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.