Let’s Talk About Your Upcoming Stress Test
Has your doctor has prescribed a stress test? Are you wondering why? Keep reading to learn what a stress test is, what it can show, and what you’re expected to do while it’s happening.
Myths and Facts About Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that your body needs to manufacture vitamin D and certain hormones, as well as to construct cell membranes.
Your body produces all the cholesterol you require without having to include it in your diet. However, it’s present in large amounts in animal products like meat, butter, and cheese. If you consume a lot of these, you develop an excess of cholesterol that can lead to severe health problems. This condition is called hyperlipidemia.
At Northwest Houston Heart Center, cardiologists Dr. A. Adnan Aslam and Dr. Roy Norman stress the importance of maintaining healthy cholesterol levels in their patients. As there are a lot of myths out there surrounding cholesterol, the team would like to take this opportunity to debunk them for you.
Myths and facts about cholesterol
Myth No. 1: Cholesterol is bad for you
FACT: As we’ve mentioned, your body needs cholesterol to perform its routine functions, like building cell membranes and creating hormones. The problems occur when you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream.
Myth No. 2: There’s only one type of cholesterol
FACT: There are actually several types of cholesterol in your body. LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is known as the “bad” cholesterol, because if you have too much, it deposits cholesterol on the walls of your arteries, narrowing and hardening them so your heart has to work much harder to pump blood. This condition is known as atherosclerosis.
You also have HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, which is known as the “good” cholesterol, because it ferries the LDL to the liver, where it’s broken down and excreted from the body.
Then there are the triglycerides, the most common type of fat in the body. They store energy from your diet that your body doesn’t immediately need.
A high level of triglycerides combined with high LDL cholesterol or low HDL cholesterol is linked to atherosclerosis, which increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Myth No. 3: I’ll know if I have a cholesterol problem
FACT: High cholesterol levels produce no symptoms in most people until they reach a crisis such as a heart attack or stroke. That’s why it’s so important to get your cholesterol levels checked at least once a year (more if you’re older or at high risk), so you can catch the problem before complications set in.
Myth No. 4: There’s nothing I can do about my cholesterol levels
FACT: High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) is preventable with lifestyle modifications and treatable with medications.
Cutting down your consumption of high-cholesterol foods like red meat, butter, and cheese can help reduce your overall cholesterol level and decrease your LDL level. If you’re unable to reduce your numbers with lifestyle changes alone, your doctor can prescribe a cholesterol-reducing medication, such as one of the statins, to bring the numbers down.
Want to learn more facts about cholesterol and how you can manage your levels? Give Northwest Houston Heart Center a call at any of our locations (Tomball, Cypress, Magnolia, and The Woodlands, Texas), or book online today. You can also text us at 832-402-9518.
You Might Also Enjoy...
I Get Short of Breath Easily — Why?
If you get short of breath easily, it’s important to find out the underlying cause, as many conditions can contribute to it. Here’s what you need to know about cardiac-related shortness of breath.
What Are the Dangers of Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is a form of irregular heartbeat that causes a lack of coordination between the heart’s chambers. Keep reading to learn more about the condition and the dangers it poses.
What Can Stop My Restless Legs?
If your legs start doing a jig every time you lie down, you may have restless legs syndrome (RLS). Fortunately, there are treatments that can lessen symptoms. Read about them here.
How Do I Know If I Have High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure is a silent killer, as it rarely presents with symptoms until it’s so high it’s damaging your body. But, there’s a simple way to know your numbers and prevent that from happening, and we discuss it here.
Are Varicose Veins a Health Concern?
Varicose veins are ugly and disfiguring, but are they really a health concern? It turns out there’s more to these veins than you’d immediately think. Keep reading to learn about them.