It is important to understand that only 20 per cent of your cholesterol comes from the food you eat. The remaining 80 per cent is manufactured in the body by your liver. However, even though you may be eating well and exercising regularly, you may still have elevated cholesterol levels. Do not be discouraged. Sometimes lifestyle changes alone are not enough and your doctor may recommend medication to reduce your high cholesterol.
Treatment Options
The most commonly prescribed medications to lower cholesterol levels are statins, which work by restricting the liver's production of cholesterol. Statins can significantly lower LDL-cholesterol, raise HDL-cholesterol, and some even lower blood triglyceride levels, another element in determining your total cholesterol level.
When you take cholesterol-lowering medication, you still need to reduce dietary intake of saturated fats and cholesterol, and exercise on a daily basis. It is essential that you take your medication as recommended. Even when your cholesterol levels are reduced, do not stop taking your medication without discussing it first with your physician.
For more information about cholesterol, heart disease, and treatment options, please speak to your physician or visit http://www.makingtheconnection.ca or call toll-free 1-877-4LOW-LDL (1-877-456-9535).
- News Canada
Lifestyle changes:
How To Lower Your Cholesterol
The risk of heart disease is greatly increased if you have high cholesterol. This can include potentially fatal heart attacks. Lowering cholesterol is recommended to lead a more healthy life and maintain a healthy heart. High cholesterol causes hardening of the arteries which reduces blood flow to the heart. This may result in chest pains or heart attack.
Favorable cholesterol levels should be less than 200. Anything over 240 is considered high risk. For severely high cholesterol it is recommended to seek consultation with a medical professional for treatment and medications. A physician w ..
What Are My Treatment Options?
My condition, as determined by my doctor
Recommended Treatment
I have higher than normal "bad" cholesterol but low to moderate risk
As a first step, your doctor may suggest diet and lifestyle changes. After three to six months, if your cholesterol remains elevated above target, your doctor may prescribe medication.
I have a high risk of heart disease
Medication will be considered along with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.
I have a very high risk or known heart disease or diabetes
Medication, along with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, will play an important role in your cholesterol management.
Cholesterol
Ways To Keep It Low
These days we hear a lot of warnings about cholesterol, but the funny thing is, cholesterol isn t all bad. Your body produces it naturally and it performs some pretty vital jobs - helping to build new cells, as well as produce hormones and insulate nerves. Only when you ve got too much do you have a problem.
Unfortunately, there s a lot of confusion surrounding this substance because it s made up of both good and bad cholesterol, and is known as HDL and LDL. So which is the good guy, and which is the bad guy ?
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is the good guy ..
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News CanadaWhen Lifestyle Changes Are Not Enough: High Cholesterol May Not Be Your Fault
