Does cholesterol really cause plaque?

When your body has too much LDL cholesterol, it can build up in the walls of your blood vessels. This buildup is called plaque. As your blood vessels build up plaque over time, the insides of the vessels narrow. This narrowing can restrict and eventually block blood flow to and from your heart and other organs.

Does high LDL cause plaque?

These cholesterol-laden particles are known as low-density lipoprotein, or LDL. Too much LDL in the blood can cause cholesterol to lodge in the artery walls and form plaques. That’s why LDL is known as “bad” cholesterol. Not surprisingly, high levels of cholesterol in the diet raise blood levels of LDL.

What causes plaque in arteries besides cholesterol?

Lack of physical activity can contribute to, or aggravate, other factors that can cause plaque buildup. These include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. Experts suggest getting at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise—like brisk walking—most days.

Can plaque buildup in arteries be reversed?

Completely reversing it isn’t possible yet. But taking a statin can reduce the risk of complications from atherosclerosis. It fights inflammation, which stabilizes the plaque. For this reason, statins are often key to treating atherosclerosis.

Does high LDL cholesterol cause heart disease?

The idea that elevated LDL cholesterol contributes to numerous health problems, including cardiovascular disease, is the crux of the “cholesterol hypothesis.” “Turns out, not so much,” says Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist the University of California, San Francisco.

Is cholesterol really that bad?

‘Bad’ Cholesterol May Have a Bad Rap. In technical terms, bad cholesterol is believed to atherogenic, or it promotes the formation of fatty plaques in the arteries. That’s why numerous pharmaceutical drugs, namely statins, target this cholesterol.

Can plaque in your arteries really be shrinked?

“Making plaque disappear is not possible, but we can shrink and stabilize it,” says cardiologist Dr. Christopher Cannon, a Harvard Medical School professor. Plaque forms when cholesterol (above, in yellow) lodges in the wall of the artery.

How do you shrink cholesterol plaques on statins?

Another medication called ezetimibe (Zetia) may be added to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the digestive tract. “Shrinking plaques with strong statins has been seen when you get LDL below 70 (mg/dL),” says Dr. Cannon.