High cholesterol can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. Therefore, controlling your cholesterol levels is important for preventing cardiovascular disease. Simvastatin is a common medication prescribed to lower total cholesterol levels. In addition, simvastatin lowers "bad" cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, which causes plaque to build up in your blood vessels. Like all medications, simvastatin is associated with unwanted side effects including muscle pain, fever, swelling and nausea, which may cause you to want to get away from taking simvastatin. To accomplish your goal of getting off medication, you must commit to making long-term lifestyle changes.
Step 1
Decrease your intake of high cholesterol foods. In order to best control your cholesterol and get away from taking simvastatin, you must decrease your intake of foods high in cholesterol, such as fatty meats, fried foods and processed foods. Animal meats contain large amounts of saturated fats, which can increase your LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels. Trans fats can also increase your cholesterol and are commonly found in fried foods, chips, cookies and processed meats, such as bacon.
Step 2
Choose foods that are known to help lower your cholesterol. Increase your intake of fish, olive oil, canola oil, avocados and nuts, which can reduce your total cholesterol levels and raise your "good" cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein, or HDL. HDL cholesterol helps to remove cholesterol from your arteries. In addition, eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can reduce your total cholesterol and help you get away from taking simvastatin.
Step 3
Begin a walking program to lower your cholesterol. Regular exercise has been shown to improve cholesterol levels and may help you get away from taking medications. Set a goal to walk for 30 minutes per day, at least five days per week. Be sure to increase your pace during your next workout to make sure you continue to benefits from the cholesterol-lowering effects of exercise.
Tips and Warnings
- Never stop taking simvastatin or any other medications without your doctor's opinion.
