High cholesterol levels can cause a host of worrying health issues and Dr. Owayed Mohammad Al Shammeri of Riyadh’s Soliman Habib Hospital has taken it upon himself to raise awareness on the subject, sharing tips for a healthier you and explaining more about the condition. Soaring cholesterol levels can affect the heart and even cause strokes, and the doctor added that "bad cholesterol, (known as) LDL-C, is closely linked to cardiovascular event developments. In addition, hypertension is a strong risk factor." Al-Shammeri added that high cholesterol levels seem to be a particularly worrying issue in Saudi Arabia. “High cholesterol has a close relationship with major adverse cardiovascular issues, mainly non-fatal myocardial infarction, strokes and even death,” Al-Shammeri explained. The doctor also highlighted that hypertension is a “strong risk factor” related to the development of cardiac issues. Dyslipidemia — the presence of abnormal levels of fats in the blood — is also an issue that the doctor raised concerns about. “Across the Kingdom, we have three times the reported rate of prevalence of dyslipidemia among coronary heart patients,” he said. According to Al Shammeri, serious measures should be taken to prevent the occurrence of “bad cholesterol” and the related health issues. While patients with should get a check-up every two months, he suggests an annual examination for others. Lifestyle habits need to be modified, the doctor said. “We are skipping exercise — especially walking. Because of technology, we eat more and sit more. There is too much service convenience available at our fingertips and we are getting complacent as a society.” Al-Shammeri said a healthy diet is another step towards preventing such health issues. “We need to be better and more efficient when it comes to diets… a holistic approach to managing cholesterol levels is needed and should be kept in mind by everyone. It is not just one measure, or the other. It needs to be a combination of diet, lifestyle adjustment and treatment.”