A doctor has busted some common myths about cholesterol urging people to do an important check. Dr Vladimir Gubala, chief scientific officer and co-founder of PocDoc, said people often think only certain groups of people need to be concerned about their cholesterol levels, but this is not the case.
He explained: “A common myth is that only older or overweight individuals need to worry about their cholesterol levels. In reality, high cholesterol can affect anyone, regardless of age or weight, with genetics and lifestyle factors such as diet, lack of exercise, and stress also playing a significant role.”
He said another misunderstanding is that you can tell when your cholesterol levels are high where as in reality there are “no noticeable symptoms”. He said that given that you don’t immediately feel your levels are too high, it is important to have “regular testing is so crucial for early detection”.
There are many at-home test kits you can use to check your cholesterol, with PocDoc offering a five marker cholesterol test with its Healthy Heart Check, a finger prick that can take just 10 minutes to complete.
Dr Gubala also clarified the facts about how cholesterol works. He said: “Many people assume all cholesterol is bad or associate it with poor health, but the real issue lies in the balance.
“Too much LDL (‘bad’ cholesterol) can lead to plaque build-up in the arteries, raising the risk of heart disease and stroke, while HDL (‘good’ cholesterol) helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream, protecting heart health.”
Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood that is essential for building healthy cells and in the production of hormones and vitamin D. Most cholesterol is produced in the liver or you can get it from animal-based foods.
Turning to how you can keep on top of your cholesterol, Dr Gubala said: “The key to maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is a combination of a few factors – this includes regular exercise, a balanced diet rich in fibre and healthy fats, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
“However, all of these healthy habits are only useful if you’re able to track their impact – which is why cholesterol testing needs to be as accessible, routine – and most importantly as accurate – as checking blood pressure.”
The NHS website similarly warns that you may not know if you have high cholesterol. The advice page states: “High cholesterol does not usually cause symptoms. You can only find out if you have it from a blood test.”
Too much cholesterol can block your blood vessels potentially leading to heart problems or could even cause a stroke. Steve Roest, CEO of PocDoc, warned about the huge cost of cardiovascular conditions for the NHS. His father had a major stroke when he was in his early 40s.
He said: “The financial implications of developing a cardiovascular (CVD) condition are staggering. In the UK, the NHS spends more treating CVD, renal and metabolic diseases than any other illness – annually £7.4billion is spent on treating CVD alone.
“From initial treatment to longer-term hospital stays, surgeries, lifelong medication and rehabilitation, the financial burden on the health system – and patients – is huge.”
