High levels of bad cholesterol up to 80% genetic: PHA

MANILA – High levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) or bad cholesterol could be genetic in origin, the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) said Wednesday.

PHA president Rodney Jimenez said the presence of high LDL levels in both parents may cause the same in their offsprings even at a young age.

"Up to 80 percent, it is genetic, 'yung 20 percent kaya mo pa mapababa, kontrolin siya (the remaining 20 percent can still be managed, controlled)," Jimenez said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview.

"Ganun pa man, kahit 80 percent siya pero sobrang taas na ng cholesterol mo, kelangan mo na rin mag-gamot para mapababa natin iyan, para mabawasan 'yung progression ng heart disease kapag uminom ng gamot (If it is 80 percent, and your (bad) cholesterol level is very high, you still need medicines to lower it, and prevent the progression of having heart disease)," he added.

High levels of bad cholesterol are associated with heart problems like coronary atherosclerosis disease (CAD).

CAD happens when fats, bad cholesterol, and other substances build up in the walls of the heart arteries. Such build-ups are called plaques.

Besides being genetic, Jimenez said high levels of cholesterol could be attributed to a person's lifestyle like lack of exercise and eating of fast foods loaded with transfat.

"Burgers, donuts kasi deep fry eh, 'yung mga nilalagyan nga nila ng chemicals para ma-stablize 'yung oil, tapos, uulitin na naman nila (Burgers, donuts because they are deep fried, these are the ones blended with chemicals to stabilize the oil, then, the process is repeated)," he said.

To prevent transfat in foods, he said, healthy oils may be used to fry foods. These include canola oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, and vegetable oil.

Exercising at least 150 minutes a day or walking 10,000 steps daily also helps in keeping levels of bad cholesterol in the body low, he added.

Untreated high levels of bad cholesterol that already caused plaques can lead to heart attack or heart disease which may manifest when a person engages in physical activities that require effort like climbing a flight of stairs.

"Bumibilis na ang heart rate mo, nahihirapan ka na huminga, sumasakit na 'yung dibdib mo, 'yun ay senyales na ng (Your heart rate goes up, you have difficulty breathing, you have chest pains, these are signs of) heart disease o heart attack," Jimenez said.

To prevent these, he advised the public not to smoke or vape, manage blood pressure and blood sugar levels, sleep at least six hours a day and not to skip taking maintenance medicines.

According to a Philippine Statistics Authority report in December 2023, heart disease remains the leading cause of death among Filipinos.

Ischemic heart disease, characterized by failure of arteries to deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart due to a buildup of plaques, topped the list of causes of deaths nationwide from January to July in 2023. (PNA)