If left untreated, high cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis, characterized by plaque buildup in the arteries. This increase in plaque raises the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other serious health complications.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers a unique perspective on managing high cholesterol with a holistic approach.
High Cholesterol and Its Complications
When discussing various manifestations of atherosclerosis, the following three patient stories illustrate how this progressive condition can affect different parts of the circulatory system, leading to serious health complications that require prompt medical intervention.
Case 1: Coronary Artery Disease
A 58-year-old woman who was overweight and had a history of diabetes began experiencing chest pain, particularly during physical activity. A medical examination revealed that her low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol—commonly known as “bad cholesterol”—was extremely high. Further testing with a coronary angiography confirmed that she had coronary artery disease.
Jingduan Yang
M.D.
Dr. Jingduan Yang is a board-certified psychiatrist and fifth-generation classical Chinese medicine physician whose work bridges Western psychiatry, functional medicine, and ancient healing traditions. He is the creator of the ACES Model of Health and Medicine—a four-dimensional framework spanning anatomy, chemistry, energy, and spirit—and the author of “Facing East” and “Clinical Acupuncture and Ancient Chinese Medicine.” As a principal founder of the Northern School of Medicine and Health Sciences, he advances whole-person care grounded in science, ethics, and humanity.
