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Learn about the healthy changes you can make to lower your cholesterol naturally.
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By getting a simple cholesterol test and making positive lifestyle changes, most people can keep their cholesterol levels healthy.
Cholesterol is a type of blood fat (lipid). We all need some cholesterol in our blood to stay healthy, but too much can lead to serious health problems in the future, including heart attacks and strokes.
Anyone can have high cholesterol – even if you are young, slim, eat well and exercise. That’s because high cholesterol can be caused by different things. It can be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle, but it can be genetic too.
High cholesterol is very common, but most people don't know they have it because it doesn't usually have any symptoms. That's why everyone should have a cholesterol check.
Another type of blood fat called triglycerides can also become raised and lead to health problems, you can have these checked too.
If your cholesterol is raised, there are treatments available if you need them. But it's usually possible to lower cholesterol naturally with healthy lifestyle changes.
High cholesterol means there is too much cholesterol in your blood. This can clog up your arteries – the large blood vessels that carry blood around your body. Over time, this can lead to serious problems.
Excess cholesterol can be laid down in the walls of your arteries. Fatty areas known as plaques can form, and these become harder with time, making the arteries stiffer and narrower. This process is called atherosclerosis.
If your arteries become clogged up with blood fats, your blood can't flow around your body easily. This can lead to a number of diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
These diseases are known together as cardiovascular disease – cardio refers to the heart, and vascular refers to the blood vessels.
Lots of different things play a part in your cholesterol levels, including your lifestyle, family history, other health problems, and your genes. These can all add up to raise your cholesterol.
Many of the factors which raise your cholesterol raise your risk of heart disease too, and the steps you take to lower your cholesterol will also lower your risk of heart disease.
A number of things that you can change can lead to high cholesterol:
Other things you can't change can mean you’re more likely to develop high cholesterol and heart disease:
High cholesterol can be genetic, meaning you inherit it from your parents:
Your overall health and other health problems can have an effect, for example:
The good news is that when you take steps to lower your cholesterol, these changes all add up. You'll lower your risk of other illnesses too or help stop them from getting worse.
If you have any questions or concerns about your cholesterol level and how to lower it, feel free to contact our helpline.