High cholesterol is usually treated and managed with a combination of lifestyle changes and cholesterol-lowering medicine prescribed by a doctor. If you are worried about your cholesterol, ask your health care team what you can do.
Take your medicine as directed
If you take medicine for high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, heart disease, stroke or diabetes:
- follow your health care team's instructions carefully;
- ask them whenever something is unclear;
- never stop taking a medicine without first talking to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
More on medicines that can lower cholesterol.
Make healthy changes
Changes to how you live can lower LDL cholesterol: for example, choosing foods lower in saturated and trans fats, and keeping to a healthy weight.
Work with your health care team
Together you can prevent or treat other health conditions so that they do not lead to high LDL cholesterol. Go over your treatment plan regularly, and bring a list of questions to your appointments. Some risk factors, family history among them, raise the chance of high cholesterol.
Get checked regularly
If you do not have heart disease, you may need your cholesterol levels tested at least once every 4 to 6 years. Some people need testing more often, some less; ask your health care team what suits you. More on getting your cholesterol checked.
More information
- CDC: heart disease, stroke, aortic aneurysm, high blood pressure
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025; fats and cholesterol
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: What is blood cholesterol?
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Treat and Manage High Cholesterol." https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/treatment/index.html
- A stock photograph of a doctor and a patient is not reproduced here.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from www.cdc.gov
1
0
0
0
Comments
