Does 'good cholesterol' really reduce heart attack risk?

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Well a new study on heart health is reversing a lot of what people thought they knew about cholesterol.

Here's a few facts for you about one in every six American adults has high cholesterol giving them twice the risk of heart disease.

As people with normal levels -- women.

Then men have high cholesterol and according to the new study there may be no -- thing.

As good cholesterol.

Let's have more about this and doctor -- over she's back with that's so doctor -- averages broadly speaking Mary can you is that -- yeah it doesn't click.

-- it what is cholesterol overall.

Well it's made up of low density lipoprotein.

LDL and high density lipoprotein.

HDL and we've always said that the LDL is the bad cholesterol.

And the HDL is protective.

And it sort of protects you so you want your LVL lo and your HDL hot.

But this study actually -- people that genetically had very high HDLs.

And it turned out that they have the same risk of heart disease so images and pass -- now -- And then well you know what.

LDL.

We have these drugs Staten -- they've been great they also decrease inflammation so it's not just the cholesterol.

But they've been commercially successful and medically successful lowering people's cholesterol and helping protect them.

But there's no reason -- look to find a drug to make your HDLs higher.

And there's this big quest and they haven't been able to do it yet and maybe this is something that -- You know maybe we shouldn't be doing it could be key if there's no one drug there's no one magic bullet you have to live a healthy lifestyle.

You can raise your HDL nationally with exercise.

-- -- -- Because a lot of people are on these medications even when there's a -- light.

In -- changes -- their levels.

Doctors are pretty aggressive about this because as you point out some of the drugs -- successful but going back to that anything that someone with high cholesterol.

Or even a good cholesterol reading today should take away from this study and ask their doctor about.

Well I I think then they should talk about their numbers know their numbers.

I think you should live a healthy lifestyle an exercise will help raise your HDL which are protected the bed maybe not as much as we thought.

And the other thing is but if you haven't genetic predisposition either way with a lot of cholesterol.

I mean no other risk factors but no signs of heart attack because if you're having no -- so many people still ignored the sign -- coming giving -- -- -- quick a quick few of them just just we have not only has so.

You can have just -- but arm pain.

Indigestion.

Just not feeling well shortness of breath getting sweaty.

Those kind of things so don't ignore those things even if you live a healthy -- -- as sometimes you know you have bad genes that mean we can't have her relatives now chair and get into the dock.

After sooners though that's the take home can't pick her relatives and how did lifestyle cholesterol or otherwise -- -- -- -- a whole other segment.

I did not hit nice to CO -- -- some important information for us today doctor -- thank you very much.

Thanks for having.

--

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Does 'good cholesterol' really reduce heart attack risk?

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