How often should you check your cholesterol levels. What does a lipid profile test measure. Can lifestyle changes improve your cholesterol levels. What are the risk factors for unhealthy cholesterol.

Understanding Cholesterol and Its Impact on Heart Health

Cholesterol, a waxy substance naturally present in our blood, plays crucial roles in our body, such as hormone production and fat digestion. However, excessive cholesterol can lead to serious health issues. When cholesterol builds up in blood vessels, it impedes blood flow, potentially causing heart disease over time.

Do you know the different types of cholesterol? There are two main types:

• LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) – often called “bad” cholesterol
• HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) – known as “good” cholesterol

LDL cholesterol can accumulate in arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease. Conversely, HDL cholesterol helps remove LDL from arteries, thus having a protective effect on heart health.

The Importance of Regular Cholesterol Checks

Regular cholesterol checks are vital for maintaining cardiovascular health. Most people with high cholesterol don’t experience any symptoms, making routine testing crucial for early detection and prevention of heart disease.

How frequently should you have your cholesterol checked? The general recommendation is every 4 to 6 years. However, individuals with higher risk factors for heart disease may need more frequent testing. These risk factors include:

• Family history of high cholesterol or heart disease
• Personal history of heart disease or stroke
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Smoking

Are you unsure about your risk level? Consult your healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate testing schedule for your individual needs.

Decoding Your Lipid Profile Test Results

A lipid profile test is the most comprehensive method to assess your cholesterol levels. This blood test measures several components:

1. Total Cholesterol
2. LDL (bad) Cholesterol
3. HDL (good) Cholesterol
4. Triglycerides

Understanding your test results is crucial for managing your heart health. Here’s a breakdown of what these numbers mean:

Total Cholesterol

This figure represents the sum of all cholesterol types in your blood. While it provides a general overview, it’s not as informative as the individual component measurements.

LDL Cholesterol

Lower levels of LDL cholesterol are desirable, as high levels can increase your risk of heart disease. Your doctor will interpret this number in conjunction with your other risk factors to determine if it’s within a healthy range for you.

HDL Cholesterol

Higher levels of HDL cholesterol are beneficial, as it helps remove LDL cholesterol from your arteries. Low HDL levels may increase your risk of heart disease.

Triglycerides

These are a type of fat in your blood that can contribute to heart attack and stroke risk when elevated. Your doctor will consider your triglyceride levels along with your other cholesterol numbers to assess your overall cardiovascular risk.

Is there another important number to consider? Yes, your lipid profile may also include your non-HDL cholesterol. This figure represents all the “bad” types of cholesterol combined (total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol). A high non-HDL level can increase your risk of heart disease.

Factors Influencing Cholesterol Levels

Multiple factors can contribute to unhealthy cholesterol levels. Some of these are within our control, while others are not. Understanding these factors can help you take appropriate steps to manage your cholesterol:

Controllable Factors

• Diet: Consuming foods high in saturated and trans fats can raise LDL cholesterol
• Physical Activity: Regular exercise can help increase HDL cholesterol
• Weight: Being overweight can lower HDL and raise LDL and triglycerides
• Smoking: Tobacco use lowers HDL cholesterol
• Alcohol Consumption: Excessive drinking can increase triglycerides

Uncontrollable Factors

• Age: Cholesterol levels tend to rise as we get older
• Gender: Men generally have lower HDL levels than women
• Family History: Genetic factors can influence cholesterol levels
• Certain Medical Conditions: Conditions like diabetes and hypothyroidism can affect cholesterol levels

Are you aware of your personal risk factors? Identifying which factors apply to you can help guide your cholesterol management strategy.

Strategies for Improving Cholesterol Levels

If your cholesterol levels are not within a healthy range, don’t despair. There are several effective strategies you can employ to improve your cholesterol profile:

Dietary Changes

Adopting a heart-healthy diet can significantly impact your cholesterol levels. Consider incorporating these dietary habits:

• Increase fiber intake through whole grains, fruits, and vegetables
• Choose lean proteins like fish, poultry, and legumes
• Limit saturated and trans fats found in red meat and full-fat dairy products
• Include healthy fats from sources like olive oil, nuts, and avocados

Regular Physical Activity

Exercise can help raise HDL cholesterol and lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week.

Weight Management

Maintaining a healthy weight can help improve your cholesterol levels. Even a modest weight loss of 5-10% can have significant benefits for your heart health.

Smoking Cessation

Quitting smoking can help raise your HDL cholesterol levels and improve your overall cardiovascular health.

Moderate Alcohol Consumption

If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men.

Have you considered which of these strategies might be most beneficial for you? Discussing these options with your healthcare provider can help you develop a personalized plan to improve your cholesterol levels.

Medication Options for Cholesterol Management

In some cases, lifestyle changes alone may not be sufficient to manage cholesterol levels. Your doctor might recommend medication as part of your treatment plan. Several types of cholesterol-lowering medications are available:

Statins

Statins are the most commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs. They work by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol, which leads to a reduction in LDL cholesterol.

Bile Acid Sequestrants

These medications work in the intestines by binding to bile acids, which leads to a reduction in LDL cholesterol.

Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors

These drugs reduce the amount of cholesterol your small intestine absorbs and delivers to your liver.

PCSK9 Inhibitors

This newer class of drugs helps the liver remove more LDL cholesterol from the blood.

Are you currently taking any cholesterol-lowering medications? It’s crucial to take them as prescribed and discuss any side effects with your healthcare provider.

The Role of Genetic Factors in Cholesterol Levels

While lifestyle factors play a significant role in cholesterol levels, genetic factors can also have a substantial impact. One such genetic condition is Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH).

Understanding Familial Hypercholesterolemia

FH is an inherited disorder that leads to very high LDL cholesterol levels from birth. People with FH have a significantly increased risk of early heart disease.

Do you have a family history of early heart disease or high cholesterol? If so, you might want to discuss genetic testing with your healthcare provider to determine if FH could be a factor in your cholesterol management.

Managing Genetically High Cholesterol

If you have FH or other genetic factors contributing to high cholesterol, management typically involves a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. Regular monitoring and close collaboration with your healthcare team are essential for effective management.

The Connection Between Cholesterol and Other Health Conditions

Cholesterol levels don’t exist in isolation – they’re often interconnected with other aspects of your health. Understanding these connections can help you manage your overall health more effectively.

Cholesterol and Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes can affect your cholesterol levels by lowering HDL cholesterol and increasing triglycerides. If you have diabetes, managing your blood sugar levels can help improve your cholesterol profile.

Cholesterol and Hypertension

High blood pressure and high cholesterol often go hand in hand, both contributing to an increased risk of heart disease. Managing both conditions simultaneously is crucial for heart health.

Cholesterol and Obesity

Excess weight can lead to higher LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and lower HDL cholesterol. Losing weight can help improve all these measures.

Are you managing multiple health conditions? It’s important to consider how they might interact and affect your overall health. A comprehensive approach to health management, in consultation with your healthcare provider, can help address these interconnected issues effectively.

Remember, managing your cholesterol is an ongoing process. Regular check-ups, adherence to your treatment plan, and a commitment to a heart-healthy lifestyle are key to maintaining optimal cholesterol levels and reducing your risk of heart disease. By staying informed and proactive about your cholesterol health, you’re taking an important step towards a healthier future.

Get Your Cholesterol Checked – MyHealthfinder

Doctor Visits

• The Basics
• Take Action

The Basics

Overview

It’s important to get your cholesterol checked regularly. Too much cholesterol in your blood can cause a heart attack or a stroke.

The good news is that it’s easy to get your cholesterol checked. If your cholesterol is high, you can take steps to lower it — like eating healthy, getting more physical activity, and taking medicine if your doctor recommends it.

How often do I need to get my cholesterol checked?

The general recommendation is to get your cholesterol checked every 4 to 6 years. Some people may need to get their cholesterol checked more often depending on their risk of heart disease.

For example, high cholesterol can run in families. If someone in your family has high cholesterol or takes medicine to control cholesterol, you might need to get tested more often. Talk to your doctor about what’s best for you.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy material that’s found naturally in your blood. Your body makes cholesterol and uses it to do important things, like making hormones and digesting fatty foods.

If you have too much cholesterol in your body, it can build up inside your blood vessels and make it hard for blood to flow through them. Over time, this can lead to heart disease.

Cholesterol Test

How can I tell if I have high cholesterol?

Most people who have high cholesterol don’t have any signs or symptoms. That’s why it’s so important to get your cholesterol checked.

How can I get my cholesterol checked?

Your doctor will check your cholesterol levels with a blood test called a lipid profile. A nurse will take a small sample of blood from your finger or arm for this test.

There are other blood tests that can check cholesterol, but a lipid profile gives the most information.

Types of Cholesterol

What do the test results mean?

If you get a lipid profile test, the results will show a few numbers. A lipid profile measures:

• Total cholesterol
• LDL (bad) cholesterol
• HDL (good) cholesterol
• Triglycerides

Total cholesterol is a measure of all the cholesterol in your blood. It’s based on the LDL, HDL, and triglycerides numbers. 

LDL cholesterol is a “bad” type of cholesterol that can block your arteries —  so a lower level is better for you. Having a high LDL level can increase your risk for heart disease.

HDL cholesterol is the “good” type of cholesterol that helps clear LDL cholesterol out of your arteries — so a higher level is better for you. Having a low HDL cholesterol level can increase your risk for heart disease.

Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood that can increase your risk for heart attack and stroke. 

The results of your lipid profile test may also show your non-HDL cholesterol number. Non-HDL cholesterol is LDL cholesterol and the other “bad” types of cholesterol. In other words, it’s your total cholesterol minus your HDL cholesterol. Having a high non-HDL level can increase your risk for heart disease.

Am I at Risk?

What can cause unhealthy cholesterol levels?

Causes of high LDL (bad) cholesterol or low HDL (good) cholesterol levels include:

• Age 
• Smoking, using other tobacco products, or drinking alcohol
• Not getting enough physical activity
• Eating too much saturated fat or not enough fruits and vegetables
• Taking certain medicines, like medicines to lower blood pressure
• Family history of high cholesterol
• Familial hypercholesterolemia (a condition passed down through families that causes very high LDL cholesterol levels)
• Certain other health problems, like type 2 diabetes or obesity

What if my cholesterol levels aren’t healthy?

As your LDL cholesterol gets higher, so does your risk of heart disease. Take these steps to lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease:

• Eat heart-healthy foods
• Get active
• Stay at a healthy weight
• If you smoke, quit
• Drink only a moderate (limited) amount of alcohol
• If you have other chronic conditions — like type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure — take steps to manage them
• Ask your doctor about taking medicine to lower your risk of heart attack and stroke

Take Action

Take Action

Get Tested

Find out what your cholesterol levels are. If your cholesterol is high or you’re at risk for heart disease, take steps to control your cholesterol levels.

Make an appointment to get your cholesterol checked.

Call your doctor’s office or health center to schedule the test. Be sure to ask for a complete lipid profile — and find out what instructions you’ll need to follow before the test. For example, you may need to fast (not eat or drink anything except water) for 9 to 12 hours before the test.

You may also want to print these questions to ask your doctor about cholesterol and take them to your appointment.

What about cost?

Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans must cover cholesterol testing. Depending on your insurance plan, you may be able to get your cholesterol checked at no cost to you. Check with your insurance company to find out more.

Medicare may also cover cholesterol testing at no cost. If you have Medicare, learn about Medicare coverage for cholesterol testing.

If you don’t have insurance, you may still be able to get free or low-cost cholesterol testing. Find a health center near you and ask about cholesterol testing.

To learn more, check out these resources about:

• Free preventive care for adults covered by the Affordable Care Act
• How the Affordable Care Act protects you
• Understanding your health insurance and how to use it [PDF – 698 KB]

Keep track of your cholesterol levels.

Remember to ask the doctor or nurse for your cholesterol levels each time you get your cholesterol checked. Write the levels down to keep track of your progress.

Eat Healthy

Eat heart-healthy foods.

Making healthy choices to your diet can help lower your cholesterol. Try to:

• Cut down on saturated fat, which comes from animal products (like fatty meats and full-fat dairy) and tropical oils (like palm and coconut oil)
• Choose foods with healthy unsaturated fats, like avocados, nuts, and fish — and choose healthier oils (like olive, peanut, or canola oil)
• Limit foods that are high in sodium (salt) or added sugars
• Choose low-fat (1%) or fat-free (skim) milk, cheese, and yogurt
• Eat more foods that are high in fiber, like oatmeal, oat bran, beans, and lentils
• Eat more fruits and vegetables

You can also:

• Check out these tips for eating healthy
• Use this shopping list to find heart-healthy foods
• Find healthy recipes in the MyPlate kitchen

Healthy Habits

Get active.

Getting active can help you lose weight, lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol, and raise your HDL (good) cholesterol. 

• Aim for at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity a week — try starting with a brisk walk
• Break up your 150 minutes however you want — try doing aerobic activity for 30 minutes 5 times a week
• Do muscle-strengthening activities 2 days a week — try lifting weights or doing push-ups

Remember, any amount of physical activity is better than none. If you haven’t been active before, start with just 5 minutes and build up from there.

To help you get more active: 

• Check out our guide to physical activity
• Use this tool to build a personalized weekly activity plan

Quit smoking.

Quitting smoking can help lower your cholesterol. If you smoke, make a plan to quit today. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) for free support and to set up your quit plan.

Check out our tips for quitting smoking.

Drink alcohol only in moderation.

Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of high cholesterol. So if you choose to drink alcohol, drink only in moderation. That means 1 drink or less in a day for women and 2 drinks or less in a day for men.

Learn more about drinking alcohol only in moderation.

The Basics

Content last updated July 29, 2022

Reviewer Information

This information on cholesterol was adapted from materials from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Reviewed by:
Angela M. Thompson-Paul, PhD, MSPH
LCDR, US Public Health Service
Division of Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

May 2022

Uses, Test Results, and Reliability

Written by Debra Fulghum Bruce, PhD

• What Is a Cholesterol Home Test Kit?
• How Is a Cholesterol Home Test Kit Used?
• What Do the Results From a Cholesterol Home Test Kit Mean?
• Are Results From a Cholesterol Home Test Kit Reliable?
• Are Cholesterol Home Test Kits Regulated by the FDA?

Do you know that you can check your cholesterol level at home? Cholesterol home test kits are available to use between appointments with your health care provider.

WebMD explores the use of cholesterol home test kits and discusses their reliability. Read on to learn whether using a cholesterol home test kit might be right for you.

The cholesterol home test kit is a convenient and effective way to test your cholesterol level. It allows you to monitor your cholesterol without having to go to a doctor’s office. And, rather than waiting days or weeks for cholesterol test results, the cholesterol test kit can give you results in a matter of minutes.

You can purchase a cholesterol home test kit at your local pharmacy or medical supply store. They are usually priced under $20. The standard cholesterol home test kit contains a lancet for drawing blood and test strips.

To use a cholesterol home test kit, you first prick your finger with the lancet. Next, you place the blood droplet on the test strip. The cholesterol home test strip has special chemicals that change colors after a few minutes. You then match the final color against a color guide that’s included with the kit. This color will tell you how much cholesterol is in your droplet of blood.

Some new cholesterol home test kits have an electronic meter. This meter functions in a similar way as a diabetes blood glucose meter. The test strips are inserted into the electronic device and a small computer measures the amount of cholesterol automatically. The electronically metered cholesterol home test kit costs more than the paper test strip method. The electronic meter kit, however, is helpful if you want to check your cholesterol level more frequently.

Your cholesterol level is one part of an equation that your doctor uses to determine your risk of a heart attack and stroke in the next 10 years. Other parts include your race, gender, age, HDL (good) cholesterol level, and blood pressure. In addition, the equation factors in your use of blood pressure medications, whether or not you have diabetes, and if you smoke.

Once you know your risk, you and your doctor can work to lower your likelihood of a heart attack or stroke. In addition to healthy lifestyle and dietary changes, you may need a medication known as a statin to reduce the level of LDL (bad) cholesterol that’s in your blood by 20 to 60 percent.

The cholesterol kit test results are only an estimate of your cholesterol level. While the test is often as accurate as the test your health care provider uses, this home test should not be a substitute for your health care provider’s assessment.

The reliability of cholesterol home tests varies, and the results can fluctuate. It depends on the maker of the kits. Many cholesterol home test kits advertise that they are greater than 95% accurate. Still, these cholesterol results should be considered approximations and should not take the place of a cholesterol test conducted by your health care provider.

In addition, even if you consistently get normal results from your cholesterol home kit test strips, it’s very important to consult with your health care provider. To determine your risk of heart disease, your health care provider will evaluate your cholesterol level along with other factors such as your weight, physical exam results, medical history, and family history. Your health care provider may conduct other tests aside from the cholesterol screening.

The FDA does regulate certain cholesterol home test kits. There are home test kits for HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, too. However, not all cholesterol home test kits you can buy meet the FDA’s stringent guidelines.

If you are unsure about which cholesterol home test kit to purchase, the FDA has set up the Over-The-Counter Database. You can find it on the FDA’s website. This database is an excellent resource to search for FDA-cleared cholesterol home test kits. You can also use it to find other types of home test kits.

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ProWellness

Table of contents

• The need to control blood cholesterol levels
• Symptoms
• Using a glucometer
• Getting tested at a clinic

Disclaimer 9 0026

Please note that all information posted on the site
Prowellness is provided for informational purposes only and is not a personal program, a direct recommendation for action, or medical advice. Do not use these materials for diagnosis, treatment, or any medical procedure. Consult your physician before using any technique or using any product. This site is not a specialized medical portal and does not replace the professional advice of a specialist. The Site Owner is not liable to any party who has suffered indirect or direct damage as a result of misuse of materials posted on this resource.

How and when should cholesterol be checked?

Many people know that high cholesterol is bad. But not everyone understands how to check the level of cholesterol in the body. There are certain symptoms that indicate high blood cholesterol levels. If they are found, it is necessary to consult a doctor and pass the recommended tests for cholesterol, since problems with the level of this substance lead to poor health.

The need to control blood cholesterol levels

Blood contains two types of cholesterol: high and low density lipoproteins. LDL is “bad” cholesterol, which has a negative effect on the body, and especially on the cardiovascular system.

To control the level of LDL in the blood is necessary for patients who are at risk:

• overweight;
• with cardiovascular disease;
• with diabetes;
• with a previous heart attack or stroke;
• with a genetic predisposition to all of the above problems.

Attention! The sooner a person takes a measurement and notices an elevated cholesterol level, the more likely it is to avoid consequences for the body.

Symptoms

There are some symptoms that help to understand that there are problems with blood cholesterol levels. It will not be possible to obtain accurate data this way, but this is the first step towards understanding that it is necessary to take tests. These symptoms include:

• recurring pain in the chest area;
• problems with male power;
• numbness and pain in limbs;
• Appearance of yellow patches around the eyes.

Any of these points indicates the presence of a problem and the development of a serious illness. In such a situation, it is imperative to go to the clinic in order to measure the level of LDL in the blood with the help of tests and establish an exact indicator of the excess of the norm.

Also, patients begin to have problems with memory, lack of concentration, and visual functions worsen.

Using the meter

Various technical devices are commercially available that can measure cholesterol levels in as little as 3-4 minutes. The only negative is that most often glucometers indicate general indicators. Separately, “harmful” cholesterol is considered only by some models. At the same time, the device itself is not difficult to use. One test strip is enough to measure the desired substance in the blood.

Testing at the polyclinic

Compared to home conditions, the analysis carried out in the clinic guarantees several obvious advantages:

• instant check;
• exact data;
• minimum costs.

Immediately after passing the analysis, you can consult a doctor who will tell you how to properly adjust this substance in the blood. First of all, you need to adjust your diet and start leading an active lifestyle.

Attention! The older a person becomes, the greater the risk of high blood cholesterol and the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Therefore, the level of this substance should be monitored. This can be done both with the help of a glucometer, and by taking cholesterol tests at the clinic at least once a year.

Disclaimer

Please note that all information posted on the site
Prowellness is provided for informational purposes only and is not a personal program, a direct recommendation for action, or medical advice. Do not use these materials for diagnosis, treatment, or any medical procedure. Consult your physician before using any technique or using any product. This site is not a specialized medical portal and does not replace the professional advice of a specialist. The Site Owner is not liable to any party who has suffered indirect or direct damage as a result of misuse of materials posted on this resource.

Expert: Ekaterina Vladimirova Expert in the field of motherhood and child nutrition

Reviewer: Ekaterina Vorobieva Adept of a healthy and active lifestyle

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Why it is necessary to monitor the level of cholesterol

To date, risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases have been well studied. These include:

• age
• gender (men are more susceptible to cardiovascular disease)
• arterial hypertension
• smoking
• obesity
• sedentary lifestyle
• heredity
• diabetes mellitus.

High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a substance that is produced in the human liver, and also enters the body in a small amount with certain foods: fatty meat, egg yolk, seafood, butter, liver, kidneys, brains and others.

Lipid fat does not dissolve in the blood in order to get into the cells with the bloodstream, it needs a “carrier”. The role of these carriers is performed by lipoproteins (the combination of proteins-proteins with fat). Lipoproteins are of high and low density. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) remain on the inner walls of blood vessels. This is “bad” cholesterol. It forms atherosclerotic plaques, due to which the blood supplies the heart muscle with oxygen and nutrients less and less. There are also high-density lipoproteins (HDL) – this is the “good” cholesterol. It is involved in cell building, the synthesis of hormones and vitamin D. The liver produces bile acids from “good” cholesterol, which help digest fats in the small intestine. And “good” cholesterol takes out excess “bad” cholesterol from the cells. Total cholesterol is the sum of “good” and “bad”.

The source of “bad” cholesterol is animal products: pork, beef, lamb, lard, chicken legs and fried skins, egg yolks, butter, sour cream, hard cheeses, cottage cheese, chocolate. But you don’t have to give it all up! Care must be taken not to go overboard. A day requires no more than 300 milligrams of cholesterol.

How can I check my cholesterol level?

To do this, you just need to donate blood for an analysis called a lipid profile. A prerequisite for donating blood is after 8-12 hours of fasting (that is, do not eat after 18.00 on the eve of the test). According to the current recommendations of the European Association of Cardiology, the lipid profile should be as follows:

• total cholesterol, mmol/l < 5. 0;
• low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (bad) mmol/l < 3.0;
• triglycerides, mmol/l < 2.0;
• high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (good), mmol/l 1.0

How can I lower my cholesterol?

First of all, try to change your lifestyle.

Tips:

1. Watch your body weight. The fatter you are, the more cholesterol your body produces. Each increase in body weight by 0.5 kg increases the level of cholesterol by 2 units.

2. Reduce consumption of foods containing animal fats: offal, meat broths, veal, pork, fatty lamb. Eat turkey, rabbit, seafood.

3. Eliminate from the diet: sausages, sausages, convenience foods, fatty cheeses.

4. Switch to olive oil. Olive oil and some other foods such as nuts, avocados have a beneficial effect on cholesterol levels.

5. Do not eat too many eggs. If you want to eat an egg and still avoid risk, reduce your intake to 3 eggs per week. Since cholesterol is found only in yolks, you can eat proteins freely, replacing 1 egg with 2 proteins when, for example, baking something.

6. Load up on beans. Nutritious and inexpensive, beans and other legumes contain a water-soluble fiber called pectin that surrounds cholesterol and flushes it out of the body. You don’t have to worry about getting fed up with beans, as there are many varieties of beans: navy beans, kidney beans, soybeans, black beans, etc., and all beans have the ability to lower cholesterol.

7. Eat more fruit. Fruits also have the ability to lower cholesterol due to the presence of pectin in them.

8. Connect oats. Oats, oat flakes, bran reduce cholesterol levels like pectin-rich fruits.

9. Some corn. Corn bran is just as effective in lowering cholesterol levels as oat bran and beans.

10. Carrot also lowers cholesterol as it contains pectin.

11. Eat garlic. Researchers have known for a long time that large amounts of raw garlic can cut down on harmful fats in the blood.

12. Fitness. One of the best ways to raise good cholesterol levels is through intense exercise, which lowers bad LDL levels.

13. Do not smoke. Smokers always have low levels of good cholesterol.

Careful adherence to such a diet can reduce blood cholesterol by 10-12%.

If following a diet for 6-8 weeks does not lead to the desired reduction in total blood cholesterol (less than 5 mmol / l), then the risk of developing diseases caused by atherosclerosis remains high. In this situation, the doctor will put before you the question of prescribing cholesterol-lowering drugs. There are many such drugs. But the main thing is not to self-medicate, having heard a lot of advertisements about miraculous and safe nutritional supplements. Of the food supplements, only those that contain known food components that act on cholesterol, such as soluble fiber preparations, can work. But their effectiveness is no higher than a well-established diet, they only help its action.

Drugs used to lower bad cholesterol:

• Statins (considered the best) – lowering bad cholesterol by 25-45%;
• Sequestrant resins
• Nicotinic acid and its derivatives – reduction by 30-40%;
• Fibrates

Of the drugs used to lower blood cholesterol levels, doctors most often prescribe statins. These drugs in normal doses reduce cholesterol by 20-40%. Statins not only lower blood cholesterol, but also alleviate the course of diseases caused by atherosclerosis, reduce mortality from cardiovascular diseases and overall mortality.