I’m a Cardiologist – Here’s what you should NEVER do if you have high cholesterol

The worst thing a person with high cholesterol can do is ignore it, health experts warn.

More than 102 million Americans, including people under 25, have cholesterol levels above the healthy limit, putting them at risk for a range of diseases, including diabetes, coronary heart disease and plaque buildup in blood vessels.

Cardiologists warned against dismissing high cholesterol levels, particularly LDL or “bad” cholesterol, as they would most likely lead to serious health problems. However, catching it early increases the likelihood that someone will decide to change their habits to reduce the risk of potentially fatal diseases.

Some cases of high cholesterol are genetic, but the most common cause of high LDL cholesterol is poor lifestyle habits such as too much alcohol, a high-fat diet, and not enough cardio exercise.

However, tackling the problem could be difficult for millions of people because high cholesterol doesn’t show symptoms until disaster strikes, usually in the form of a stroke or heart attack.

An estimated one in five cases of high cholesterol in adults goes undiagnosed.

The main risk factor for high LDL cholesterol is atherosclerosis, a hardening of blood vessels caused by the formation of harmful plaques. Over time, this causes the blood vessels to constrict and blood flow to the heart is restricted

Many Americans could do more to lower LDL cholesterol to a healthy level, which should be below 100 milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dL) of blood.

The risk of cardiovascular events increases significantly when LDL exceeds 40 to 60 mg/dL.

Still more than 54 percent of people with high cholesterol – about 47 million Americans – do not take the necessary medications to lower cholesterol.

Meanwhile, about a third of Americans have not had their cholesterol levels checked in the past five years.

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas, cardiologist and founder of the Preventive Cardiology Clinic in Minnesota, shared Parade Magazine: “The worst thing patients can do is ignore it!”

“High cholesterol, and particularly high LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), is one of the most studied and consistently linked risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis, i.e. the risk of a heart attack.

She added: “In fact, there is an almost linear relationship between LDL levels and the risk of heart disease. “By ignoring your cholesterol levels, you are just inviting disaster.”

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is produced in the liver and transported in the blood. Around 80 percent of the body’s cholesterol comes from the liver and 20 percent comes from an incorrect diet. As fat intake increases, the liver adapts by reducing its own cholesterol production.

In a recent study, US researchers claim that even small dietary changes can reduce bad cholesterol levels just as much as taking statins. They can reduce your LDL cholesterol by about 30 percent, sometimes even by 50 percent at high doses

However, not everyone with high cholesterol needs to take a pill to correct the problem around 40 million Americans You will be prescribed a certain medication called a statin.

Statins are the most commonly prescribed drugs in the country, with well-known brand names such as Lipitor and Crestor.

They help prevent the buildup of harmful plaques made up of LDL cholesterol, fats like triglycerides, and inflammatory cells in blood vessels, which harden and narrow over time.

This restricts the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart, which can lead to a condition called myocardial ischemia and a heart attack.

Over 75 percent of heart attack and stroke victims have high cholesterol.

However, heart failure patients who are taking a statin are significantly less likely to take a statin again.

Dr. Klodas said, “Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Americans and high cholesterol is a major contributor to this statistic.”

“It’s no wonder doctors are so focused on monitoring cholesterol profiles and keeping LDL levels low.”

But medication isn’t the only way to bring cholesterol back to safe levels. Lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, doing more cardio, drinking less alcohol, getting good sleep, and eating more fiber and fewer fatty foods can make a big difference.

A study published in 2022 Nutrition magazine found that adults with high LDL cholesterol who ate twice-daily snacks that replaced something they normally ate saw a nine percent decrease in LDL levels and a decrease in total cholesterol by an average of more than five percent.

Dr. Klodas said: “Although most people with high cholesterol believe their only option is to take medication, nothing could be further from the truth.”

“In the vast majority of cases, high cholesterol is not caused by a lack of medication such as statins, but rather partly or entirely by a lack of the right foods.”

“Consuming significant amounts of whole-food fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, plant sterol, and antioxidants (nutrients found primarily in a whole-food, plant-based diet) can significantly lower LDL levels.”