Overview

Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in your blood that plays a critical role in building cells and producing hormones like estrogen and testosterone. It is mainly produced by the liver but can also come from certain foods. There are two key types: LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein), known as "bad" cholesterol, which can accumulate in the arteries and lead to heart disease, and HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein), or "good" cholesterol, which helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream.

While cholesterol is essential for bodily functions, having high levels of LDL or low HDL increases the risk of cardiovascular issues like heart disease and stroke. Factors like diet, exercise, genetics, and age affect cholesterol levels, and it's crucial to monitor them through blood tests, as high cholesterol often shows no symptoms.

Cholesterol is often misunderstood, and there are many myths surrounding its role in our health. In this video, our panel of experts — Dr. Brajesh Kumar Mishra, Dr. Ujjawal Kumar, and Dr. Anupama V Hegde — break down the most common misconceptions about cholesterol and provide the facts you need to know to manage it effectively. Here’s what we’ll cover:

Myth 1: All Cholesterol is Bad

Fact: Learn about the difference between LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol and their roles in your body.

Myth 2: Eating Cholesterol-Rich Foods Raises Blood Cholesterol

Fact: Dietary cholesterol is not the main culprit; it’s more about the fats in your diet.

Myth 3: Only Overweight People Have High Cholesterol

Fact: Cholesterol levels can be high regardless of your weight, and factors like genetics play a role.

Myth 4: Young People Don’t Need to Worry About Cholesterol

Fact: High cholesterol can develop early in life, making it crucial to monitor from a young age.

Myth 5: Medication Can Replace a Healthy Lifestyle

Fact: Medications help, but they’re most effective when combined with healthy lifestyle choices.

Myth 6: Women Don’t Need to Worry About Cholesterol Until Menopause

Fact: Cholesterol is important to monitor for women at all ages, not just after menopause.

Myth 7: You Can Feel When Your Cholesterol is High

Fact: High cholesterol has no symptoms — a blood test is the only way to know.

Myth 8: Cholesterol Only Affects Heart Health

Fact: It also impacts other organs, such as the brain, increasing stroke risk.

Myth 9: Switching to Low-Fat Foods Automatically Lowers Cholesterol

Fact: Healthy fats are important, and some low-fat foods may increase LDL cholesterol.

Speakers

Dr Brajesh Kumar Mishra

Dr Brajesh Kumar Mishra (MBBS, MD (Medicine), DNB (Cardiology), Cardiac EP Fellowship, Observership Mount Sinai) is an Interventional cardiologist, and Cardiac Electrophysiologist at Manipal Hospital, Gurugram. He has 24 years of experience in Cardiology and worked as an expert in different cities in India. Dr. Brajesh Kumar Mishra has contributed to handling numerous complex medical cases in several hospitals. He is known for his attention to accurate diagnosis and for treating patients empathetically. The speciality interests of Dr Brajesh are procedures like Radial Procedures, ICD and CRTD Pacemakers, Interventional Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, etc. He is an active member of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Indian Heart Rhythm Society (IHRS).

Dr Anupama V Hegde

Dr Anupama V Hegde MBBS, DNB (Cardiology) is a Consultant (Department of Cardiology) at Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, Bengaluru. She has more than 14 years experience in Cardiology, with 9 years of teaching experience. She specialises in Advanced Echocardiography, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Cardiac Procedures, Complex Angioplasties, Preventive Cardiology, Clinical Cardiology and more. Her field of interest includes management of cardiac disease in women and management of pulmonary hypertension and cardiac problems in patients who have recovered from COVID-19 infection.

Dr Ujjawal Kumar

Dr Ujjawal Kumar is a Consultant Cardiologist and TAVI/TAVR surgeon at Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad, having over 5 years of experience in the field. His specialities lay in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation / Replacement (TAVI/TAVR) Coronary Angiography (Radial and Femoral), Coronal Angioplasty (Including Complex PTCA) through radial and femoral routes, Intravascular Imaging (IVUS and OCT), Physiological Assessment by FFR, IFR, Pacemakers and ICD (Conduction System Pacing), CRT-D/P Devices, Holter Monitoring, Renal Angioplasty, 2D, 3D, TEE and TMT. In addition to being an expert in his field, Dr Ujjawal Kumar has a DM in Cardiology as well as a Post Doctoral Fellowship (Pacing and EPS) and an MD in Internal Medicine. He is also highly involved in research and has been published numerous times.