I can see Dr Oz's point: excess pressure causes fissures in the artery which require cholesterol to patch up. There are other theories about the causes of atherosclerosis, such as oxidation, inflammation, infection.

Blood pressure has come down a lot in recent months to an average of 125/75, often as low as 115/65.

My mother has high cholesterol. But not at the level I have had over the last few months.

Actually I had a cardio angiogram in March last year after an exercise stress test raised a red flag. (Where they stick a catheter into the heart through the artery at your pelvis, inject a dye and x-ray the heart artery.) It showed a tiny amount of plaque in two places - nothing that could be called a blockage. I read that it takes years or decades for plaque to build up. So I am not in any immediate danger. All the more reason for careful consideration.