Dr. Jeffrey Habert
Family Physician
Toronto family doctor Dr. Jeffrey Habert says it’s possible to have high levels of harmful LDL-C cholesterol and still feel healthy.
It may come as a surprise to some patients, but high cholesterol isn’t something you can feel. You can have elevated cholesterol in your bloodstream without knowing — people with hazardously high cholesterol levels can feel perfectly fine.
“You can feel perfectly healthy and the heart disease, the plaque … is developing silently over years,” says Dr. Jeffrey Habert, a Toronto family physician, who has walked countless patients through the ins and outs of heart health.
The “invisibility” of cholesterol, a waxy, fat-like substance, helps explain why Canadian guidelines advise doctors to order blood tests for all patients aged 40 and older (and earlier in groups at increased risk).
Understanding your LDL-C levels
A key number to watch is your level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), the “bad” cholesterol seen on your bloodwork reports. In the simplest terms, too much LDL-C in the blood causes plaque to build up in the arteries. The buildup cuts blood flow and can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
The earlier we identify our patients’ risks, the more chance we have to influence the outcome.
Good habits, like eating a heart-healthy diet and getting regular exercise help lower LDL-C. But another surprise for some patients is that other factors, including age, overall health, family history and diabetes, typically play a critical role.
Lifestyle changes may not be enough
Dr. Habert, who is also an Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto, explains that lifestyle changes may not be enough to reach recommended cholesterol levels for some patients. If your blood test shows cause for concern, your doctor will talk about ways to bring your LDL-C into line. For people at higher risk levels, Canadian Cardiovascular Society guidelines advise patients and doctors to aim for an LDL-C level below 1.8 mmol/L (millimoles per litre).
Doctors may bring up different strategies for reaching the goal. Recent research has validated a “lower for longer is better” outlook: The lower a patient can get their LDL-C level, and the longer they can maintain it at a low level, the lower their risk for developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a group of heart-related conditions that includes heart attacks and strokes.
Staying proactive
The bottom line: Dr. Habert has had the cholesterol conversation countless times with patients from all walks of life. And he stresses that to ensure long-term heart health, patients should regularly monitor their cholesterol levels and talk to their doctors about it. “Many heart attacks and strokes are preventable. The earlier we identify our patients’ risks, the more chance we have to influence the outcome.”
Are you 40 or over? If you haven’t talked about heart health with a doctor, now’s the time to start. Visit amgen.ca/stories/categories/cardiovascular for more about cardiovascular health.
This article was made possible with support from Amgen.