High Cholesterol Treatment

If blood tests confirm that you have high cholesterol, then you will undergo high cholesterol treatment.  The purpose of this treatment is to reduce the risk of having a heart attack or a stroke.  Some people will be able to treat their high cholesterol by making lifestyle changes only and not require medication.  The goal is to lower the unhealthy “LDL” cholesterol, and to raise the healthier “HDL” cholesterol.  HDL cholesterol is helpful in removing LDL cholesterol out of the blood vessels.

Lifestyle changes that can help to bring cholesterol in check,without medication, include:

• becoming more physically active
• Reducing the consumption of saturated fats and cholesterol in foods, and choosing healthier fats such as fish oils, olive and canola oils
• Losing weight – which goes hand in hand with becoming more active and making better food choices
• Stop smoking

If, however, you have other risk factors such as high blood pressure or diabetes,  that automatically put you at higher risk of a heart attack or stroke, your doctor may prescribe medication as a high cholesterol treatment.  The drugs most commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol are called statin drugs.  Examples of these drugs go by the brand names of Zocor, Lipitor, and Crestor, for example.  Generic names are lovastatin, simvastatin, et cetera.

It needs to be emphasized though, that even if you are put on a medication to lower your cholesterol, do not rely solely on the medication to do the trick.  It is still important that you make the lifestyle changes discussed above.  Sometimes, you may be put on medication while you make these lifestyle changes, and as your doctor monitors your cholesterol levels, your medication may be able to be reduced.

Watch for an upcoming post that discusses the side effects of the use of the statin medications.