What Are the Treatments for High Cholesterol?
The main treatments for high cholesterol are lifestyle changes and medicines.
Source: MedlinePlus
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How to Lower Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that's found in all the cells in your body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. Cholesterol is also found in foods from animal sources, such as egg yolks, meat, and cheese.
Cardiovascular Continuum
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Fats in Nature: Good Fats & Bad Fats
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The main treatments for high cholesterol are lifestyle changes and medicines.
Source: MedlinePlus
Lipoproteins transport cholesterol, triglycerides, or other lipids through the bloodstream
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Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much in your blood, it can stick to the walls of your arteries and narrow or even block them. This puts you at risk for coronary artery disease and other heart diseases.
Cholesterol travels through the blood on proteins called lipoproteins. One type, LDL, is sometimes called the "bad" cholesterol. A high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. Another type, HDL, is sometimes called the "good" cholesterol. It carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. Then your liver removes the cholesterol from your body.
There are steps that you can take to lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise your HDL (good) cholesterol. By keeping your cholesterol levels in range, you can lower your risk of heart diseases.
Source: MedlinePlus
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Cardiovascular Continuum
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Heart-healthy lifestyle changes that can help you lower or control your cholesterol include:
Source: MedlinePlus
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Normal Abominable Visceral Fat / Toxic Abominable Visceral Fat
Normal Capillary Bed / Damaged Capillary Bed
Foods to Enjoy
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High blood cholesterol can affect anyone. It’s a serious condition that increases the risk for heart disease, the number one killer of Americans—women and men. The higher your blood cholesterol level, the greater your risk.
Fortunately, if you have high blood cholesterol, there are steps you can take to lower it and protect your health.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Your Guide to Lowering Cholesterol With Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC)
Document by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Need to lower your cholesterol? TLC (therapeutic lifestyle changes) is a set of tools you can use to get results. This easy-to-read booklet is designed to help you make the lifestyle changes that will lower blood cholesterol and reduce your risk for heart disease. It explains how to follow the TLC diet (low in saturated fat, trans fat, and dietary cholesterol), increase physical activity, and manage weight for people whose cholesterol level is above their goal. The guide includes helpful lists and charts, sample menus, a 10-year coronary heart disease risk calculator, and many tips for success. Make TLC part of your program for heart health.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Keep It Moving
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Approximately 13 percent of U.S. adults has high total cholesterol. Lowering cholesterol levels can slow down, reduce, or even stop plaque from building up in the walls of arteries and may decrease the chance of having a heart attack. Mainstays in treating high cholesterol include diet, weight loss, physical activity, and when necessary, drug treatment.
National survey data show that high blood cholesterol is one of the top 10 conditions for which people use complementary health practices such as dietary supplements.
Here are 5 tips about high blood cholesterol:
Work with your health care provider. Ask your health care provider about proven steps you can take to lower your blood cholesterol levels. And be sure to talk with your provider about any complementary health practice you are considering, including dietary supplements. This will help ensure safe and coordinated care.
Change your diet. Saturated fat raises your LDL cholesterol level (often called “bad cholesterol,” the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries) more than anything else in your diet. Diets with too much saturated fat and trans fat are the main cause for high blood cholesterol.
Manage your weight. Losing extra pounds may help lower your LDL and triglycerides (a type of fat found in the blood and in food), while raising your HDL (often called “good cholesterol,” helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries).
Get moving. Regular physical activity (such as brisk walking 30 minutes each day) can raise HDL and lower triglycerides, and can help you lose weight and, in that way, help lower your LDL. Aim for a total of at least 150 minutes over the course of a week.
Find out what the science says about dietary supplements marketed for improving cholesterol. The dietary supplements red yeast rice, flaxseed, and garlic, are among the many supplements that have been studied for lowering cholesterol levels. Unfortunately, there isn’t conclusive evidence that any of these supplements are effective in reducing cholesterol levels.
Red yeast rice. Some red yeast rice products contain substances called monacolins, which are produced by the yeast. Monacolin K is chemically identical to the active ingredient in the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin, and can cause the same types of side effects and drug interactions as lovastatin. Other red yeast rice products contain little or no monacolin K, and it is not known whether these products have any effect on cholesterol levels. Unfortunately, there is no way to know how much monacolin K is present in most red yeast rice products. Further, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has determined that red yeast rice products that contain more than trace amounts of monacolin K cannot be sold legally as dietary supplements.
Flaxseed. Studies of flaxseed preparations to lower cholesterol levels report mixed results. A 2009 review of the scientific research of flaxseed for lowering cholesterol found modest improvements in cholesterol, seen more often in postmenopausal women and in people with high initial cholesterol concentrations.
Garlic. Some evidence indicates that taking garlic supplements can slightly lower blood cholesterol levels; however, an NCCIH-funded study on the safety and effectiveness of three garlic preparations (fresh garlic, dried powdered garlic tablets, and aged garlic extract tablets) for lowering blood cholesterol levels found no effect. Although garlic supplements appear to be safe for most adults, they can thin the blood in a manner similar to aspirin, so use caution if you are planning to have surgery or dental work. Garlic supplements have also been found to interfere with the effectiveness of saquinavir, a drug used to treat HIV infection.
Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
HDL and LDL Cholesterol
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Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much in your blood, it can stick to the walls of your arteries and narrow or even block them. This puts you at risk for coronary artery disease and other heart diseases.
Cholesterol travels through the blood on proteins called lipoproteins. One type, LDL, is sometimes called the "bad" cholesterol. A high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. Another type, HDL, is sometimes called the "good" cholesterol. It carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. Then your liver removes the cholesterol from your body.
The treatments for high cholesterol are heart-healthy lifestyle changes and medicines. The lifestyle changes include healthy eating, weight management, and regular physical activity.
Heart-healthy lifestyle changes include a diet to lower your cholesterol. The DASH eating plan is one example. Another is the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes diet, which recommends that you
Choose healthier fats.You should limit both total fat and saturated fat. No more than 25 to 35 percent of your daily calories should come from dietary fats, and less than 7 percent of your daily calories should come from saturated fat. Depending upon how many calories you eat per day, here are the maximum amounts of fats that you should eat:
| Calories per Day | Total Fat | Saturated Fat |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 | 42-58 grams | 10 grams |
| 2,000 | 56-78 grams | 13 grams |
| 2,500 | 69-97 grams | 17 grams |
Saturated fat is a bad fat because it raises your LDL (bad cholesterol) level more than anything else in your diet. It is found in some meats, dairy products, chocolate, baked goods, and deep-fried and processed foods.
Trans fat is another bad fat; it can raise your LDL and lower you HDL (good cholesterol). Trans fat is mostly in foods made with hydrogenated oils and fats, such as stick margarine, crackers, and french fries.
Instead of these bad fats, try healthier fats, such as lean meat, nuts, and unsaturated oils like canola, olive, and safflower oils.
Limit foods with cholesterol. If you are trying to lower your cholesterol, you should have less than 200 mg a day of cholesterol. Cholesterol is in foods of animal origin, such as liver and other organ meats, egg yolks, shrimp, and whole milk dairy products.
Eat plenty of soluble fiber. Foods high in soluble fiber help prevent your digestive tract from absorbing cholesterol. These foods include
Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can increase important cholesterol-lowering compounds in your diet. These compounds, called plant stanols or sterols, work like soluble fiber.
Eat fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids. These acids won't lower your LDL level, but they may help raise your HDL level. They may also protect your heart from blood clots and inflammation and reduce your risk of heart attack. Fish that are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, tuna (canned or fresh), and mackerel. Try to eat these fish two times a week.
Limit salt. You should try to limit the amount of sodium (salt) that you eat to no more than 2,300 milligrams (about 1 teaspoon of salt) a day. That includes all the sodium you eat, whether it was added in cooking or at the table, or already present in food products. Limiting salt won't lower your cholesterol, but it can lower your risk of heart diseases by helping to lower your blood pressure. You can reduce your sodium by instead choosing low-salt and "no added salt" foods and seasonings at the table or while cooking.
Limit alcohol. Alcohol adds extra calories, which can lead to weight gain. Being overweight can raise your LDL level and lower your HDL level. Too much alcohol can also increase your risk of heart diseases because it can raise your blood pressure and triglyceride level. One drink is a glass of wine, beer, or a small amount of hard liquor, and the recommendation is that
Nutrition labels can help you figure out how much fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, fiber, and sodium is in the foods that you buy.
Source: NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute / MedlinePlus
Cholesterol Medicines
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For some people, making lifestyle changes alone does not their lower cholesterol enough. They may also need to take medicines. There are several types of cholesterol-lowering drugs available. They work in different ways and can have different side effects. Talk to your health care provider about which medicine is right for you.
Even if you take medicines to lower your cholesterol, you still need to continue with lifestyle changes.
Source: MedlinePlus
Flaxseed
Image by alexdante/Pixabay
Some companies sell supplements that they say can lower cholesterol. Researchers have studied many of these supplements, including red yeast rice, flaxseed, and garlic. At this time, there isn't conclusive evidence that any of them are effective in lowering cholesterol levels. Also, supplements may cause side effects and interactions with medicines. Always check with your health care provider before you take any supplements.
Source: MedlinePlus
Total Cholesterol Rotation (HDL, LDL, and VLDL Molecules)
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Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that's found in all the cells in your body. Your liver makes cholesterol, and it is also in some foods, such as meat and dairy products. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much cholesterol in your blood, you have a higher risk of coronary artery disease.
A blood test called a lipoprotein panel can measure your cholesterol levels. Before the test, you'll need to fast (not eat or drink anything but water) for 9 to 12 hours. The test gives information about your:
Cholesterol numbers are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Here are the healthy levels of cholesterol, based on your age and gender:
Anyone age 19 or younger:
| Type of Cholesterol | Healthy Level |
|---|---|
| Total Cholesterol | Less than 170mg/dL |
| Non-HDL | Less than 120mg/dL |
| LDL | Less than 100mg/dL |
| HDL | More than 45mg/dL |
Men age 20 or older:
| Type of Cholesterol | Healthy Level |
|---|---|
| Total Cholesterol | 125 to 200mg/dL |
| Non-HDL | Less than 130mg/dL |
| LDL | Less than 100mg/dL |
| HDL | 40mg/dL or higher |
Women age 20 or older:
| Type of Cholesterol | Healthy Level |
|---|---|
| Total Cholesterol | 125 to 200mg/dL |
| Non-HDL | Less than 130mg/dL |
| LDL | Less than 100mg/dL |
| HDL | 50mg/dL or higher |
Triglycerides are not a type of cholesterol, but they are part of a lipoprotein panel (the test that measures cholesterol levels). A normal triglyceride level is below 150 mg/dL. You might need treatment if you have triglyceride levels that are borderline high (150-199 mg/dL) or high (200 mg/dL or more).
When and how often you should get a cholesterol test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history. The general recommendations are:
For people who are age 19 or younger::
For people who are age 20 or older::
A variety of things can affect cholesterol levels. These are some things you can do to lower your cholesterol levels:
Things outside of your control that can also affect cholesterol levels include:
There are two main ways to lower your cholesterol:
Source: NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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Cardiovascular disease begins in childhood
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Some people have too much cholesterol in their blood. Cholesterol can build up on the inside of the blood vessels in your heart as well as other blood vessels in your body. If too much cholesterol builds up in the blood vessels in your heart, the blood cannot flow through to your heart and may lead to a heart attack. People with high cholesterol, especially high LDL, are more likely to have a heart event, such as a heart attack or stroke, or need surgery or a procedure to open up the blood vessels of the heart (bypass surgery, angioplasty, or stent placement).
A heart-healthy lifestyle may help lower your cholesterol and your chance of having a heart event at all ages. A heart-healthy lifestyle includes reducing the amount of total and saturated fat in your diet, participating in regular aerobic exercise, and losing weight (if you are overweight or obese).
Lowering LDL with certain medicines may decrease your chance of having a heart event. But not everyone with high cholesterol needs medicine. Whether or not you should start a cholesterol-lowering medicine depends on a few things: if you already have heart (cardiovascular) disease, your age, your cholesterol levels, and other factors. Your healthcare provider can help you decide about taking a cholesterol-lowering medicine, such as a statin.
In most cases, if you need to take a cholesterol-lowering medicine, your healthcare provider may consider prescribing a statin first. You can discuss this more with your healthcare provider.
Source: FDA Consumer Health Information
Normal Capillary Bed / Damaged Capillary Bed
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VLDL Cholesterol Test
Also called: VLDL-C, VLDL, Very Low Density Lipoprotein
VLDL stands for very low-density lipoprotein. Lipoproteins are particles that carry fat in the bloodstream. Like LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol is considered a type of "bad" cholesterol. Testing for VLDL cholesterol can be used to assess a person's cardiovascular risk.
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LDL/HDL Ratio
Also called: LDL Cholesterol/HDL Cholesterol Ratio, LDL-C/HDL-C, High-density lipoprotein to Low-density lipoprotein ratio, LDL to HDL ratio, LDL-C:HDL-C
Under certain conditions, the risk of developing coronary heart disease (strokes, heart attack) cannot be properly assessed only by looking at a person’s lipids test results. In these cases, the LDL “bad cholesterol” to HDL “good cholesterol” ratio can be used to assess how high a person's cardiovascular risk is.
Cholesterol Home Test
Also called: At-Home Cholesterol Test
By using a home test kit, assessing your cholesterol level can be much easier and simpler. Cholesterol is a fat (lipid) in your blood. High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease.
Cholesterol Test
Also called: Cholesterol Levels, Blood Cholesterol, Total Cholesterol
A cholesterol test is a blood test that measures the amount of each type of cholesterol and certain fats in your blood. High cholesterol can put you at risk for heart disease.
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Total Cholesterol/HDL Ratio
Also called: TC/HDL ratio, Cholesterol ratio
The total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio is a number that is helpful in predicting atherosclerosis, the process of fatty buildup in the walls of the arteries. The number is obtained by dividing total cholesterol by HDL (good) cholesterol.
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Small-Dense LDL Test
Also called: sdLDL-C, Small-Dense LDL Cholesterol
Lipid profile screening is crucial for the prevention, evaluation and treatment of cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD). Small dense low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (sdLDL-C) is an emerging biomarker associated with CVD and several comorbidities.
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High-Density Lipoprotein Test
Also called: HDL, HDL-C, HDL Cholesterol, High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is the "good" cholesterol. It helps to remove bad cholesterol from your arteries, so a higher HDL level is better.
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Non-HDL Cholesterol Test
Also called: Non-HDL-C, Non-High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
Under certain conditions, the risk of developing coronary heart disease (strokes, heart attack) cannot be properly assessed only by looking at the lipids test results. In these cases, the non-HDL cholesterol can be used to assess of how high a person's cardiovascular risk is.
Low Density Lipoprotein Test
Also called: LDL, LDL-C, LDL Cholesterol, Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is the "bad" cholesterol. A high LDL level can lead to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. Too much LDL is linked to heart disease and stroke.
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Low Density Lipoprotein: Clogged Arteries (Atherosclerosis) / Plaque in Coronary Artery, close up
Apo B/A-I Ratio
Also called: Apo B/Apo A-I, Apolipoprotein B/A1 Ratio, Apolipoprotein B/Apolipoprotein A-I ratio, ApoB:ApoA-1 ratio
Apolipoproteins (Apo) are proteins that provide structure and serves to carry lipids (fat) molecules through the bloodstream. Apo A-I mirrors the levels of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol); while Apo B mirrors the levels of LDL cholesterol (Bad cholesterol). This test is useful to help determine your risk of developing atherosclerosis and coronary...
APOE Genotype Test
Also called: Apolipoprotein E Genotyping, APOE Allele E2+E3+E4
The APOE gene provides instructions for making a protein called apolipoprotein E. The protein helps carry cholesterol and other fatty molecules in the blood. Determining APOE genotype helps evaluate genetic risks of developing heart disease. The APOE e4 allele is also the major known risk-factor gene for late-onset Alzheimer's disease.
Lipid Tests
Also called: Lipid Panel, Lipid Profile, Lipid Testing, Lipoprotein Profile
Lipid tests measure triglycerides, a type of fat found in the bloodstream, and cholesterol, a waxy, fat-like substance found in your blood and every cell of your body. High levels of triglycerides and/or a type of cholesterol, called LDL can put you at risk for heart disease.
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Triglycerides Test
Also called: TRIG
A triglycerides test measures the amount of triglycerides in your blood. High triglyceride levels may put you at risk for heart disease. The test is usually part of a lipid profile.
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Lipoprotein (A) Test
Also called: Cholesterol Lp(a), Lp(a), Lp "Little a", lipoprotein (a) blood test
Lipoprotein(a) is a particle that carries cholesterol, proteins and fats in blood vessels. The level of Lp(a) is genetically inherited and not affected by lifestyle or treatment. Lp(a) test allows to assess the risk of heart disease.
Lathosterol Test
Phytosterols, which encompass plant sterols and stanols, are steroid compounds similar to cholesterol which occur in plants and vary only in carbon side chains and/or presence or absence of a double bond. Although there is no direct evidence related to cardiovascular disease, phytosterols have well documented cholesterol-lowering effects. Phytosterol to...
Apolipoprotein B Test
Also called: Apo B, Beta Apolipoprotein
Apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) is the main protein in the LDL cholesterol’s (bad cholesterol) structure. Its primary function is to protect and transport the LDL particles through the bloodstream. An Apo-B test is mainly used to help assess your risk of developing coronary atherosclerosis (CAD) and heart disease.
Apolipoprotein A-I Test
Also called: Apo A-I, Apolipoprotein A1, Apo-A1
Apolipoprotein A-I (Apo-A1) is the main protein in the HDL cholesterol’s (good cholesterol) structure. Its primary function is to protect and transport the HDL particles through the bloodstream. An Apo-A1 test is mainly used to help assess your risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD).
APOE ε4 Test
Also called: APOE Alzheimer's Risk, Apolipoprotein E4, ApoE4
Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is a gene on chromosome 19 involved in making a protein that helps carry cholesterol and other types of fat in the bloodstream. The APOE gene has three common alleles: ε2, ε3, and ε4. The APOE ε4 allele is the major known risk-factor gene for late-onset Alzheimer's disease.
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Apheresis Machine
Image by NIAID
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited form of high cholesterol. Some people who have FH may get a treatment called lipoprotein apheresis. This treatment uses a filtering machine to remove LDL cholesterol from the blood. Then the machine returns the rest of the blood back to the person.
Source: MedlinePlus
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