Manage high cholesterol level through these ways
High cholesterol level is often called a “silent” condition and here are the ways you can deal with this condition.
Many people don’t realize they have above-normal levels of cholesterol until it becomes a serious condition. Cholesterol is produced by the liver naturally and it is needed by the body for the formation of cell membranes, certain hormones, and vitamin D, based on the article in Healthline.
However, having a high level of this can also harm the body. What your body needs is “good” cholesterol because the “bad” cholesterol at a high level can cause plaque to build up in your arteries. This will eventually narrow your arteries.
This condition is called atherosclerosis and this is serious. Having this condition means that the flow of blood through your arteries is limited and it also raises your risk of developing dangerous blood clots.
To lower your cholesterol, there are some ways you can do.
Through diet
You can limit your intake of food with high cholesterol, saturated fats, and trans fats. Another way you can do this is to eat food with lean protein such as chicken, meat, and legumes. Avoid fried foods as much as you can. Choose baked, broiled, steamed, grilled, and roasted food. You should also stay away from fast food, sugary, and processed food.
Cholesterol medications can also be an option. Statins are the most commonly prescribed medications for this condition. This blocked the liver from producing more cholesterol.
Here are the examples of statins:
- atorvastatin (Lipitor)
- fluvastatin (Lescol)
- rosuvastatin (Crestor)
- simvastatin (Zocor)
In some instances, the doctor may prescribe these medications.
- niacin
- bile acid resins or sequestrants, such as colesevalam (Welchol), colestipol (Colestid), or cholestyramine (Prevalite)
- cholesterol absorption inhibitors, such as ezetimibe (Zetia)
- PCSK9 inhibitors, such as alirocumab (Praluent) and evolocumab (Repatha)
For home remedies to lower cholesterol, there are things you can try.
- Regular exercise and avoid smoking
- Some people claim that eating these foods can help (there is no supporting evidence)
garlic
hawthorn
astragalus
red yeast rice
plant sterol and stanol supplements
blond psyllium, found in psyllium seed husk
ground flaxseed
It is advisable to ask your doctor to test your cholesterol levels, especially if you’re 20 years or older. If the result is that you have above-normal level of cholesterol, ask them about your treatment options.