High Cholesterol Often Symptomless, Doctor Recommends Routine Checks

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Cardiovascular specialist Dr. dr. Susetyo Atmojo, Sp.JP, of the Indonesian Cardiovascular Specialists Association (PERKI), has reminded the public that high cholesterol generally causes no symptoms, making regular cholesterol screening necessary.

“Most cases of high cholesterol are asymptomatic. By the time it is checked, it is already high. If we fail to detect it early, we will only find out about high cholesterol when we are about to have a heart attack or stroke. That is truly regrettable, especially since heart attacks and strokes come suddenly, yet the underlying disease is preventable,” said Susetyo during a media education session held by Daewoong together with PERKI in Jakarta on Thursday.

He noted that this means many people are unaware that their cholesterol levels are high because they experience no particular complaints. As a result, high cholesterol is often only discovered after a health examination or once complications have already appeared.

He therefore urged the public not to wait for symptoms before having their cholesterol levels checked.

“If you wait for symptoms, the disease is usually already at an advanced stage. So regular cholesterol screening is the best way to detect risks early,” he said.

He added that screening should not only aim to determine total cholesterol levels, but also LDL levels, which serve as one of the key indicators in assessing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Beyond undergoing routine checks, Susetyo reminded the public to adopt a healthy lifestyle by limiting the consumption of saturated and trans fats, exercising regularly, maintaining an ideal body weight, and following treatment as advised by a doctor if they have been diagnosed with high cholesterol.