High Cholesterol

• How is high cholesterol diagnosed?

• How is high cholesterol treated?

• Where can I learn more about high cholesterol?

• What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?

• What do I need to talk to my doctor about?

How is high cholesterol diagnosed?

In most cases, high cholesterol does not produce symptoms. The only way to know if you have high cholesterol levels is to have your blood tested. Canadian guidelines recommend having your cholesterol tested if you:

• Are male and over 40 years of age;
• Are female and over 50 years of age and/or Post-menopausal;
• Have heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure;
• Have a waist measurement greater than 102 cm (40 inches) for men or 88 cm (35 inches) for women;
• Smoke or have only recently stopped smoking;
• Have a family history of heart disease or stroke.

Cholesterol levels can be measured by a simple test involving a blood sample taken from the arm. This test can analyze the four types of fats in the blood and total cholesterol levels.

 

How is high cholesterol treated?

A variety of things can affect cholesterol levels. Achieving a healthy diet, weight loss, and regular exercise are the first steps to help lower blood cholesterol and to prevent heart disease. Reducing the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet helps lower your blood cholesterol level. The main goal of cholesterol-lowering treatment is to lower your LDL enough to reduce your risk of developing heart disease or heart attack.In addition to life-style changes, there are several types of drugs available for lowering cholesterol including statins, bile acid sequestrants, nicotinic acid and fibrates. Your doctor can help decide which drug is best for you.

 

Where can I learn more about high cholesterol?

Visit ww2.heartandstroke.ca

 

What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?

In most cases, high cholesterol does not produce symptoms.

 

What do I need to talk to my doctor about?

Questions for your doctor
Here are some things to discuss:

Cholesterol testing:

• Should I have my cholesterol tested? If so, how often?
• What should my target levels be?

Healthy weight, healthy diet:

• What is a healthy body weight for me?
• How can I eat a healthier diet to achieve my ideal body weight?

Medications:

• Should I be taking a medication for my cholesterol?
• For people already taking a cholesterol medication: Does my medication need adjusting to help reach my LDL-C and TC:HDL ratio target levels?

Healthy lifestyle changes:

• What other lifestyle changes can I make (involving diet, exercise, weight loss, quitting smoking, or drinking less) to help control my cholesterol and reduce my risk of heart disease?
• For people already using lifestyle changes: Do I need to alter my lifestyle changes to help reach my LDL-C and TC:HDL ratio target levels?
• What else can I do to reduce my risk of heart disease?

 

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