Cholesterol problems

Question
I cholesterol levels are a little out of range.  I am 43 years old and my doctor wants to try me on some medication.  I don't want to take the medication so I am running and bicycling and watching what I eat.
Any suggestions or am I on the right track?

Answer
Gary,

Getting regular exercise and eating a healthy diet (lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and avoiding foods high in saturated fat) are always a good idea and should always be done by people with high cholesterol regardless of whether you are taking a cholesterol lowering medicine or not.

Evidence based on scientific studies shows that daily aerobic exercise can decrease triglycerides by about 11% and increase HDL (good cholesterol) by about 9% (assuming there is no significant change in diet).  Exercise does not have a significant effect on total cholesterol or LDL (bad cholesterol).

Dietary changes can decrease total cholesterol and LDL by as much as 10-15%.  However, some people have no change in cholesterol with diet changes.  The amount of decrease depends on the amount of diet change.  If a person has a high saturated fat diet and then changes to a low saturated fat diet, the changes are more likely to be in the 10-15% range.  Unfortunately, many people cannot make the changes long-term and their cholesterol levels go back up.  Diet changes can have a very significant change in triglyceride levels.  Triglyceride levels can be decreased, in certain cases, by 25-50% or more when going from a high simple-carbohydrate diet to a low carbohydrate diet.

You can get more information on cholesterol levels and diet here:
http://www.lipid-clinic.com/diet.html

You can get more information on specific lipids (cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides) and ways to improve them here:
http://www.lipid-clinic.com/lipids.html

If your lipid levels are more than 10-15% above the ideal level, you will probably need a cholesterol lowering medicine in order to get them to goal.  Also, remember diet and exercise only work when they are being done. Once you stop the healthy habit, lipids levels will go back to their previous levels.

Lastly, diet changes, and their effects on total cholesterol and LDL, should be seen within about 6-8 weeks.  Exercise and its effects on HDL may take 3 months or more.  Triglyceride levels should improve within a week or two.  As I said, most people cannot maintain improved diet and exercise habits (they just don抰 have the will power), so I recommend checking lipid levels about 3 months after a person after a person starts their new 揾ealthy habits?and then again 3-6 months later to be sure they are maintaining their good habits.  

Best of luck.

Todd
www.Lipid-Clinic.com

P.S. Don't be afraid of cholesterol lowering medicines.  The odds of having a serious (and temporary) side effect is about 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 10,000.  The only people who should be wary of cholesterol medicines are old and sick people who are offered two or more cholesterol lowering medicines.  If the doctor is competent, and the patient has a brain, there is virtually no chance of having a serious side effect.

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