Treatment

The end goal in bringing down your LDL-cholesterol is to lower the chance of a first or future heart attack or stroke due to blockages in your arteries.

Your treatment plan to lower your cholesterol numbers will be based on your overall risk for cardiovascular disease. For example, a standard risk assessment would note whether you already have atherosclerosis or have a high chance of developing it. Treatments will also depend on:

• Your cholesterol levels
• Other conditions you may have
• Treatments tried before (if applicable)
• Personal choice 

Trying to lower LDL levels often can be helped by making healthier lifestyle choices. In fact, the choices we make every day can affect our cholesterol. 

Here are four things that can make a difference:

1. Revamp the way you eat by following a heart-healthy plan such as the Mediterranean or DASH diets (these are less “diets” than ways to eat healthy)
2. Exercise regularly 
3. Stay at a healthy weight and lose any extra pounds
4. Don’t smoke, and stay away from secondhand smoke 

Many people with elevated LDL cholesterol, particular if it is an inherited condition, also need to take medication.