Your health care team will work with you to help prevent or treat high cholesterol and support your overall cardiovascular health. Here are some questions you may want to ask:
- What is my cholesterol?
- What’s the difference between LDL cholesterol and triglycerides?
- Should I have my lipoprotein (a), or Lpa, level checked?
- Would I benefit from genetic testing for a cholesterol disorder?
- If my LDL is high because of a genetic disorder (passed down in families), should my children have their cholesterol checked?
- Will exercise and diet alone be enough to lower my cholesterol?
- How does cholesterol relate to the risk of cardiovascular disease?
- How much exercise should I be getting? What types of activities are best for me?
- Are there foods I should avoid/eat more of?
- Do I need medication? If so, which medication and why?
- I'm taking medication and have made lifestyle changes, but my LDL cholesterol levels are still very high. What else can I do?
- When can we expect to see a difference?
- What side effects should I watch for?
- I know statins are usually the first drug therapy, but what can you tell me about non-statin medications?
- I feel fine. Why do I need medicine to lower my cholesterol?
- What can I do to raise my “good” cholesterol?
- How often do I need to get my cholesterol level checked?
- What about my other risk factors for cardiovascular disease?
- Would I benefit from seeing a lipid specialist?