What can be done to treat high LDL cholesterol?
15.MAR.2024
Written by Anna Sanniti Medically reviewed by Dr. Zara Fullerton
If you have recently found out that you have high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad cholesterol”, you may now be wondering: “What can I do to lower my levels?”
The positive news is that there are many ways that you can improve your LDL cholesterol, and significantly reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and other conditions.
In this article, we will cover some of the ways that you can improve your LDL cholesterol and reduce your cardiac risk, including:
Diet and lifestyle changes
Cholesterol-lowering medications as recommended by your healthcare provider
Enrolling in a diet and lifestyle program
Diet and lifestyle changes
The good news is that once you know your cholesterol levels you can take action, with the help of your healthcare professional, to improve your LDL cholesterol and reduce your cardiac risk.
This may involve creating healthier diet and lifestyle habits such as ¹
Increasing fresh fruits and vegetables
Consuming a high-fiber diet
Reducing or avoiding foods containing saturated fats, trans fats, and sugar
Stopping smoking
Reducing or stopping alcohol consumption
Getting plenty of exercise
Managing your weight
The American Heart Association recommends reducing saturated fat to less than 6% of your daily calories and avoiding trans fats.¹ Trans fats are found in fried food, baked goods, processed foods, and margarine.
Cholesterol-lowering medications
Depending on your LDL cholesterol levels and overall cardiac risk, your healthcare provider may also prescribe a cholesterol-lowering medication such as a statin or PCSK9 inhibitor. ²
Statin drugs work by slowing down the liver’s production of cholesterol, and increasing the liver’s ability to remove LDL cholesterol that is already in the blood. ²
PCSK9 inhibitors reduce the number of LDL receptors, resulting in lower LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream. These medicines are only used for people who have very high LDL cholesterol, such as people who have familial hypercholesterolemia, or those with a cardiovascular disease who would benefit from low cholesterol levels fast. ²
Never make changes to your medication without consulting with your healthcare provider. Share all results with your healthcare provider and talk to them about how often you should have your cholesterol levels measured. LetsGetChecked makes this easy for you - you can subscribe and order repeat tests. This ensures that you can work with your healthcare provider to stay on top of your LDL cholesterol levels.
Enrolling in a diet and lifestyle program
Making sustainable diet and lifestyle changes can sometimes be hard without the support you need. For some people, enrolling in a diet and lifestyle program may be a good way to improve motivation, and receive the information they need within a supportive environment.
LetsGetChecked has a 12-week program, created by our in-house dietician, which covers the diet and lifestyle changes that you can make to improve your LDL cholesterol. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if this is something that could be beneficial for you. You can find out more about this program, and how to enroll, here.
Let’s recap
The good news is that there are many ways that you can improve your LDL cholesterol levels through diet and lifestyle changes and cholesterol-lowering medicines.
Monitoring your cholesterol levels over time can keep you on track, and help you work with your healthcare provider to reduce your cardiac risk.
Please note that the following is for educational use only and is not a substitute for medical advice. This content cannot diagnose or provide information about treatment. Consult with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns or need specific medical advice relating to any symptoms, conditions, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not delay seeking medical advice and do not disregard professional medical advice based on this content. Your healthcare provider can provide the most suitable guidance based on your situation.