Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood that is essential for building cells and producing hormones. However, high levels of LDL (“bad” cholesterol) can cause plaque to build up in the arteries, increasing the risk Heart disease, HDL (“good” cholesterol) helps remove excess cholesterol, promoting heart health.
Despite being an important parameter for overall health, cholesterol is not well understood. Here are some myths about it:
Myth: All cholesterol is bad for you.
Fact: Some types of cholesterol are necessary for good health. Your body needs cholesterol to perform important functions, such as making hormones and building cells. Cholesterol travels through the blood on proteins called lipoproteins. Two types of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout the body: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), sometimes called “bad” cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol. When your body has too much LDL cholesterol, it can accumulate in the walls of your blood vessels. This accumulation is called plaque. HDL, or “good” cholesterol, carries the cholesterol back to the liver. The liver then excretes it from the body. High levels of HDL cholesterol may reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. As your blood vessels build up plaque over time, the inside of the vessels narrows. This narrowing can restrict and eventually block blood flow to and from your heart and other organs. When blood flow to the heart is blocked, it can cause angina (chest pain) or a heart attack.
Myth: If my cholesterol was high I would be able to feel it.
Fact: There are usually no warning signs for high cholesterol. You may not know you are unwell Cholesterol levels Until it’s too late—when you have a heart attack or stroke. That’s why it’s so important to have your cholesterol levels checked at least every 5 years. Sometimes, some people get yellowish growths on their skin called xanthomas, which are cholesterol-rich deposits. People with xanthomas may have high cholesterol levels.
Myth: Eating high-cholesterol foods won’t raise my cholesterol levels.
Fact: This can get complicated. We know that foods with a lot of cholesterol usually also have a lot of saturated fat. Saturated fat can raise your cholesterol numbers, so it’s best to choose foods low in saturated fat. Foods made from animals, including red meat, butter and cheese, tend to have a lot of saturated fat. Instead, aim to eat foods with plenty of fiber, such as oatmeal and beans. Healthy unsaturated fats, such as avocados, olive oil and nuts, are also recommended.
Myth: I can’t do anything to change my cholesterol levels.
Fact: There are many things you can do to improve your cholesterol levels and keep them in a healthy range! Get checked at least every 5 years (unless your doctor says otherwise). Make healthy food choices. Limit foods high in saturated fat. Choose foods naturally high in fiber and unsaturated fats. Be active every day, so that adults get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. Don’t smoke or use tobacco products. Smoking damages your blood vessels, speeds up hardening of the arteries, and greatly increases your risk for heart disease. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you smoke, quitting will reduce your risk of heart disease. Talk to your health care team about ways to manage your cholesterol. If you are prescribed any medications to manage cholesterol, take them exactly as they are prescribed. Know your family history. If your parents or other close family members have high cholesterol, you should probably get tested more often. You may have a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).
Myth: I don’t need statins or other medications for cholesterol. I can control my cholesterol with diet and exercise.
Fact: Although many people can achieve good cholesterol levels by making healthy food choices and getting enough physical activity, some people may also need medications called statins to lower their cholesterol levels. The guidelines also suggest that medications other than statins may be needed to help control cholesterol.
People with FH or very high levels of “bad” cholesterol. FH is a genetic condition that causes very high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels from an early age. If left untreated, cholesterol levels will get worse. This greatly increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, even at a young age. People with CVD may already have narrowed arteries because of too much plaque. Cholesterol-lowering medications can help reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. Type 2 diabetes lowers HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels and raises “bad” cholesterol levels. This combination increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. Always talk to your health care team about the best ways to manage your cholesterol.
(Author: Dr. Subhash Chandra, Chairman and HOD- Cardiology and Structural Heart Diseases, BLK Max Superspeciality Hospital)
Despite being an important parameter for overall health, cholesterol is not well understood. Here are some myths about it:
Myth: All cholesterol is bad for you.
Fact: Some types of cholesterol are necessary for good health. Your body needs cholesterol to perform important functions, such as making hormones and building cells. Cholesterol travels through the blood on proteins called lipoproteins. Two types of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout the body: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), sometimes called “bad” cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol. When your body has too much LDL cholesterol, it can accumulate in the walls of your blood vessels. This accumulation is called plaque. HDL, or “good” cholesterol, carries the cholesterol back to the liver. The liver then excretes it from the body. High levels of HDL cholesterol may reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. As your blood vessels build up plaque over time, the inside of the vessels narrows. This narrowing can restrict and eventually block blood flow to and from your heart and other organs. When blood flow to the heart is blocked, it can cause angina (chest pain) or a heart attack.
Myth: If my cholesterol was high I would be able to feel it.
Fact: There are usually no warning signs for high cholesterol. You may not know you are unwell Cholesterol levels Until it’s too late—when you have a heart attack or stroke. That’s why it’s so important to have your cholesterol levels checked at least every 5 years. Sometimes, some people get yellowish growths on their skin called xanthomas, which are cholesterol-rich deposits. People with xanthomas may have high cholesterol levels.
Myth: Eating high-cholesterol foods won’t raise my cholesterol levels.
Fact: This can get complicated. We know that foods with a lot of cholesterol usually also have a lot of saturated fat. Saturated fat can raise your cholesterol numbers, so it’s best to choose foods low in saturated fat. Foods made from animals, including red meat, butter and cheese, tend to have a lot of saturated fat. Instead, aim to eat foods with plenty of fiber, such as oatmeal and beans. Healthy unsaturated fats, such as avocados, olive oil and nuts, are also recommended.
Myth: I can’t do anything to change my cholesterol levels.
Fact: There are many things you can do to improve your cholesterol levels and keep them in a healthy range! Get checked at least every 5 years (unless your doctor says otherwise). Make healthy food choices. Limit foods high in saturated fat. Choose foods naturally high in fiber and unsaturated fats. Be active every day, so that adults get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. Don’t smoke or use tobacco products. Smoking damages your blood vessels, speeds up hardening of the arteries, and greatly increases your risk for heart disease. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you smoke, quitting will reduce your risk of heart disease. Talk to your health care team about ways to manage your cholesterol. If you are prescribed any medications to manage cholesterol, take them exactly as they are prescribed. Know your family history. If your parents or other close family members have high cholesterol, you should probably get tested more often. You may have a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).
Myth: I don’t need statins or other medications for cholesterol. I can control my cholesterol with diet and exercise.
Fact: Although many people can achieve good cholesterol levels by making healthy food choices and getting enough physical activity, some people may also need medications called statins to lower their cholesterol levels. The guidelines also suggest that medications other than statins may be needed to help control cholesterol.
People with FH or very high levels of “bad” cholesterol. FH is a genetic condition that causes very high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels from an early age. If left untreated, cholesterol levels will get worse. This greatly increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, even at a young age. People with CVD may already have narrowed arteries because of too much plaque. Cholesterol-lowering medications can help reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. Type 2 diabetes lowers HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels and raises “bad” cholesterol levels. This combination increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. Always talk to your health care team about the best ways to manage your cholesterol.
(Author: Dr. Subhash Chandra, Chairman and HOD- Cardiology and Structural Heart Diseases, BLK Max Superspeciality Hospital)
