Cholesterol

The Risk of High Cholesterol

High cholesterol (specifically high LDL and low HDL) generally has no symptoms. This is why regular screening and blood tests are crucial.

When too much LDL cholesterol accumulates, it can form plaque in your arteries. This condition, called atherosclerosis, restricts blood flow, increasing your risk for:

• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Narrowed arteries leading to your heart.
• Heart Attack: Occurs when a plaque ruptures and a clot blocks blood flow to the heart muscle.
• Stroke: Occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked.

How to Manage Your Cholesterol

Cholesterol levels are influenced by a combination of genetics and lifestyle. You can take significant steps to manage your levels:

• Dietary Changes:
  • Reduce foods high in saturated and trans fats (e.g., fatty meats, full-fat dairy, fried foods).
  • Increase consumption of soluble fiber (oats, apples, beans) and unsaturated fats (avocados, nuts, olive oil).
• Physical Activity: Regular exercise can help raise your HDL (“good”) cholesterol.
• Maintain a Healthy Weight: Losing excess weight can help lower LDL cholesterol.
• Avoid Smoking: Smoking damages the walls of your blood vessels, making them more likely to accumulate plaque.
• Medication (if needed): For some, lifestyle changes are not enough. Medications like statins may be prescribed by a doctor to help lower cholesterol production in the liver

Take Control of Your Heart Health

The first step is knowing your numbers! Talk to your healthcare provider about getting a lipid panel (a blood test) to check your total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels.