If you have high cholesterol, then you know that you need to get it down to a lower level in order to reduce your risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other health problem. Sometimes this can be done with lifestyle changes, other times it may require medications.
Usually the medical treatment of high cholesterol centers around the approach of lowering the amount of LDL or bad cholesterol in the body. There also some approach that will add the treatment to increase the HDL or the good cholesterol. We look at the process in which high cholesterol is treated below.
The first thing that will happened in the process is to determine your cholesterol level. This is done in the doctor office through a simple blood test where your total cholesterol level and cholesterol ratio will be determined. This number will give the doctor an idea how serious the cholesterol problem is and how aggressive the treatment plan should be.
Once the level of cholesterol is identified, the first thing your doctor will discussed with you is your diet. More often then not, a diet that is comprised of more fresh foods and vegetables will be recommended that will greatly reduce the intake of trans fats and saturated fats.
Then come the exercise, after looking at dietary changes. Higher activities level and exercise will improve the HDL or good cholesterol level, and of course shed some weight along the way. Doctor will most likely recommend regular exercise routine if you do not have any regular exercise yet.
For people with a history of coronary artery disease, high blood pressure or diabetes, medication will be started right away. As people with such profile are at a higher risk for heart attack and stroke.
Statin will most likely be the drug for people who needs to start medication immediately. It will help slow down the amount of cholesterol that the body will produce by itself, moreover, it can help reduce the risk of many of the complications that are associated with high cholesterol. There are time may use other medications that is not statin based. These are to prevent the amount of cholesterol that will be absorbed from the food source. If you are prescribed with statin, do understand that it may cause some side effects.
Once you starts the treatment of high cholesterol, periodic check will be done by your doctor to see the progress you are making with the treatment. If you chose diet and exercise to lower cholesterol, these test will indicate if medication is necessary as well. If you are already on medication, then these test will tell if the dose are appropriate.
These checkups are a good time for you to talk to your doctor about any concerns that you might have. For instance, if you have difficulty with the diet, it may be recommended that you see a dietitian. If you have side effects from the medication, your doctor may want to change it. If exercise is hard because of another health condition, he or she can recommend alternatives.
Filed under Health & Fitness by Meng

