First published: 23 October 2022 @ 6:00 pm
A variety of lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of heart disease, including eating a healthy diet, being physically active, not smoking, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption.
In addition, having proper cholesterol levels can reduce the risk of heart disease.
This article will help you understand the importance of a healthy diet, the role of cholesterol, and the importance of exercise in maintaining a healthy heart.
What Is Cholesterol?
A cholesterol, also called as lipid, is a type of fat in our body.
Besides being an important source of calories and essential fatty acids, cholesterol is an important building block for your body’s cells.
It helps with many bodily functions, including hormone production and cell signaling.
However, when cholesterol levels are high in the blood (hypercholesterolemia), it can contribute to cardiovascular disease.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.
How Cholesterol Affects Your Heart Health
The presence of cholesterol in our blood vessels (called atherosclerosis) is one of the major causes of heart attacks and strokes.
The reason is that cholesterol and other substances in blood vessels can form plaque and narrow down the artery.
When it happens, not only it reduces the blood flow, but eventually the body loses the ability to supply oxygen and nutrients to organs and tissues.
A blocked artery prevents enough blood from reaching your heart, which results in chest pain (angina) and shortness of breath (dyspnea).
If you have symptoms of atherosclerosis, see your doctor for a full medical evaluation. You may need to be tested for high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure.
Click on the next page to learn how to prevent heart disease!