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.
This episode discusses LDL cholesterol and its link to coronary artery disease. While LDL is generally considered a risk factor, it may not predict outcomes for every individual. Different types of LDL particles can vary in their risks, with smaller, denser particles posing more issues. Triglyceride levels were also noted as important. Guest Doctor Sangster shared how investigating particle size led to insights. Lowering LDL through diet, statins, or other means seemed to provide benefits to those with demonstrated artery problems.
Takeaways:
- LDL cholesterol is considered a major risk factor for coronary artery disease by most cardiologists. High LDL can progress plaque buildup in arteries.
- However, not everyone with high LDL will develop heart disease, so LDL levels alone can't accurately predict risk. Other factors like lifestyle are involved.
- There are different types of LDL particles - some are larger and fluffier while others are smaller and denser. The smaller, denser particles seem to correlate more strongly with heart disease.
- Triglyceride levels are also important, as high triglycerides are associated with more of the atherogenic small, dense LDL particles.
- For those who have already demonstrated plaque buildup or heart issues, lowering LDL through diet, statins, or other means can reduce future risk.
- Diet, especially low-carb, can help control LDL particle size and triglycerides for some people like diabetics.
- Residual high triglycerides in diabetics may also increase risk of microvascular complications affecting small blood vessels.
- Statins may have additional benefits beyond LDL lowering, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant effects.
- Imaging arteries can help determine if an individual's cholesterol is actually affecting their arteries in a problematic way.
- The relationship between LDL and heart disease risk is complex with many factors involved, not a simple direct causation.
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
