Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients.
In this episode, Dr Warrick Bishop explains the real role of cholesterol in the body and why simple labels like “good” and “bad” cholesterol don’t tell the whole story. He breaks down LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and Lipoprotein(a), highlighting how each contributes to understanding cardiovascular risk.
Dr Bishop also discusses why blood tests, while useful, only provide part of the picture. To truly understand whether plaque is forming, imaging the arteries offers a more direct assessment. He explores where treatments like statins can be effective and why decisions should be individualised rather than based on single numbers.
Takeaways:
- Cholesterol is essential for the body, playing roles in cell membranes, sex hormones, vitamin D synthesis, and bile acid production.
- Blood tests measure cholesterol within lipoprotein particles (LDL and HDL), not the cholesterol molecule itself.
- LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is often termed ‘bad cholesterol’ due to its link with cholesterol buildup in arteries.
- HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is termed ‘good cholesterol,’ but its protective role is not always guaranteed.
- Triglycerides may be more significant than previously thought, potentially indicating issues with metabolic pathways like insulin resistance.
- The size and type of LDL particles can differ based on triglyceride levels, complicating risk prediction.
- Lipoprotein little (a) is a genetic particle strongly linked to coronary arteries and premature heart disease, considered worse than LDL.
- Imaging arteries to detect plaque buildup is crucial for assessing individual risk, regardless of blood test results.
- Statins are useful medications but their appropriateness depends on individual circumstances and arterial health, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Assessing heart attack risk is vital as it is a leading cause of death globally, with resources like virtualheartcheck.com.au available for evaluation.
Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.
Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.
Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.
The devastating fact in all of this is…
Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.
This podcast is for anyone who wants to improve their health literacy and gain information to help them make the best decisions about their risk of heart attack, their cholesterol, blood pressure, risk of diabetes, weight loss and general health. Join me on my personal mission journey to prevent Heart Attack on a global scale. If you like this podcast, I would be honoured by a 5-star review and appreciate if you let your friends and family know about this podcast; you may even save the life of someone you love!
Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?
Heart disease is the #1 killer in the Western World. In Australia, someone dies every 28 minutes from heart disease. That’s 51 people a day. In the US, someone has a heart attack every 40 SECONDS! Fortunately, many heart attacks are preventable. However, regular exercise and eating healthy are no guarantee you won’t succumb to this silent killer.
- 94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
- 59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
- Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.
Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au
Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!
Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!
The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:
- understand the present state of their heart’s health
- recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
- Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation
Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON
