Ask a doctor - What affect do you think cholesterol has on heart disease?

Q. What affect do you think cholesterol has on heart disease?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Secondmedic Expert

Cholesterol is a primary risk factor for heart disease. It has been shown to increase the risk of a person developing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, often referred to as “bad” cholesterol, can cause fatty deposits to form in the walls of blood vessels and reduce blood flow. This can lead to high blood pressure, angina, stroke or heart attack. On the other hand, higher levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol have been linked with lower rates of heart disease. HDL helps remove LDL particles from your artery walls.

Both diet and lifestyle play key roles in managing your cholesterol levels:
Eating foods low in saturated fat like lean meats and plant based proteins such as nuts and beans can help lower one’s LDL level
Consuming plenty of soluble fiber found in legumes, fruits and vegetables can help reduce total cholesterol by acting like a broom that sweeps away existing plaque deposits from arterial walls
Exercise on most days has been proven to reduce overall body weight which triggers an individual's HDL level – increasing good cholesterols' ability to prevent blockages in your arteries
In short, there is strong scientific evidence that suggests reducing one's dietary intake saturated fats along with increased physical activity will decrease their likelihood for developing coronary artery disease related issues caused by high LDL levels!