Trey, as a cardiac surgeon, always has a lot to say when faced with questions from patients with coronary artery bypass. Patients always ask if we will be like normal people after the bypass. Is it that we can stop worrying about everything? Of course not, heart bypass surgery solves the problem of blood supply, but many risk factors that cause coronary heart disease have not been removed, for example, we often say high blood pressure, high blood pressure, high blood sugar “three high” problem, why do you need to control, how to control, let me tell you, in several times to discuss the risk factors of coronary heart disease Let me discuss the risk factors for coronary heart disease in several sessions. Cholesterol’s past life “Cholesterol itself is not bad” – this must be surprising to you. In fact, cholesterol is one of the many substances that are produced in our bodies and keep us healthy. One part of cholesterol is synthesized by our bodies, yet another part comes from food. There are two types of cholesterol in the body – the good and the bad. It is important to understand the difference and recognize the levels of “good cholesterol” and “bad cholesterol” in the blood. Too much of one or not enough of the other can put you at risk for coronary heart disease and strokes. There are two sources of cholesterol: your body and food. Your liver or other cells in your body synthesize about 75 percent of the cholesterol in your blood. The remaining 25 cholesterol comes from the food you eat every day, and of course, only in animal products. Blood biochemistry tests at various hospitals can measure your HDL and LDL levels. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the “good” cholesterol, and HDL prevents low-density lipoprotein (LDL, the “bad” cholesterol) from being deposited on the walls of your arteries. Healthy levels of HDL protect people from heart attacks and strokes, while low HDL concentrations increase the risk of developing coronary heart disease. Studies have proven that daily physical activity makes your body produce more HDL. Reducing your intake of trans fats and maintaining a balanced diet is another way to raise HDL. If neither of these methods work, you will need to see your doctor to take medication to bring your HDL to normal levels. LDL is the “bad” lipoprotein, and too much LDL in the blood clogs the arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. How cholesterol is really responsible for coronary heart disease, heart attacks and strokes, high blood lipids (what we call lower HDL levels and higher LDL levels) are one of the main culprits. When blood lipids are elevated, the risk of coronary heart disease increases. But if you have other risk factors, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, you are even more at risk. The more risk factors you have, or the more severe each risk factor is, the greater your chance of developing coronary heart disease. As more LDL is present in the bloodstream and circulates with the blood flow, cholesterol is slowly deposited on the inner walls of the arteries that supply blood flow to organs throughout the body, especially the heart and brain. Together with other substances, the cholesterol forms thick, hard plaques – narrowing and causing the arteries to lose their elasticity – which we often refer to as atherosclerosis. When atherosclerosis occurs in the blood vessels supplying the heart, it is called coronary heart disease, and in the blood vessels of the brain, it is possible to have a stroke (what we often call a cerebral infarction, or even a “hemiplegia”). Hyperlipidemia is also influenced by age, gender, family history and diet. Under normal circumstances, LDL is also synthesized by the body, but many people inherit genes from their parents or even grandparents that cause them to synthesize more LDL. Consumption of saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol in foods also increases LDL levels. If you do have genetic factors that increase your LDL, it is not enough to improve your lifestyle by exercising more and eating less fatty foods. Everyone is different, so consulting with your doctor to develop an individual treatment plan will make a big difference. Do you feel uncomfortable if your lipids are too high? The answer is no! Although high blood lipids can lead to a number of serious cardiovascular diseases, most of the time you will not feel uncomfortable. That’s why it’s important to get regular checkups and consult your doctor. To reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, you need to monitor and keep your blood lipids normal with your doctor. If your lipids are good now, start practicing good lifestyle habits – it’s not too early! Take action to normalize our blood lipids High blood lipids contribute to cardiovascular disease, which is now one of the biggest health threats to our citizens. Fortunately, we can control our blood lipids, whether by taking medications or changing our diet and lifestyle habits – by carefully following our doctor’s recommendations. Lifestyle changes – your diet, weight, physical activity and smoking can all affect your lipid levels by: → eating heart-healthy foods such as foods rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, high-fiber foods, lean meats, poultry, fish at least twice a week, nonfat dairy products, using low cholesterol , foods that are low in saturated fatty acids, and foods that are low in trans fatty acids. Be aware of the types of fats – know which fats raise LDL levels (trans fatty acids and saturated fatty acids, such as those found in products with hydrogenated oils to increase shelf life and product stability. This includes crackers, baked goods, cereals, breads, fast foods such as French fries, fried fish, onion rings, margarine, etc.) and which ones are not elevated (unsaturated fatty acids), which is the first step in reducing the risk of heart disease. Changing our cooking habits for normal blood lipids – eating unsaturated fats (e.g. nuts, fish, fish oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil, etc.) and reducing dietary cholesterol intake (e.g. eating only egg whites) can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Understand the options for lowering medications – For some people, improving lifestyle habits alone will not achieve the goal of lowering blood lipids, and your doctor may recommend that you take lipid-lowering medications. Work with your doctor – you and your doctor play an equally important role in improving your health, be sure you fully understand your doctor’s instructions and follow the plan carefully, especially when it comes to taking lipid-lowering medications, or you will lose everything and be Be persistent in making healthy diet and lifestyle changes.