May 25, 2012
Topics A-Z Cholesterol Management High cholesterol and risk of heart attacks
High cholesterol and risk of heart attacks |
|
Dear Ask The Doctor: Can high cholesterol with no blockages cause heart attacks or strokes? Dear Charmine: High cholesterol definitely increases your risk for heart attacks. When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries and the blood flow to the heart muscle is slowed down, and eventually blocked, causing a heart attack. The bad cholesterol, known as LDL cholesterol, is the main source of artery clogging. There is also HDL cholesterol, which is the good cholesterol that actually works to clear cholesterol from your blood. With diabetes, you are at least twice as likely as someone who does not have diabetes to have heart disease. Make sure that your diet is heart-healthy, maintain a healthy body weight and make physical activity a part of your routine. If you smoke, try to quit because it will increase your risk of heart disease even more. |
|
| Last Updated ( Friday, 04 March 2011 ) |
|
|
|
|
