Medication
Some of the herbal and nutritional supplements that may help lower cholesterol include:
- Garlic: Some studies show that garlic may lower blood levels of total cholesterol by a few percentage points, but only in the short term. ...
- Fiber: Taking a supplement to help you get enough daily fiber can help lower your overall cholesterol level and your LDL (bad) cholesterol. ...
- Whey protein: You can get this milk-based protein from dairy products. ...
Self-care
- Angelfood cake, preferably no sugar added
- Apple cider vinegar; Bragg’s or another brand with “The Mother”
- Applesauce, no sugar added (ideal for replacing fat in recipes for baked goods)
- Balsamic vinegar, all flavors
- Barbecue sauce, preferably low-sodium, low-sugar varieties
- Basil
- Bragg’s liquid aminos (a good replacement for high-sodium soy sauce)
Nutrition
- Strive to maintain a healthy weight.
- Quit smoking and avoid excess alcohol intake.
- Exercise for at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week, to improve your blood flow and the breakdown of accumulated fats.
- Get regular lipid and cholesterol tests so you what’s happening with your levels.
What is the best natural cure for high cholesterol?
- Flaxseed oil
- Rapeseed oil
- Sunflower oil
What foods can you eat to lower cholesterol?
How do you get rid of high cholesterol?
Which cholesterol is the bad one?
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What is the best treatment for high cholesterol?
AdvertisementReduce saturated fats. Saturated fats, found primarily in red meat and full-fat dairy products, raise your total cholesterol. ... Eliminate trans fats. ... Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. ... Increase soluble fiber. ... Add whey protein.
Can high cholesterol be cured?
You can treat high cholesterol with healthy lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and weight loss and, sometimes, medications too. Your cholesterol treatment plan is done on a case-by-case basis, based on: Your blood cholesterol test results. Your age, family history of high cholesterol, or heart problems.
What is the first line treatment for high cholesterol?
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins, are the recommended first-line therapy for most patients. These are the most prescribed drugs in the world and are considered the most effective lipid-lowering agents available, both in lowering LDL-C levels and in the prevention of CV events.
At what cholesterol level is medication required?
Your health care provider may prescribe medicine if: You have already had a heart attack or stroke, or you have peripheral arterial disease. Your LDL cholesterol level is 190 mg/dL or higher.
What are the warning signs of high cholesterol?
What are the warning signs of high cholesterol?Nausea.Numbness.Slurred speech.Extreme fatigue.Chest pain or angina.Shortness of breath.Numbness or coldness in extremities.High blood pressure.
How does high cholesterol make you feel?
With this heart condition, excess LDL builds up as plaque in your heart's small arteries, causing them to narrow and stiffen. This reduces blood flow, which can make you feel tired or short of breath and cause chest pain, notes the NHLBI.
What vitamins can help lower cholesterol?
Niacin. Niacin is a B vitamin. Doctors sometimes suggest it for patients with high cholesterol or heart concerns. It increases the level of good cholesterol and reduces triglycerides, another fat that can clog arteries.
What is the safest cholesterol medication?
Fortunately, most side effects are mild and disappear promptly when the statin is stopped. In some cases, the problems will resolve simply by reducing the dose or switching to another statin, but care is required. Still, all in all, the statins are the safest and best tolerated of all cholesterol-lowering medications.
What should you avoid eating with high cholesterol?
High-cholesterol foods to avoidFull-fat dairy. Whole milk, butter and full-fat yogurt and cheese are high in saturated fat. ... Red meat. Steak, beef roast, ribs, pork chops and ground beef tend to have high saturated fat and cholesterol content. ... Processed meat. ... Fried foods. ... Baked goods and sweets. ... Eggs. ... Shellfish. ... Lean meat.
How do I know if I need cholesterol medication?
Medication is typically recommended when: your cholesterol levels are high enough to increase your risk for cardiovascular disease (or you already had a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke) you have an LDL level greater than 190 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
What is considered dangerously high cholesterol?
LDL Cholesterol An LDL of less than 100 mg/dL is the holy grail; a number 129 mg/dL or lower is also good. A range of 130 to 159 mg/dL is borderline high, 160 to 189 mg/dL is high, and above 189 mg/dL is in the danger zone, per the Cleveland Clinic.
How can I lower my cholesterol in 30 days?
5 Easy Steps to Reduce Cholesterol in 30 DaysSwitch to a Mediterranean Diet. ... Increase Exercise. ... Supplement Fiber. ... Lose Weight. ... Drink Alcohol in Moderation. ... Let South Denver Cardiology Associates Help.
How to manage high cholesterol?
A variety of lifestyle changes can help you manage high cholesterol levels. This includes eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining a moderate weight. If those changes aren’t enough, speak with your doctor about prescription medications that can help treat high cholesterol.
How to get rid of excess LDL cholesterol?
A fast walk or bike ride each day can boost your HDL cholesterol, which helps sweep excess LDL cholesterol out of your bloodstream. Try to get in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise 5 days a week. Extra fat around your middle section can increase your LDL cholesterol and lower your HDL cholesterol.
What is the difference between HDL and LDL?
There are two types of cholesterol: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is the unhealthy kind that builds up inside your arteries. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is the healthy kind that helps clear LDL cholesterol from your blood.
What is the average cholesterol level?
total cholesterol: less than 200 mg/dL. LDL cholesterol: less than 100 mg/dL. HDL cholesterol: 60 mg/dL or higher. Your target cholesterol levels may be slightly lower or higher depending on your age, sex, and heart disease risks.
What to do if your LDL is too high?
If your LDL or total cholesterol levels are too high, your doctor can recommend lifestyle changes and medications to improve them. Here are some tips to help bring your cholesterol numbers into a healthy range.
Why is cholesterol important?
Your body needs some cholesterol to build healthy cells and make hormones. But when you have too much cholesterol, it collects inside your arteries and blocks the flow of blood. Having untreated high cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. There are two types of cholesterol:
What are some foods that increase LDL cholesterol?
Animal-based products increase LDL cholesterol. Red meat, whole fat dairy, eggs, and vegetable oils like palm and coconut oil are all high in saturated fat. Trans fats. Manufacturers produce these artificial fats through a chemical process that turns liquid vegetable oil into a solid. Foods high in trans fats include fried foods, fast foods, ...
What does it mean when you have too much cholesterol?
One type of hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, means you have too much non-HDL cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol in your blood. This condition increases fatty deposits in arteries and the risk of blockages.
Why is my cholesterol out of balance?
Another way your cholesterol numbers can be out of balance is when your HDL (good) cholesterol level is too low. With less HDL to remove cholesterol from your arteries, your risk of atherosclerotic plaque and blockages increases. If you’re diagnosed with hyperlipidemia, your overall health and other risks such as smoking or high blood pressure will ...
What does it mean when you have too much lipids in your blood?
Hyperlipidemia means your blood has too many lipids (or fats), such as cholesterol and triglycerides. One type of hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterol emia, means you have too much non-HDL cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol in your blood. This condition increases fatty deposits in arteries and the risk of blockages.
How old do you have to be to have your cholesterol checked?
If you’re 20 years or older, have your cholesterol tested and work with your doctor to adjust your cholesterol levels as needed. Often, changing behaviors can help bring your numbers into line. If lifestyle changes alone don’t improve your cholesterol levels, medication may be prescribed. Lifestyle changes include:
Does vaping lower HDL cholesterol?
Quitting smoking. Smoking and vaping lowers HDL cholesterol. Worse still, when a person with unhealthy cholesterol levels also smokes, risk of coronary heart disease increases more than it otherwise would. Smoking also compounds the risk from other risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
What to do if you have high LDL?
If you have high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, your health care provider may prescribe medicine in addition to lifestyle changes to control your LDL cholesterol level.
How does statin medicine lower cholesterol?
Cholesterol Lowering Medications. Type of Medicine. How It Works. Statins. Statin drugs lower LDL cholesterol by slowing down the liver’s production of cholesterol. They also increase the liver’s ability to remove LDL cholesterol that is already in the blood.
What is the best vitamin for lowering cholesterol?
The body needs bile acids and makes them by breaking down LDL cholesterol. Niacin, or nicotinic acid. Niacin is a B vitamin that can improve all lipoprotein levels.
How old do you have to be to have a high LDL?
You are 40–75 years old with diabetes and an LDL cholesterol level of 70 mg/dL or higher. You are 40–75 years old with a high risk of developing heart disease or stroke and an LDL cholesterol level of 70 mg/dL or higher. Talk with your health care team about how you can lower your risk for heart disease.
What to do if you take a medicine with high cholesterol?
If you take medicine to treat high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, or diabetes, follow your health care team’s instructions carefully. Always ask questions if you don’t understand something. Never stop taking your medicine without first talking to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
What to do if you are concerned about your cholesterol?
Managing High Cholesterol. If you are concerned about your cholesterol, talk to your health care team about steps you can take to manage your cholesterol.
How to lower LDL cholesterol?
You can take steps to lower your high LDL cholesterol levels by making healthy changes to your lifestyle, such as choosing foods lower in saturated and trans fats and maintaining a healthy weight.
What is the best treatment for high cholesterol in children?
Diet and exercise are the best initial treatment for children age 2 and older who have high cholesterol, or who are obese. Children age 10 and older might be prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as statins, if they have extremely high cholesterol levels.
What is the drug that helps reduce cholesterol?
Cholesterol absorption inhibitors. Your small intestine absorbs the cholesterol from your diet and releases it into your bloodstream. The drug ezetimibe (Zetia) helps reduce blood cholesterol by limiting the absorption of dietary cholesterol. Zetia can be used in combination with any of the statin drugs.
What medications can lower triglycerides?
If you also have high triglycerides, your doctor may prescribe: 1 Fibrates. The medications fenofibrate (Tricor) and gemfibrozil (Lopid) decrease triglycerides by reducing your liver's production of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and by speeding up the removal of triglycerides from your blood. VLDL cholesterol contains mostly triglycerides. 2 Niacin. Niacin (Niaspan) decreases triglycerides by limiting your liver's ability to produce LDL and VLDL cholesterol. But niacin doesn't usually provide any additional benefit than using statins alone. Niacin has also been linked to liver damage and stroke, so most doctors now recommend it only for people who can't take statins. 3 Omega-3 fatty acid supplements. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements can help lower your triglycerides. They are available by prescription or over-the-counter. If you choose to take over-the-counter supplements, get your doctor's OK first. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements could affect other medications you're taking.
What foods can help with familial hypercholesterolemia?
Good sources include oats, peas, beans, apples, citrus fruits and carrots. Increasing physical activity. Maintaining a healthy body weight. With familial hypercholesterolemia, your doctor likely will also recommend that you take medication to help lower your LDL cholesterol levels.
What is the best medicine for high triglycerides?
If you also have high triglycerides, your doctor may prescribe: Fibrates. The medications fenofibrate (Tricor) and gemfibrozil (Lopid) decrease triglycerides by reducing your liver's production of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and by speeding up the removal of triglycerides from your blood.
Can cholesterol medication cause stomach pain?
The reported side effects are muscle pains, stomach pain, constipation, nausea and diarrhea. If you decide to take cholesterol-lowering medication, your doctor may recommend liver function tests to monitor the medication's effect on your liver.
Can you take niacin with statins?
Niacin has also been linked to liver damage and stroke, so most doctors now recommend it only for people who can't take statins. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements can help lower your triglycerides. They are available by prescription or over-the-counter.
Drugs used to treat High Cholesterol
The following list of medications are in some way related to, or used in the treatment of this condition.
Alternative treatments for High Cholesterol
The following products are considered to be alternative treatments or natural remedies for High Cholesterol. Their efficacy may not have been scientifically tested to the same degree as the drugs listed in the table above.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Understanding Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a type of lipid, a fatty, waxy substance in your blood. High amounts of cholesterol can build up inside your arteries. This can clog and narrow your arteries so blood can’t flow easily. Blood clots can form, break away, and cause a stroke or heart attack.
Types of High Cholesterol
There are different types of high cholesterol, based on what’s causing it:
How to Know if You Need Treatment
Everyone with high cholesterol should start with heart-healthy lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, quitting smoking, and weight loss. But if your cardiac risk is high, you may need treatment with medications, too.
