can indicate high cholesterol levels
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High cholesterol is when you have too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood. A build-up of cholesterol can clog up your arteries, thereby hiking your risk of having a heart attack. The condition is also known to affect the digestive system and directly impacting one’s bile’s which is known to change the colour of your poo.
Cholesterol is responsible for the production of bile in a person’s digestive system.
This bile helps the body break down foods and absorbs nutrients in the intestines.
However, if there is too much cholesterol in the bile, the excess can form into crystals which then harden to stones in the gallbladder.
This condition is known as gallstones and is described as extremely painful.
Gallstones or sludge in the gallbladder reduce the amount of bile that reaches the intestines.
Not only may this cause severe pain, but it can also turn your poo yellow.
Other poo colours include pale or clay-coloured.
Cholesterol gallstones are made mainly of hardened cholesterol, although they also contain other substances, said Dr David Chengelis.
He continued: “If the stones contain more than 50 percent cholesterol, they’re classified as cholesterol gallstones.
“About three-quarters of all gallstones are cholesterol stones.
“Experts aren’t sure what causes gallstones, but some believe that excess cholesterol likely causes gallstones to develop.
“Your liver secretes cholesterol, which your bile normally dissolves, but if you produce an overabundance of cholesterol, the bile may not be able to break up all of it, and eventually stones could form.”
In a study published in Science Direct, cholesterol stone was investigated further.
Cholesterol stones are formed when the bile is supersaturated with cholesterol, which may result from decreased bile acid production, increased cholesterol output in bile or both, noted the study.
It continued: “Stone formation by cholesterol monohydrate crystals is enhanced by mucin hypersecretion and gallbladder hypomotility.
“Cholesterol stone formation is promoted by conditions that increase hepatic cholesterol excretion, such as oral contraceptives pregnancy, anti-cholesterol medications, rapid weight loss, and obesity, or by conditions that induce gallbladder stasis.
“The degree of cholesterol content influences the gross appearance of cholesterol stones.
“Ten percent of gallstones are pure cholesterol stones, which measure up to four cm.
“These are smooth, round to ovoid and yellow-white and have a laminated or crystalline cut surface.
“Mixed stones have lower cholesterol content and thus may be layered grey-white to black depending on the bilirubin, calcium carbonate and phosphate content.
“Mixed stones tend to be multiple, smaller and faceted and may have a dark core and layered cut surface.”
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