Frequently asked questions about cholesterol

Eating foods like red meat, whole milk products, and egg yolks can raise cholesterol. Being overweight can raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol. After menopause, women’s bad cholesterol levels tend to rise.

Smoking can increase cholesterol levels due to nicotine, the main ingredient in tobacco products. When you smoke, a large amount of nicotine enters the bloodstream through the lungs, causing the body to release neurotransmitters called catecholamines. The increase in catecholamines stimulates the body to produce bad cholesterol.

In a state of stress, the hormone cortisol spikes, causing cholesterol in the body to increase. Everyone tries to keep their spirits up by exercising, meditating, and doing breathing exercises. Some medications can cause blood cholesterol levels to be higher than normal by altering lipid metabolism.

How to lower cholesterol levels?

People can lower their cholesterol levels by making lifestyle changes such as eating foods low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol, removing the skin and fat from meat, poultry and fish. Prioritizing grilled, broiled, roasted or boiled foods instead of fried foods, adding fruits and vegetables to your daily diet. Eating cereals, breads, rice and pasta made from whole grains.

Exercising at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity every day can help improve your heart health. Everyone should talk to their doctor about how to exercise safely. Overweight people should lose weight, quit smoking, and take cholesterol medications as prescribed by their doctor.

Everyone should check their cholesterol levels when they are young. Adults from 20 years old should proactively check their cholesterol levels every 5 years. Men from 45 years old, women from 50 years old, people who are overweight, obese, have high blood pressure, diabetes, family history of high cholesterol or heart attack, smoke, are sedentary… should check this index more often.