Cholesterol is a fatty substance that circulates in your blood. Most of the cholesterol in your body is produced in your liver and is carried in your blood by proteins known as lipoproteins. There are two types of lipoprotein – low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density cholesterol (HDL). Stroke is linked to high levels of LDL cholesterol.
LDL cholesterol is often called ‘bad cholesterol’ because if there is too much of it this builds up on artery walls and can cause problems with your circulatory system – this is what increases your risk of stroke.
HDL cholesterol is also known as ‘good cholesterol’ because it helps carry bad cholesterol away from your blood cells and back to the liver, where it can be processed and removed from your body.
What causes high cholesterol?
High cholesterol is caused by certain diet and lifestyle factors.
- Eating a lot of fatty or fried foods
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Smoking
- Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
- Being overweight or obese
How dangerous is high cholesterol?
High cholesterol can lead to other health conditions called complications. With high cholesterol, a dangerous amount of plaque can build up on the walls of arteries. This is called atherosclerosis. Over time, the plaque buildup can cause arteries to narrow and block blood flow.
Less blood flow through the arteries can cause complications such as:
- Chest pain, also called angina: If the arteries that supply the heart with blood are affected, that may cause chest pain. It also may cause other symptoms of a common type of heart disease called coronary artery disease.
- Heart attack: If plaques tear or break, a blood clot can form. The clot may block the flow of blood at the site where it broke. Or it may completely break free and block an artery farther away. If blood flow to part of the heart stops, a heart attack happens. A heart attack is an emergency that needs treatment right away.
- Stroke: A stroke happens when a blood clot blocks blood flow to part of the brain. It’s also an emergency that needs treatment right away.
How to Lower High Cholesterol to Reduce Stroke Risk?
There are a number of changes you can make to your lifestyle than can help reduce your cholesterol levels and your risk of stroke.
- Change Your Diet: Eating a healthy diet is one of the best ways to reduce high cholesterol and lower your risk of stroke.10 Choose healthier fats and limit your intake of total fat and saturated fat. Avoid foods that are high in cholesterol. Eat foods that are high in fiber and increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods such as whole grains, beans, and legumes. Eating fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids can help raise your HDL levels. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and limit your consumption of alcohol.
- Exercise Regularly: Exercise can help improve your cholesterol levels. Talk to your healthcare provider about starting an exercise program. Ideally, you should be getting 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week, or 75 minutes if your activities are more vigorous.
- Quit Smoking: Studies have found that smokers have higher LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and lower HDL levels. There is evidence that quitting smoking can help improve your blood cholesterol levels.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Maintaining a healthy weight can help you keep your cholesterol levels in check. If you are overweight or obese, talk to your healthcare provider about starting a diet and exercise program.
Cholesterol-Lowering Medications and Stroke Risk
Medications used to lower cholesterol levels – in particular, the class of drugs known as statins – have been shown to decrease the risk of having a stroke and may reduce the severity of a stroke, if one occurs. By lowering the level of LDL, statins and other cholesterol-lowering drugs helps prevent plaque formation, which prevents stroke and heart disease.
- Prevent plaques from forming.
- Help stabilize existing plaque deposits.
- Help make plaques less fatty and more fibrous, making them more resistant to rupture.
- Reduce inflammation and help prevent clots from forming.
Statins may not be appropriate for everyone and we recommend consulting with your medical provider about the best approach to treating your specific condition.
