How to Lower Cholesterol

Chances are that you're visiting this web site because you or someone you know has heart disease or is at high risk for developing it and you want to find out more about treatment options. Some of the conditions that put you at high risk for heart disease include:

• Diabetes
• Atherosclerosis in the arteries of the legs
• Plaque or narrowing in the carotid (neck) arteries that has caused a transient ischemic attack (TIA or "mini stroke") or a stroke
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm (a bulge in the main artery of the body)

There are some important things for you to know. The good news is that by lowering your blood cholesterol, you can reduce the risk of having a heart attack or other complications of heart disease.

There are four steps you can take to lower your blood cholesterol:

Follow the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) Diet

This low saturated fat, low cholesterol diet includes: 

• Less than 7% of the day's total calories from saturated fat. 
• 25-35 percent of the day’s total calories from fat. 
• Less than 200 milligrams of dietary cholesterol a day. 
• Limit sodium intake to 2400 milligrams a day. 
• Just enough calories to achieve or maintain a healthy weight and reduce your blood cholesterol level. (Ask your doctor or registered dietitian what is a reasonable calorie level for you.)

Be More Physically Active

If you have heart disease, talk with your doctor before starting an activity to be sure you are following a safe program that works for you.

Your doctor will recommend an activity program to meet your needs. If you have been inactive for a long time, you will be instructed to start with low-to-moderate level activities, such as: 

• Walking 
• Taking the stairs instead of the elevator 
• Gardening 
• Housework 
• Dancing 
• Exercising at home

Begin by doing the activity for a few minutes most days. Your doctor will then increase your activity level, allowing you to work up to a longer program -- for most people, the goal is at least 30 minutes per day, 3 or 4 days per week. This can include regular aerobic activity, such as:

• Brisk walking 
• Jogging 
• Swimming 
• Bicycling 
• Playing tennis

If you have chest pain, feel faint or light-headed, or become extremely out of breath while exercising, stop the activity at once and tell your doctor as soon as possible. If you are currently recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery, your doctor may suggest that you begin your new exercise program in a cardiac rehabilitation center. A cardiac rehabilitation center is a place that you can go to exercise under the supervision of a nurse or doctor.

Lose Weight if You are Overweight

Take Cholesterol Lowering Medication if Prescribed by Your Doctor

Your doctor will prescribe a personalized treatment plan according to your LDL-cholesterol level, which may include cholesterol lowering medication. The following is a description of cholesterol-lowering medicines.

• Statins 
• Bile Acid Sequestrants 
• Nicotinic Acid 
• Fibrates

Even if your doctor starts you on a cholesterol-lowering drug, it is still important for you to adopt heart-healthy life habits. These will help to bring a bigger drop in your cholesterol level, and will reduce your risk for future CHD in other ways as well.

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health, “Heart Failure” section, provides leadership for a national program in diseases of the heart, blood vessels, lung, and blood; blood resources; and sleep disorders.

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