“What can I do to manage my cholesterol?”
My cholesterol levels were really high at my last doctor's appointment, higher than usual. What should I be doing to manage it?
2 Answers
Mark Rasak
Cardiologist
If your diet isn't exceptionally poor, then your cholesterol is likely genetic and will need to be treated by a statin. The new guidelines suggest a more aggressive approach. Chances are you could go vegan and it wouldn't get you to your goal.
Assuming it was your "bad cholesterol--or LDL" that was found to be very high (and NOT your "good cholesterol--or HDL"), then you could START by doing the following:
1) exercise--and just walking 20-30 minutes a few times a week may help
2) low animal fat diet--especially cutting down on or eliminating animal products like beef, pork, liver, eggs, etc
3) reducing CALORIES and LOSING WEIGHT-- especially eliminating foods derived from ANIMALS--meat, butter, whole mild, ice cream, etc--that may help you lose weight and thus lower the cholesterol (it must also be noted that REDUCING "CARBOHYDRATES"--especially the "bad carbs" like sugar, processed wheat products, dairy products, potatoes, pasta, cakes, cookies, crackers, candies, and other "junk food" will frequently result in weight loss and consequent reduction in the LDL or "bad cholesterol")
4) take OTC capsules containing PLANT STEROLS that may help reduce the LDL (the "bad cholesterol')
If the above are done for 3-6 months, then a f/u LIPID PROFILE (triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol) can be re-measured and see if you achieved your cholesterol reduction goal. But if not, and you have 2 or more "cardiac risk factors," diabetes, or a history of a heart attack or stroke, then your doctor will talk to you about starting a LIPID LOWERING medicine--like one of the STATINS--which are very effective at LDL cholesterol reduction, but also have some detrimental effects that you and your doctor could discuss and weight the "pros and cons."
Lastly, remember that the GOAL of all this is to INCREASE YOUR LONGEVITY by REDUCING VASCULAR EVENTS (like heart attack and stroke). Thus lowering the LDL cholesterol, is just one of many determinants of your overall long term health as well as your "vascular risk" and must be considered in context with your overall health objectives.
1) exercise--and just walking 20-30 minutes a few times a week may help
2) low animal fat diet--especially cutting down on or eliminating animal products like beef, pork, liver, eggs, etc
3) reducing CALORIES and LOSING WEIGHT-- especially eliminating foods derived from ANIMALS--meat, butter, whole mild, ice cream, etc--that may help you lose weight and thus lower the cholesterol (it must also be noted that REDUCING "CARBOHYDRATES"--especially the "bad carbs" like sugar, processed wheat products, dairy products, potatoes, pasta, cakes, cookies, crackers, candies, and other "junk food" will frequently result in weight loss and consequent reduction in the LDL or "bad cholesterol")
4) take OTC capsules containing PLANT STEROLS that may help reduce the LDL (the "bad cholesterol')
If the above are done for 3-6 months, then a f/u LIPID PROFILE (triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol) can be re-measured and see if you achieved your cholesterol reduction goal. But if not, and you have 2 or more "cardiac risk factors," diabetes, or a history of a heart attack or stroke, then your doctor will talk to you about starting a LIPID LOWERING medicine--like one of the STATINS--which are very effective at LDL cholesterol reduction, but also have some detrimental effects that you and your doctor could discuss and weight the "pros and cons."
Lastly, remember that the GOAL of all this is to INCREASE YOUR LONGEVITY by REDUCING VASCULAR EVENTS (like heart attack and stroke). Thus lowering the LDL cholesterol, is just one of many determinants of your overall long term health as well as your "vascular risk" and must be considered in context with your overall health objectives.
