Control lipids to manage heart disease and other health risks

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. While the term "heart disease" collectively refers to several types of coronary and vascular disorders, these cardiac conditions are often linked by common health and lifestyle risk factors. Maintaining healthy lipid levels is a risk factor you can control that not only helps prevent heart disease but also a slew of other health issues.

Managing lipids isn't just about protecting your heart — it supports your entire vascular system which impacts nearly every organ. Healthy cholesterol levels improve circulation, benefiting organs like your brain, kidneys, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and even your digestive system and limbs. By focusing on lipid health, you can nourish your body from head to toe.

With expert care and a focus on prevention, some varieties of heart disease can be avoided. Understanding your personal risk factors, including family history, lipid levels, lifestyle habits and dietary choices, can help you take control and prioritize healthy living.

How lipids impact your heart and overall health

Lipids, including cholesterol and triglycerides, are fats found in your blood. If these fat particles build up in the blood, it's called high cholesterol, which is one of the major contributors to heart disease. Nearly 40 percent of American adults struggle with high cholesterol, but learning to manage it properly can be the key to protecting your heart health.

Understanding your lipid profile can help you better manage your heart and overall health, but it's not the only factor you should consider. Taking control of your heart health also includes familiarizing yourself with the important numbers that are used to measure it.

Regularly checking your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels — which can all be taken at home — will allow you to track the direct impacts of the lifestyle changes you're making. Keeping your numbers within a healthy range also makes it easier to detect a potential problem sooner, so you and your doctor can treat it early.

Limit your risk of heart disease and other issues

Making lasting adjustments to the key lifestyle factors that influence your lipid levels can help significantly lower your risk of heart attack, heart failure, other cardiovascular diseases and serious health issues. Healthier living doesn't have to involve complex changes. In fact, making smaller, healthier choices consistently can make a big difference.

Get moving/active

• The American Heart Association recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes (or 2.5 hours) of moderate physical activity each week.
• Staying active doesn't just reduce heart disease risk, it also lowers your chances of getting type 2 diabetes and some cancers. It also helps maintain healthy circulation, which supports your kidneys, liver, digestive system and other organs. Even short bursts of movement during the day can make a meaningful difference in your wellness journey.

Eat more nutritious foods

• Nutrition plays a major role in improving and maintaining your heart health. Simple dietary changes can help you lower your cholesterol and blood pressure, decrease your blood sugar levels, and eliminate the types of fat in the body which place unhealthy strain on your arteries, intestines and vital organs.
• Following a heart-healthy diet is one of the easiest and most impactful ways to reduce your risk of heart disease and other health conditions tied to poor circulation. Small changes can make a big difference, such as trying snacks recommended by our registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs).

Quit smoking

• Smoking is harmful for every organ in the human body and the heart is no exception. Regular smoking leads to higher levels of triglycerides (fat in the blood), weakens blood vessels and leads to plaque buildup and blockages. Each of these factors exponentially increases the risk for heart disease, stroke and other severe complications.
• Even secondhand smoke inhalation raises the likelihood of a person developing heart disease by 25-30%.

Limit alcohol

• Moderation is essential when it comes to alcohol consumption. A few drinks here and there is generally acceptable, but drinking more can lead to higher blood pressure and an increased likelihood for heart disease or other serious health problems.

Manage stress

• Stress takes a major toll on the body and can eventually place dangerous levels of strain on the heart. Reducing your stress levels with regular exercise, quality sleep and mindfulness practices will help to lower your blood pressure and can help eliminate excess stress hormones in the body.

Prevention and proactive intervention

By working together with patients to help them identify, understand their lipid levels and manage their unique risks for cardiovascular disease, we're empowering them to recognize and respond to symptoms or warning signs long before serious complications arise. At Lankenau Heart Institute, we offer advanced cholesterol testing to help drill down a bit more to the underlying problems in patients' cholesterol.

"We also have access to testing and advanced imaging that allows us to get a better understanding of individual cholesterol profiles," says Lankenau Heart Institute cardiologist Erik Kelly, MD, who specializes in preventive cardiology and advanced clinical lipidology. "This leads to better diagnosis of underlying problems and allows us to tailor treatments to that individual's specific disorder."

Even if a patient is unaware or uncertain about their risk, there are still screening and testing options that we consider during our initial discussions. This emphasis on preventive care prompts patients to be proactive with their healthy living goals and essential routine screenings, including fasting lipids (cholesterol panel). It also encourages them to seek interventional care sooner for a better quality of life overall.

"We're continuing to push the limits of what we're able to do with new diagnostic tests, new imaging modalities, new medications and new treatments," says Dr. Kelly. "These opportunities give hope to those who already have heart disease or who have cardiac risk factors. Hope that we do have options to lower their risk and help them live longer, better, healthier lives."

It's crucial to have open conversations with your physician about any health concerns. A transparent relationship between you and your doctor leads to a better understanding of your lipid levels, cardiac diagnosis, treatments and rehabilitation options, resulting in more positive outcomes for both your heart and overall well-being.

Next steps

Our teams are committed to restoring each patient to their highest level of heart heath through holistic care, risk management and ongoing support for healthier living. Visit Lankenau Heart Institute to discover how comprehensive care can enhance your heart health and benefit your whole body.

Related posts

Which common blood tests should be part of your regular checkups?

Blood pressure and cholesterol: the truth behind the numbers

The female heart: navigating hormones, menopause, cholesterol and metabolism