Read any article about high cholesterol these days and you’re likely to find horror stories of how such things will doom you to a future of strokes, heart attacks and other heart disease. But did you know some experts claim the data indicates cholesterol may not be an important factor in the development of heart problems? Experts are in fact torn between these two opposing views about the dangers of high cholesterol.

The Framingham Heart Study claims to show a cause-and-effect relationship between high cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease. This study indicates those with higher levels of blood cholesterol are more likely to develop coronary heart disease (CHD) than those with lower levels.

It shows coronary heart disease is unusual at low cholesterol levels, and therefore claims proof that low cholesterol levels are the key to overall heart health. Another recent series of trials studied the effects of statin drugs (a type of cholesterol-lowering medication) and claimed lowering the total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol reduces the risk of heart attack, angioplasty (a bypass that requires surgery) and death from coronary disease.

But other experts disagree with the findings of the cholesterol-equals-death crowd. Some experts do not see a cause-and-effect relationship between too much cholesterol and heart disease in these studies. These experts go as far as arguing there is no such thing as “bad” cholesterol or “good” cholesterol.

They have observed that mental stress, physical activity and a change of body weight may all influence blood cholesterol levels and conclude that a high cholesterol level is only the reflection of an already unhealthy condition. Cholesterol is seen like a fever: if you remove the flu, then the fever will go away too. Instead of, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”  these experts ask, “Which came first, the high cholesterol levels or the poor health?”

Whichever view seems correct to you, it is undisputed these conditions are often present when heart disease is identified:

•    High total cholesterol levels
•    Low HDL (good) cholesterol and high LDL (bad) cholesterol levels
•    Smoking
•    High blood pressure
•    Diabetes
•    Physical inactivity
•    Obesity or excess body fat

Since so much disagreement exists among experts and their interpretation of cholesterol-related studies, the best answer could very well be to stay on the safe side.

If conditions such as hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol and smoking are in fact present in many people with heart disease, it might be wise to remove as many of these factors as possible. Take steps to lower your blood pressure, lose weight, reduce stress and quit smoking, and you’re likely to experience a better life whether high cholesterol has anything to do with it or not.

It could be argued exercise, proper diet, and healthy lifestyle habits all carry their own reward so continue on with your healthy lifestyle –you’ll feel better.