High cholesterol raises the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke. Get screened, lower LDL with lifestyle changes, and follow your clinician's plan - medications like statins are used when risk remains high.
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is the "good" cholesterol carrier that helps remove excess cholesterol from arteries and deliver it to the liver. Lifestyle changes - exercise, quitting smoking, and healthy fats - help improve HDL; overall heart risk depends on the full lipid profile.
Policosanol is a sugarcane-derived supplement studied for cholesterol lowering. Evidence is mixed: some trials report modest LDL reductions, but larger independent studies are inconsistent. Consult your clinician before use.
High cholesterol usually has no symptoms. Get a baseline lipid panel in early adulthood, manage risk factors with lifestyle changes, and use medications like statins when needed to lower heart attack and stroke risk.
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) helps remove cholesterol from arteries and is linked with lower cardiovascular risk. Learn how HDL differs from LDL, what affects HDL levels, and practical steps to protect heart health.
Practical, evidence-based steps to lower triglycerides: reduce added sugars and refined carbs, lose excess weight, limit alcohol, add omega-3s, exercise regularly, and seek medical care when levels are very high.
High LDL (bad) cholesterol raises heart attack and stroke risk. You can lower risk with diet, exercise, and, when needed, statins; test and discuss personalized care with your clinician.
Animal foods contain dietary cholesterol, but saturated and trans fats have a larger impact on LDL. Lower your cholesterol by choosing plant-based foods, unsaturated fats, fish, and soluble fiber while limiting red/processed meat, full-fat dairy, and trans fats.
Cholesterol is essential but can raise heart disease risk when levels are high. Understand LDL, HDL and triglycerides, common total-cholesterol categories, major risk factors, and practical steps to lower risk.
Lowering LDL cholesterol works best by cutting saturated/trans fats, boosting soluble fiber, and choosing plant-forward foods. Dietary cholesterol (only in animal foods) matters less than the type of fat and overall pattern.
A concise guide to the four lipid panel values - total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides - current target ranges, and how clinicians use these numbers to manage heart-disease risk.
High cholesterol usually causes no symptoms - it is detected by blood tests. Complications include angina or heart attack, stroke (FAST), and peripheral artery disease; lifestyle changes and medications can lower risk.
High cholesterol stems from diet, lifestyle, medical conditions, and genetics. Early screening, healthier eating, regular activity, and - when needed - medications like statins reduce long-term heart and stroke risk.
This updated guide explains current prescription options for lowering cholesterol - from statins to PCSK9 inhibitors - and practical lifestyle measures such as soluble fiber, plant sterols, and a Mediterranean-style diet.
Cholesterol and diet are closely linked: foods high in saturated and trans fats raise LDL, while fiber, unsaturated fats, and patterns like the Mediterranean diet lower risk. Combine diet, activity, and medical evaluation to manage cholesterol effectively.
Lowering high cholesterol combines proven lifestyle changes - cutting saturated fat, adding soluble fiber, and regular exercise - with medication when needed. Work with your clinician to set goals and monitor progress.
CoQ10 is a mitochondrial compound involved in energy production and antioxidant protection. Supplements may help heart failure, migraines, and some statin-related issues, but evidence varies by condition. Discuss dose and interactions with your clinician.
Cholesterol is essential but higher LDL increases heart disease risk. Replace saturated and trans fats with unsaturated fats, favor a Mediterranean-style pattern, and include marine omega-3s to lower triglycerides. Work with your clinician for personalized targets and, if needed, medication.
Hypothyroidism often raises LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular risk. Causes include autoimmune disease and some cancer therapies. Treatment with levothyroxine usually lowers cholesterol, but persistent dyslipidemia may require statins and lifestyle changes.
Cholesterol is essential for cells, hormones, and vitamin D. The liver makes most cholesterol; dietary saturated fats have the strongest effect on raising LDL. You can lower LDL with soluble fiber, unsaturated fats, plant sterols, weight loss, and exercise. Discuss individual targets with your clinician.
A lipid profile is a set of blood tests (total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, and non-HDL) used to assess cardiovascular risk and guide lifestyle or medication decisions. Interpretation depends on overall ASCVD risk and current guideline-based targets.
High cholesterol usually causes no obvious symptoms. Visible signs like xanthomas or corneal arcus appear mainly when levels are very high. Screening with a lipid panel and managing risk factors can help prevent heart attack and stroke.
Updated guidance on lowering high cholesterol: assess cardiovascular risk, start with lifestyle changes, use statins as first-line therapy, and add newer nonstatin drugs when needed.
Cholesterol testing detects elevated LDL and other lipid issues before symptoms, allowing lifestyle changes or medications to reduce heart attack and stroke risk. Start screening in early adulthood, repeat periodically, and follow clinician guidance on treatment.
Elevated cholesterol and triglycerides often rise in pregnancy and are usually temporary, but markedly abnormal levels can increase preeclampsia risk and may influence early fetal arterial changes. Discuss testing and management with your obstetrician and a lipid or maternal-fetal specialist.
Dietary patterns - especially Mediterranean-style eating, more soluble fiber and plant sterols, and replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats - can lower LDL cholesterol, but average reductions are modest and individual responses vary.
Cholesterol balance matters for heart and stroke risk. Combine diet, exercise, weight control, smoking cessation, stress management and, when needed, medications - guided by regular testing - to lower your risk.
Diet, exercise, and evidence-based supplements can help lower cholesterol. Use plant sterols, soluble fiber, and appropriate omega-3s as adjuncts, and consult your clinician about risks, interactions, and when medications are needed.
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) provides cardiovascular benefits beyond LDL lowering - reduced recurrent heart attack and stroke risk, lower postoperative atrial fibrillation, and benefit in coronary disease. Evidence in heart failure is mixed. Discuss dosing and safety with your clinician.
A clear, up-to-date guide to what cholesterol does, how LDL and HDL affect cardiovascular risk, which foods and habits raise cholesterol, and practical steps to lower it.
Policosanol is a sugar-cane-derived supplement marketed for cholesterol support. Early Cuban trials were promising, but later independent studies showed inconsistent results. It may be well tolerated short-term, but it is not a proven substitute for prescription lipid-lowering therapy.
High cholesterol results from diet, lifestyle, genetics, and other health conditions. You can lower LDL and improve lipids with diet changes, exercise, quitting smoking, and, when needed, medication.
A Complete Lipid Profile measures total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. Modern care uses these results plus your overall cardiovascular risk to guide lifestyle steps and, when needed, statin therapy.
High LDL cholesterol results from genetics, diet, lifestyle, and other medical conditions. Most people can lower risk by improving diet, exercising, managing health conditions, and - when needed - using medications.
Cholesterol-lowering medicines - from statins to newer injectables - reduce heart attack and stroke risk. Choice depends on individual risk, tolerance, and goals; adherence and lifestyle remain essential.