One out of every three people in Türkiye has a problem with high cholesterol. However, unfortunately, Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Mehmet Akif Öztürk said that due to the problems caused by high cholesterol, it was not recognized enough and was not given importance until it emerged, "High LDL cholesterol causes changes in the vascular wall over time, causing damage to the target organ. For example, it may cause a heart attack or cause a stroke by causing cerebral vascular occlusion."

Cholesterol is actually a protein-fat formation that participates in the structure of the cell. The health risk arises from the fact that these circulating cholesterol substances are optimal, that is, they are either below or above the limits that they should be. Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Mehmet Akif Öztürk underlined that environmental factors, dietary preferences, that is, a lifestyle away from eating foods with high cholesterol content or physical activity, and genetic factors can cause high cholesterol.

1 In 3 People Have High Cholesterol

Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Mehmet Akif Öztürk stated that although the cholesterol level in Türkiye is around 30%, it is not recognized enough and therefore it is not considered important, and that many people learned about this situation by chance when their cholesterol levels were high in a simple blood test taken at the health center.
However, stating that the absence of complaints until the emergence of diseases can be effective in this result, Specialist Dr. Öztürk continued as follows: "High LDL cholesterol causes changes in the vascular wall over time and causes damage to the target organ wherever it is. For example, it can cause a heart attack or stroke by blocking the brain vein. Again, there is a risk of pancreatitis at high triglyceride values. Ultimately, it should not be forgotten that high cholesterol has direct and indirect effects on loss of life." Specialist Dr. Öztürk said that high cholesterol puts especially men at higher risk for problems such as heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease, and pointed out that the risk of high cholesterol in many men started at the age of 20 and increased with age.

The Truth About Cholesterol...

Specialist Dr. Mehmet Akif Öztürk made important statements on this issue, stating that society still does not have enough information about this problem, which is extremely important in terms of its results, and that some information is also wrong.

"Cigarettes Have Nothing to Do with High Cholesterol"

FACT: Reminding that smoking is among the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as cholesterol, Specialist Dr. Öztürk said, "If a person has high cholesterol and smokes, it increases the risk in terms of diseases. Therefore, although smoking does not have a direct effect on increasing cholesterol, the combination of the two factors increases the risk."

"People with Healthy Weight Do Not Have Elevated Cholesterol!"

FACT: Underlining that this information is also common but incorrect, Specialist Dr. Öztürk stated that there is no one-to-one relationship between weight and cholesterol elevation and said: "Although cholesterol levels are high in some people with normal weight, cholesterol levels can be determined at normal levels in some people with excess weight. However, it should not be forgotten that excess weight together with high cholesterol may constitute a risk for many diseases. Therefore, healthy weight should be maintained by eating a balanced diet."

"My Cholesterol Is Not High Because I Have No Symptoms!"

FACT: Reminding that the symptoms of high cholesterol do not occur until the damage to the target organ develops, Specialist Dr. Mehmet Akif Öztürk said, "Therefore, the idea that we do not have cholesterol because we do not have symptoms is not a correct approach. For this reason, cholesterol should also be checked at regular check-ups before symptoms occur."

"I Do Not Eat Meat, Cholesterol Does Not Rise!"

FACT: Specialist Dr. Öztürk conveyed the correct information about this view as follows: "Undoubtedly, meat products are products with high cholesterol content, but if you are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol, even if you pay attention to your diet, your cholesterol values may be high. I do not consume meat, so the idea that I have a cholesterol problem is not true."

"Target Cholesterol Values Are the Same for Everyone!"

FACT: Underlining that this information is misunderstood by many people, Specialist Dr. Öztürk said, "Target cholesterol values are not the same for everyone. For example, lower values are targeted for an individual with established heart disease or diabetes, while target cholesterol values are higher only in people who are completely healthy and have high cholesterol. Therefore, the target values for everyone and the treatment approach are different when necessary."

"Once Cholesterol Rises, It Is Hard To Lower It Again"

FACT: When cholesterol is found to be high, it is possible to lower it even with lifestyle changes and keep it at a certain level, said Specialist Dr. Öztürk, "Especially healthy eating and physical activity are the leading lifestyle changes to be made. If the target values cannot be reached in this way, we will try to reduce cholesterol with drug treatment."

"I Do Not Need to Pay Attention to What I Eat Under Control of My Cholesterol Because I Take Medication!"

FACT: Underlining that this information is also misunderstood by many people and patients, Specialist Dr. Mehmet Akif Öztürk stated that for this reason, the desired results cannot be obtained from the treatment or it takes time. Lifestyle change and medication should be administered together. Even if the drug is used, foods with high cholesterol content should be removed from the daily diet. Other than that, physical activity has additional benefits."

Cholesterol is Bad for the Body!

FACT: Reminding that cholesterol is actually the building block of the cells in our body, Specialist Dr. Mehmet Akif Öztürk underlined that it would not be right to say that it is harmful for this reason and gave the following information. "It is highly present in our brain tissue. Therefore, we cannot say that cholesterol is completely harmful. What counts for us is the cholesterol levels in the circulation rather than the amount of cholesterol in the tissues. The risk for diseases begins when circulating free cholesterol is not within the desired ranges. "