Dyslipidaemia and Cardiometabolic Health: What You Need to Know for Risk Management.

Understanding your heart and metabolic health is key to living a longer, healthier life. Small changes in blood fats, blood sugar, and lifestyle habits can make a big difference in preventing heart disease, diabetes, and other related conditions. This simple Q&A guide answers common questions about cholesterol, blood sugar, diet, exercise, and testing, helping you take practical steps to protect your heart and metabolism.

1. What does “cardiometabolic health” mean?

Cardiometabolic health is about how well your heart, blood vessels, and metabolism work together. When blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar levels are too high, your risk of heart disease and diabetes increases. Good cardiometabolic health means your body can manage fats and sugars properly, keeping your heart and blood vessels strong. Studies show that poor cardiometabolic health is one of the main causes of illness and death worldwide [1].

2. What is dyslipidaemia?

Dyslipidaemia means the fats in your blood, such as cholesterol and triglycerides, are not balanced. This might mean having too much total cholesterol or “bad” LDL cholesterol, not enough “good” HDL cholesterol, or high triglycerides. When these levels are out of range, fatty build-up can form inside arteries, making them narrow and increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke [1].

3. What’s the difference between “good” and “bad” cholesterol?

LDL cholesterol is called “bad cholesterol” because it can stick to artery walls and form blockages. HDL cholesterol is known as “good cholesterol” because it helps clear extra fat from your blood. Having more HDL and less LDL is linked with better heart health and lower risk of heart disease [2,3].

4. Why does the size of LDL cholesterol matter?

Not all LDL is the same some particles are large and fluffy, while others are small and dense. The smaller ones are more harmful because they can easily enter artery walls and cause inflammation and damage. People with mostly small LDL particles (called “Phenotype B”) are more likely to develop heart disease than those with larger ones (called “Phenotype A”) [3]. Doctors can check LDL particle size through special blood tests, often along with inflammation markers like hs-CRP [1].

5. What is Apolipoprotein B (ApoB)?

Apolipoprotein B, or ApoB, is a protein found on the surface of bad cholesterol particles that helps them travel through your blood. High ApoB levels mean you have more particles that can build up in arteries. Measuring ApoB gives doctors a clearer picture of your heart risk than cholesterol alone [2,6]. Keeping ApoB low through healthy eating, regular activity, and medical treatment if needed can reduce heart disease risk.

6. What is Lipoprotein(a) and should I worry about it?

Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a type of cholesterol particle you inherit from your parents. High Lp(a) levels can increase inflammation and make blood clots or artery blockages more likely. Unlike other cholesterol types, diet and exercise don’t change Lp(a) much, so it’s most useful to test if you have a family history of early heart disease [4].

7. How does blood sugar affect my heart?

When your blood sugar stays high for long periods, it can damage blood vessels and cause inflammation. Over time, this raises your risk of heart disease. Even people without diabetes can have small changes in blood sugar control that affect heart health. Research shows that keeping glucose and insulin levels steady can lower cardiovascular risk and slow disease progression [5].

8. What foods are best for my heart and metabolism?

A healthy diet makes a big difference. Try to eat mostly whole, plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Limit red meat to no more than two servings a week to help reduce inflammation [8]. Eating a variety of foods around 12 different wholefoods each day and 30 different ones each week supports good gut bacteria and gives your body a wide range of protective nutrients [7].

9. What everyday habits can help lower my risk?

Simple daily habits have a big impact. Moving regularly aiming for about 10,000 steps a day helps lower blood pressure, reduce belly fat, and improve muscle mass, which supports heart health [9]. Managing stress is also important because ongoing stress increases inflammation. Mindfulness, yoga, or spending time outdoors can help you relax and protect your heart [10].

10. What tests should I ask my doctor for to check my heart health?

Start with the basics: cholesterol levels (LDL, HDL, and triglycerides), fasting blood sugar, and body measurements such as waist size and BMI. If you have a higher risk or family history of heart disease, ask about additional tests like ApoB, Lipoprotein(a), LDL particle size, and high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) to check for inflammation. These tests give a fuller picture of your heart and metabolic health [1,4,6].

11. What are inflammation and oxidative stress, and why do they matter?

Inflammation and oxidative stress are like small fires inside your body that slowly damage cells and blood vessels. They play a big role in the development of heart and metabolic diseases. You can help calm these processes by eating foods rich in antioxidants such as omega-3 fats from fish or fish oil, and vitamins C and E from fruits, nuts, and seeds [11].

12. What’s the best way to keep my heart and metabolism healthy?

The best approach is simple and consistent: eat mostly plant foods, move your body daily, manage stress, sleep well, and get regular blood tests. These small habits work together to reduce inflammation, balance cholesterol and blood sugar, and lower your risk of heart disease. Taking care of your cardiometabolic health helps you live a longer, more energetic life [1].

References

1. Leopold JA, Maron BA, Loscalzo J. The application of big data to cardiovascular disease: paths to precision medicine. J Clin Invest. 2020;130(1):29-38.

2. Mehta A, Shapiro MD. Apolipoproteins in vascular biology and atherosclerotic disease. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2022;19(2):168–179.

3. Gianazza E, et al. Proteomic studies on apoB‐containing lipoprotein in cardiovascular research. Mass Spectrometry Reviews. 2021.

4. Farzam K, et al. Lipoprotein A. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.

5. Poznyak AV, Litvinova L, Poggio P. Effect of Glucose Levels on Cardiovascular Risk. Cells. 2022;11(19):3034.

6. Devaraj S, Semaan JR, Jialal I. Biochemistry, Apolipoprotein B. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.

7. Scheiber A, Mank V. Anti-Inflammatory Diets. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.

8. Shi W, Huang X, Schooling CM. Red meat consumption, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Eur Heart J. 2023;44(28):2626–2635.

9. Lu Y, et al. Association Between Skeletal Muscle Mass and Cardiovascular Risk. J Occup Environ Med. 2023.

10. Chinnaiyan KM. Role of stress management for cardiovascular disease prevention. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2019;34(5):531-535.

11. Khan, R., Lone, A., et al. Fish oil and inflammation. Nutrients. 2021.