Cholesterol FAQ

1.How long does it take for a healthy diet to lower cholesterol?
3 months Usually, doctors suggest patients try a cholesterol-lowering diet alone for about three months. If, after three months, your LDL cholesterol is still high, you may need to do more. Your doctor may recommend more therapeutic lifestyle changes (called TLC) as your next step. TLC includes three parts: a cholesterol-lowering diet, regular physical activity, and weight management. Your doctor may also recommend cholesterol-lowering drugs like statins, fibrates, or other medication.

2.How much exercise does it take to lower cholesterol?

30 minutes of moderate exercise at least 4 days a week.  Most doctors recommend 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least 4 days a week as part of your TLC plan to lower cholesterol. Moderate intensity means you have increased your heart rate and breathing, but can still carry on a conversation. Examples include easy jogging, brisk walking, bike riding, swimming, and water aerobics. Regular moderate exercise raises good HDL cholesterol. It may also lower bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

3. How does a family history of early heart disease affect cholesterol treatment?
Your doctor will probably prescribe cholesterol medication right away.  Low levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and a family history of early heart disease are major risk factors for heart disease. Indeed, they partially determine your risk of having a heart attack over the next 10 years. If you have a family history of early heart disease and low levels of HDL cholesterol, your doctor will put you on cholesterol-lowering medication. You should also maintain a healthy lifestyle through diet, exercise, and weight maintenance.



4. How does having diabetes affect cholesterol treatment?
Your doctor will try to get your cholesterol even lower than normal. If you have diabetes, your doctor will prescribe treatments to try to get your "bad" LDL cholesterol lower than 100 – below the normal range of 100 to 129. Diabetes significantly increases your risk of heart disease, and so does high cholesterol. If you have both conditions, you're at very high risk of heart disease. Lowering your cholesterol below normal is one way to combat that risk.



5.  What's the next step if diet and exercise don't lower your cholesterol?
Start medication, and continue diet and exercise.  Often, therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC) can lower cholesterol as well as medication. But sometimes lifestyle changes aren't enough. Cholesterol-lowering medications like statins, fibrates, nicotinic acid, or other drugs can help. If you start cholesterol-lowering medication, don't stop eating right, maintaining your weight, and staying physically active. A healthy lifestyle helps you keep the dose of your cholesterol-lowering medication as low as possible, which may reduce drug costs and side effects.