Doctor warns of the worst thing you can do if you have high cholesterol

This Morning's Dr Chris discusses the signs of high cholesterol

Often dubbed the silent killer, high cholesterol occurs when you have too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood.

More than two in five people in England have elevated levels of the fatty substance, putting their cardiovascular health at risk, according to the NHS.

While poor lifestyle choices, ranging from smoking to eating too many fatty foods, spell bad news for your cholesterol, there’s one thing that’s far worse for high cholesterol patients.

Dr Suhail Hussain, a private GP covering Hertfordshire and Greater London, told Express.co.uk: “The worst thing you can do if you have high cholesterol is just ignore it and carry on regardless – you must educate yourself on how to live more healthily.

“This does not necessarily mean commencing medication. In fact, that may not be necessary.”

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The doctor isn’t the only health professional to warn that complacency poses a real threat.

Dr Saya Nagori, an expert ophthalmologist and the founder of Eye Facts, added: “The real danger is complacency—ignoring the issue altogether. Elevated levels can be a ticking time bomb.”

High cholesterol levels can lay harmful groundwork to serious health problems, ranging from heart attacks to strokes.

Fortunately, you can keep the fatty substance in check by introducing simple tweaks into your lifestyle.

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Dr Nagori said: “Dietary shifts are paramount—embrace a Mediterranean-style diet, basking in the wholesome glow of olives, fresh fish, and plant-based delights.”

According to Dr Hussain, another key shift is swapping saturated fats, found in the likes of butter, cheese, sausages and processed foods, for their unsaturated counterparts.

Hidden in the likes of fish, seeds, nuts, avocados and olive oil, these good fats will actually help increase your levels of “good” cholesterol which is “beneficial”, the doctor explained.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is known as the “good” type because it helps remove the “bad” one from your bloodstream.

Another tip Dr Hussain offered is losing weight, if necessary, as excess weight or obesity increases your chances of developing high cholesterol.

The doctor said: “Consider the following – incorporate a small energy deficit in your intake which can be achieved by a combination of mild aerobic exercise and a calorie restriction. 

“This needs to be done in concert with someone who knows what they are doing as it is easy to eat incorrectly or cut out foods that are actually not unhealthy in trying to achieve this. For example there is a common misconception that eggs are bad for cholesterol – this is not true.”

Furthermore, reducing your alcohol intake and quitting smoking can all significantly steer cholesterol levels back on course.

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