Having a high level of cholesterol in the blood doesn’t cause any symptoms on it’s own which is why people generally do not know that their lipids are high.

Over time, the excess cholesterol in the blood becomes stuck to the sides of the arteries; the large blood vessels that carry blood to your organs.

The fatty collections in the sides of the arteries cause:

	Blood clots Blood clots are more likely to form over fatty areas. Clots block the arteries causing heart attacks, strokes, dementia and peripheral arterial disease.
Narrow arteries The heart has to pump harder to get the blood through. Eventually the strain can mean that the heart doesn’t work as effectively; a condition known as heart failure.

 

How can I keep my lipids under control?

There are many things you can do to improve your lipids.

Eat a healthy diet

Eating a healthy diet will reduce your risk of CVD. If you have high lipid levels, there are particular areas in the diet that are worth concentrating on:

Eat the right kind of fats

Avoid or cut down on foods known to be high in saturated fats like:

cakes & biscuits	pastries & pies	sausages & bacon	other fatty meats (remove fat)	chocolate (milk and white)	palm oil

 

Try to eat more monounsaturated fats, which have been shown to increase levels of "good cholesterol" (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL) and reduce any blockages in your arteries.

Foods high in unsaturated fat include:

avocados	oily fish like mackerel, salmon and herrings	nuts & seeds	olive oil & cold pressed rapeseed oil

Your diet should also include lots of green vegetables, nuts, seeds and berries. Read more about healthy eating.

What about eggs? People with high cholesterol often wonder if eating eggs could be a problem. In the past, people thought eating eggs often might raise cholesterol and increase heart issues. Even though eggs are high in cholesterol, most of the cholesterol in the blood is made in the liver and not from the cholesterol that we eat. Studies have shown that eating one egg a day is not associated with increased risk of heart problems and there is no evidence that eggs should be avoided altogether. Like many foods, moderation is key.

 

Live a healthy Life

Achieve and maintain a healthy weight	Move more	Think about how much alcohol you drink
Stop smoking	Get plenty of sleep	Manage stress and mental health