According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 98.6 million adults have total cholesterol levels that exceed 200 mg/dl--the diagnostic threshold for high cholesterol. Managing your cholesterol levels entails several steps.
Step 1
Get your cholesterol measured by either your doctor or a clinical laboratory technician. The results will yield four numbers to monitor: your total cholesterol, low density lipoproteins (LDL), high density lipoproteins (HDL) and triglycerides. All four will tell you something about your diet, weight and activity levels. You can also use them as a starting point for your new healthy heart program.
Step 2
Develop a treatment plan by asking your doctor about the significance of each of your cholesterol numbers. For instance, your LDL represents your general risk for heart disease and should be less than 140 mg/dl. Your HDL should be over 45 mg/dl for men and 55 mg/dl for women. Your triglycerides should be less than 150 mg/dl. Each one of these components may factor into your treatment plan.
Step 3
Eat a healthy diet, which will lower your LDL cholesterol, and exercise regularly, which will increase your HDL cholesterol. If your levels are sufficiently high to dictate cholesterol-lowering medication, your doctor may suggest taking one of the many cholesterol lowering drugs, but only as a last resort. Nearly all of them have side effects.
Step 4
Quit smoking. Cigarette smoking contributes to more cases of heart attack and stroke than any other risk factor. If you've tried before and have been unsuccessful, check with your doctor or your local office of the American Lung Association for help with smoking cessation.
Step 5
Keep a journal of the lifestyle changes you're made over the past six months and review them with your doctor during your next visit. He may suggest that you work with a registered dietitian to see if there are ways to lower your cholesterol without having to take prescription drugs.
Tips and Warnings
- Begin by getting a complete physical examination by your doctor. File your results where you can review them in six months. Start slowly and stick with your program.
- Don't expect results right away. Lowering your cholesterol takes time and patience. Call your physician if you have questions.
