Understanding Your Cholesterol Level (cont.)

What Should I Do if I Have High Cholesterol?

Because high levels of total cholesterol are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, you and your doctor will discuss any treatment that may be required based on your test results.

If you have high cholesterol, the main goal of a treatment program is to lower your LDL cholesterol level. There are 2 main ways to lower your LDL cholesterol level:

• Lifestyle changes include a low-saturated fat, low-cholesterol diet; exercise; and weight loss if you are overweight.
  
  
• Drug treatment is used in conjunction with lifestyle changes. Your doctor may add a cholesterol-lowering medicine to your treatment program if lifestyle changes alone do not lower your LDL cholesterol level.

If you have high triglycerides, in some circumstances, lowering these may become the main goal of treatment. There are 2 main ways to lower your triglycerides:

• Lifestyle changes include a low carbohydrate diet, exercise, and weight loss.

• Drug treatment may be used in conjunction with lifestyle changes. Your doctor may add a triglyceride-lowering medicine to your treatment program if lifestyle changes alone do not lower your LDL cholesterol level.

You should also control any other risk factors that could affect your LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. You should quit cigarette smoking if you smoke.

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