Why Is High Cholesterol a Health Concern?

There are a lot of reasons why high cholesterol can be worrisome, but the top of the list is how it affects your heart health. If you have high cholesterol or suspect you may, getting tested is the first step.

At West Houston Heart Center in Houston, Texas, Dr. Humayun Naqvi and his team can measure your cholesterol and make a plan to lower high cholesterol or prevent you from developing worrying cholesterol levels.

Understanding different types of cholesterol

There are two types of cholesterol, and one is the type you should be worried about if your levels get too high. This is low-density lipoprotein (LDL). When your levels of this type of cholesterol get too high, the LDL starts sticking to the walls of your arteries as fatty deposits. 

These deposits turn into plaque, narrowing your arteries and making it harder for blood to push through. This can cause increases in blood pressure, failure of the tiny valves inside your arteries that maintain one-way blood flow, and even blood clots.

On the other hand, high levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) are considered a good thing. This type of “good” cholesterol can bind with the “bad” cholesterol and carry it back to your liver, eliminating it from your bloodstream.  

Why high cholesterol (LDL) is a health concern

High LDL levels have been linked to many different health conditions, including:

• Coronary heart disease
• Diabetes
• Erectile dysfunction
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Stroke

Getting your cholesterol levels checked can show you where you’re at and allow you and your doctor to formulate a plan to treat or prevent high cholesterol.

Testing your cholesterol levels

Diagnosing high cholesterol means getting a test known as a lipoprotein panel. This measures your LDL, which should ideally be under 100, and your HDL, which should be over 60. If your LDL levels are high, we’ll do more tests to see if your high cholesterol has caused any damage to your arteries, and we’ll make a plan for you to start dropping your high cholesterol. 

Lowering your LDL (and raising your HDL)

You can change your cholesterol numbers by changing your lifestyle habits. 

Replace fats in your diet

Get rid of saturated and trans fats and choose heart-healthy fats instead. This pushes your LDL levels down and your HDL levels up.

Lose a fraction of your weight

Losing just 10 pounds of excess weight over a few months can reduce your LDL levels by as much as 8%, reducing associated health risks.

Exercise just a bit more

Exercising just 20-30 minutes a day can help boost your HDL levels! You don’t have to do hard-core cardio — just walk, run, cycle, swim, or even ride a horse.

Ditch the tobacco habit

Smoking or chewing tobacco affects your cholesterol in the worst ways — by raising LDL and lowering HDL. By stopping, you can reduce your chances of having a heart attack by 50% just one year after you quit. 

To learn more about high cholesterol and your treatment options, call us at 832-400-3957, or request an appointment online.