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Facts about cholesterol

Helen Tither
16/ 6/2008

WE all know that high cholesterol levels can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke - but how many of us know why and what we can do to cut those risks?

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance which is found in the blood and plays an essential role in how every cell in the body works. However, too much cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of heart problems.

What causes high cholesterol?

One of the causes of high blood cholesterol levels among people in the UK is eating too much saturated fat. The cholesterol which is found in some foods such as eggs, liver, kidneys and some types of seafood eg. prawns, does not usually make a great contribution to the level of cholesterol in your blood. It is much more important that you eat foods that are low in saturated fat.

However, some people have high blood cholesterol even though they eat a healthy diet. For example, they may have inherited a condition called familial hyperlipidaemia (FH).

How can I reduce my cholesterol levels?

To help reduce your cholesterol level, you need to cut down on saturated fats and trans fats and replace them with monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. You should also reduce the total amount of fat you eat.

Eat oily fish regularly. Oily fish provides the richest source of a particular type of polyunsaturated fat known as omega-3 fats which can help to lower blood triglyceride levels and also helps prevent the blood from clotting, and help to regulate the heart rhythm.

Eat a high-fibre diet. Foods that are high in 'soluble fibre' such as porridge, beans, pulses, lentils, nuts, fruits and vegetables, can help lower cholesterol. Please see our fact sheet Fibre in our Any Questions/FAQ section on the BHF website.

Doing regular physical activity can help increase your HDL cholesterol (the `protective' type of cholesterol).

Will I need to take medication?

Whether you need to take cholesterol-lowering drugs or not depends not just on your total cholesterol level but also on your overall risk of coronary heart disease.

Cholesterol-lowering medicines such as statins are prescribed for people who are at greatest overall risk of suffering from coronary heart disease.

The British Heart Foundation has the answers to these questions, and any other heart-related worries you might have, on their website. Visit www.bhf.org.uk for more information.

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