Treating High Cholesterol

If test results show that you need to lower your cholesterol, lifestyle changes are usually sufficient. These include adopting a heart-healthy eating plan, increasing physical activity and losing excess weight.

If lifestyle changes do not lower your cholesterol enough, medication is an option. There are a variety of medications that your doctor may prescribe.

If you have questions about your cholesterol levels or how to lower them, speak to your doctor. And if you've recently had a heart attack, bypass surgery or angioplasty, it's important to get your LDL cholesterol checked within two to twelve months after being discharged from the hospital. Be sure to follow up with your doctor.

Low Cholesterol Alternatives

If your doctor recommends a low cholesterol diet, you should consume no more than 300 mg/dL of cholesterol per day. But this doesn't mean a diet of only rice cakes! It simply means making smart food choices. To show you how painless this can be, click here for some heart-healthy recipes.

Sources: National Cholesterol Education Program, National Institute of Health, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute