You can also take supplements to help you. Lifestyle changes can often help lower your cholesterol, although some people will take medication for high cholesterol. There aren’t any symptoms, although when there is a blockage, you may notice signs.
“If you’re concerned about your cholesterol levels and have started exercising and eating healthier foods, you may be wondering if supplements might help,” says the Mayo Clinic.
The website says you should check with your doctor if you’re considering adding a supplement to your diet.
Berberine can reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides, according to the website.
However, it “may cause diarrhea, constipation, bloating, nausea or vomiting; can harm the baby during pregnancy and lactation”.
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The health website says that fish oil can lower triglycerides, although it notes that this “causes a fishy aftertaste, bad breath, bloating, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; May interact with some blood thinners. ”
The Mayo Clinic adds that green tea extract can lower LDL cholesterol.
It says this “may cause nausea, vomiting, bloating or diarrhea; May interact with blood-thinning medications.”
Heart UK adds: “Your doctor may recommend testing if they think your cholesterol levels may be high.
It says you should get at least 150 minutes of exercise a week, and that smoking can raise cholesterol – making you more likely to have serious problems like heart attack, stroke and cancer.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) says: ‘If your cholesterol is very high and if lifestyle changes are not enough, your doctor may recommend controlling it with medication. Statins are the main drugs used to lower cholesterol.
The NHS states: “Like all medicines, statins can cause side effects. But most people tolerate them well and don’t have any problems.
“You should discuss the benefits and risks of taking statins with your doctor before you start taking them.”
To prevent the risks posed by high cholesterol, it is important that you intervene early in its development.
You should try to avoid drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week and avoid binge drinking. You can ask your GP for help if you’re having a hard time cutting back.
There are two main types of fats, saturated and unsaturated fats. Eating too many foods high in saturated fat can raise your blood cholesterol levels.
The NHS says most people in the UK eat too much saturated fat.
Source: | This article first appeared on Express.co.uk
