KEEP YOUR CHOLESTEROL IN CHECK

How much do you know about managing the right levels?

- Mark Brook, Amy Hadley

Having high cholesterol levels can be detrimental to our health, but it’s a condition that can be kept under control. General practitioner Dr Sam Hay shares what you should know about cholesterol...

HIGHS & LOWS

“High cholesterol, along with other risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, smoking, and high blood pressure, leads to the development of plaques along arteries,” says Dr Hay. “If a blockage occurs in your brain you’ll have a stroke, or in your heart, a heart attack.”

Since there are no obvious symptoms associated with high cholesterol, it’s important to regularly check your cholesterol and risk factors with your GP.

WHO IT AFFECTS

“High cholesterol is often associated with being overweight, however, it can still occur in people who don’t gain weight easily,” Dr Hay explains. “It can occur in people who eat too much saturated fat.”

Lifestyle factors like diet, exercise levels, alcohol intake, smoking status and blood pressure can affect your cholesterol, plus age and genetics. The risk of developing high cholesterol is also different for women and men, Dr Sam notes.