My Dad's just had coronary stenting in Malaysia for two arteries, blocked 70 and 80%. He was feeling pains in his chest about 2 weeks ago and went to the doctor here in the UK, who dismissed it as stress.

When he got to Malaysia he had an angiogram done, they found the blockages and underwent the operation.

Blockages are due to cholesterol build up right? Lipid accumulation and then smooth muscle proliferation. So isn't the major cause of this a high fat diet, and not so much exercise? My dad has been having thyroid problems and been putting on weight. How does exercise prevent artery blockages? Does it simply just get rid of cholesterol, or rather prevent the liver from making it?

My Dad's just had coronary stenting in Malaysia for two arteries, blocked 70 and 80%. He was feeling pains in his chest about 2 weeks ago and went to the doctor here in the UK, who dismissed it as stress.

When he got to Malaysia he had an angiogram done, they found the blockages and underwent the operation.

Blockages are due to cholesterol build up right? Lipid accumulation and then smooth muscle proliferation. So isn't the major cause of this a high fat diet, and not so much exercise? My dad has been having thyroid problems and been putting on weight. How does exercise prevent artery blockages? Does it simply just get rid of cholesterol, or rather prevent the liver from making it?


Exercise boosts HDL (the good cholesterol) which reduces atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries -- But, your dad should get his thyroid treated because hypothyroidism often results in elevated cholesterol.

Ahh okay thanks that's an interesting link.

He hasn't been getting treatment, just test after test of TSH levels every few weeks. Jumping from hyper to hypothyroidism, but he's been gaining weight for the majority of the time. I'll let him know so he'll be more inclined to push for treatments, since I think he's hesitant, too proud maybe, to be on drugs for the rest of his life.

How does exercise prevent artery blockages? Does it simply just get rid of cholesterol, or rather prevent the liver from making it?

Check out recent research from the University of Indiana. Here is a link to the press release.
http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/3925.html

Here is a quote:
" After a fatty meal, arteries lose their ability to expand in response to an increase in blood flow, with the effect peaking four to six hours after eating -- just in time for the next meal.

"What happens four hours after that high-fat meal is that your artery looks just like the arteries of a person who has heart disease," said co-author Janet P. Wallace, professor in IU Bloomington's Department of Kinesiology. "What our study showed is that when you exercise after that meal, it doesn't look like a sick artery anymore." "

Remember there's more to high cholesterol than just diet: Genetics/family history has a huge impact on cholesterol levels. Therefore, if you haven't already, I would get your lipid panel checked.

There are plenty of people who look like the picture of health with a pristine diet and exercise regimen who will always have high cholesterol due to family history.