Cholesterol is a fatty substance with a waxy consistency. It is produced by your body and is used to construct your cells. It's also found in a variety of foods. However, having too much cholesterol might cause health issues.

High cholesterol levels can clog arteries, putting you at risk for a heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol, it turns out, is bad for your kidneys as well.

The Relationship Between Cholesterol and Kidney Problems

The Physicians' Health Study provided some of the earliest evidence associating high cholesterol to renal damage. Over the course of ten years, researchers monitored roughly 4,500 healthy men and took blood samples from them.

The researchers used a creatinine test to see how well the men's kidneys were operating. This test determines how efficiently your kidneys remove waste from your blood. They looked examined cholesterol levels as well.

When the researchers looked at renal function and cholesterol combined, they discovered that individuals with poor kidney function had higher total cholesterol and lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or 'bad' cholesterol.

Men with less-than-optimal renal function had lower levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or 'good' cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is beneficial because it prevents cholesterol from accumulating inside blood vessels.

Another three-year research of almost 15,000 men and women found a link between renal disease and high blood lipids. Kidney illness is linked to lower levels of 'good' HDL cholesterol. However, this study discovered a greater association between kidney disease and high triglycerides, a form of blood fat.

The findings revealed that high levels of LDL 'bad' cholesterol or low levels of HDL 'good' cholesterol when combined with high levels of other undesirable blood lipids, increase the likelihood of kidney issues. Over time, people with high cholesterol were nearly twice as likely to develop chronic renal disease.

Heart difficulties are more common in those who have a renal illness. When your kidneys aren't performing properly, it affects the way your body functions. So, kidney disease and high cholesterol often go together.

High Cholesterol and Kidney Disease Management

Cholesterol-lowering drugs can help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. But, if you have a renal illness, are they safe to take?

If you have early kidney disease, studies suggest that using cholesterol-lowering medications is typically a smart choice. For this, physicians frequently prescribe statin medicines. According to studies, the medication decreases cholesterol and lowers the risk of heart disease or stroke.

It's less clear if they'll assist after the renal disease has progressed. If you need dialysis or have had a kidney transplant, statins may not be suggested. It's also unclear if the cholesterol-lowering medication can help prevent the renal disease from worsening.

Another strategy to decrease cholesterol when you have kidney disease is to eat well and have a healthy lifestyle. A high-fiber diet, for example, was found to reduce cholesterol in adults with renal disease in one research.

You may lower harmful fat in your diet by doing the following:

• Limit your intake of red and processed meat.
• Instead of whole milk, choose to skim, low-fat, or fat-free dairy.
• Fried meals should be avoided.
• Use healthy oils like vegetable oil for cooking.
• Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, chicken, fish, and nuts should all be consumed in large quantities.
• Avoid meals and beverages that are high in salt or sweetened with sugar.
• Other lifestyle considerations to consider are:
• Exercise
• Smoking cessation
• Getting rid of extra weight

Talk to your doctor about what you can do if you have high cholesterol and renal disease, or if you believe you could be at risk.