Treating high cholesterol: seek help outside of the doctor’s officeYour doctor should always be your first step when treating any health problem. But if your doctor recommends diet and exercise to treat your high cholesterol, you should strongly consider getting help from dietitian and/or personal fitness trainers.
Although dieting and exercise is effective in treating most cases of high blood pressure, many people don’t have the patience to stick with those treatment paths for as long as they should. Dietitians will know more specialized information about the best types of foods you should be eating, and personal trainers can help keep you motivated to keep working out. The costs of hiring dietitians and trainers can be expensive, but the price is more than worth it if it keeps you on the path to recovery. Be sure to check with your insurance company to make sure trips to other health specialists are allowed. If necessary, you can also ask your doctor for a referral to a dietitian or a personal fitness specialist.
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Lower your cholesterol: know your ratingThere are no warning signs for high cholesterol, and people whose blood-cholesterol levels are too high are at a heightened risk for coronary heart disease. If your cholesterol level is lower than 220 milligrams per deciliter, then you should be in the clear. However, if your blood-cholesterol level exceeds that number, then you officially have high cholesterol.
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Breakdown of cholesterol levelsKnowing your cholesterol level is important, especially as you grow older. Aging adults should have their blood-cholesterol levels tested at least once every five years. The breakdown of cholesterol levels is as follows:
- Ideal cholesterol level: your blood-cholesterol level is below 180.
- Acceptable cholesterol level: blood-cholesterol level is 180-199.
- Borderline high cholesterol: blood-cholesterol level is 200-219.
- High cholesterol: blood-cholesterol level is 220 and higher.
Reduce saturated fat intakeSaturated fat is the worst thing you can eat if you have high cholesterol. That’s because when you eat saturated fat, your body increases its production of cholesterol. The result is a large influx of cholesterol into the body that can compound any pre-existing problems you may have. If you’re diagnosed with high cholesterol, it’s important to remove as many forms of saturated fat as possible from y our diet.MedicationsLifestyle changes such as diet and exercise are usually enough to treat most cholesterol problems. However, sometimes additional help is needed. If lifestyle changes haven’t helped after several weeks or months, then your doctor may prescribe medications to solve your problem. Some medications help break down cholesterol from vessels and artery walls, while other types of drugs block the body’s natural process of producing more cholesterol.
Remember, lifestyle changes can take time to show benefits. Don’t be discouraged by any apparent lack of progress from diet and exercise. Lifestyle changes are often adequate to treat the majority of high cholesterol cases.
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