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LDL Cholesterol Reduction

High levels of LDL cholesterol, also known as "bad" cholesterol, can lead to cardiovascular complications such as heart attack and stroke. If you have high LDL cholesterol levels, it's imperative to get your cholesterol numbers down. You can do this by making changes in your day-to-day habits, by making changes in your diet, and by taking a prescription medication that lowers your LDL cholesterol levels.

  1. Lifestyle Changes

    • Lifestyle changes can help lower LDL levels. Extra weight can keep LDL levels high and exercise can make you shed those pounds. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends 30 minutes of exercise per day. This exercise doesn't have to be intense at first. If you're out of shape, just getting off the couch and taking a walk can help you build up to more intensive activity.

      Smoking can also raise LDL levels, so quitting is one way to help manage bad cholesterol.

    Diet

    • Cholesterol levels are affected by what you eat. Foods rich in soluble fiber, like oatmeal, kidney beans, apples, psyllium and prunes can lower LDL levels. Walnuts and other types of nuts also can help lower LDL cholesterol, although they are high in calories so eat them in moderation.

      Fish are rich in omega-3 oils, which lower cholesterol and protect the cardiovascular system in general. You can also take an omega-3 oil supplement.

      Olive oil is a good choice of cooking oil if you are watching your LDL levels. Watch out for two types of fat that can raise LDL levels. Saturated fats are found in meat and other animal products, while trans fats are usually found in store-bought baked goods.

    Medication

    • If lifestyle changes and diet don't lower your LDL cholesterol to an acceptable level, medications can further cut your LDL numbers. The best known of these medications are the statins, which are effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels. In addition, combination medications are available that affect not only LDL cholesterol but other dangerous cholesterol types, such as triglycerides.

      Once you start taking a cholesterol-lowering medication you will have to keep taking it indefinitely or your LDL cholesterol levels will rise again. Statins can affect the liver so you may have to undergo occasional liver function tests.

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