Have you been diagnosed with high cholesterol? Even though you might be upset, the good news is that you can treat this condition and lower your cholesterol, thereby reducing your risk of developing heart disease. The key, though, is to work with your doctor and establish a routine that will allow you to lead a healthier lifestyle and get your cholesterol levels back to an ideal level. A few treatments for high cholesterol are listed below to help you get started.
Get More Active to Lose Weight
Both being obese or overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle could boost your odds of increasing your bad (LDL) cholesterol and lowering your good (HDL) cholesterol. So one of the first treatments for high cholesterol that you can pursue involves simply getting yourself down to a healthy weight. If you lose even just 10% of your weight, you could be making great strides towards lowering your cholesterol level, and you can make it easier with the help of weight loss pills. But in addition to losing weight, getting more physical activity in every day will also help. Aim for about 40 minutes of cardio three times a week, as that could help lower cholesterol.
Reduce the Amount of Fat in Your Diet
Another one of the most important treatments for high cholesterol is your diet. By reducing the amount of fat in your diet, especially when it comes to trans fat and saturated fat, you can really make a difference in your cholesterol level. The American Heart Association has recommended that you limit saturated fat to just 5-6% of your daily calories. This involves limiting the amount of dairy and red meat that you consume, while cooking with healthier oils like vegetable oil. Eating more whole grains, fruits, nuts, and veggies is also important, and you want to focus on increasing your fiber intake as well, as that will also serve to lower your cholesterol naturally.
Prescription Remedies
In addition to changing your diet and becoming more active, your doctor might recommend a prescription to get your high cholesterol under control. There are quite a few options, and your doctor will determine the right one for you. For example, there are injectable medications, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, statins, and bile-acid-binding resins.
Ultimately, if you wish to lower your cholesterol, you really need to focus on changing your diet and your lifestyle. Getting active and eating right can make a big difference. But if your doctor has recommended prescriptions to help lower cholesterol, they can help as well.
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