Many people can lower their cholesterol through lifestyle changes
NHS bosses have explained that some people may be able to lower their cholesterol levels through lifestyle choices and therefore avoid having to take statins. High cholesterol, the service says, is predominantly due to consuming fatty foods, lack of physical activity, being overweight, smoking and alcohol consumption, though it can also be genetic.
The NHS warns: “Too much cholesterol can block your blood vessels. It makes you more likely to have heart problems or a stroke. High cholesterol does not usually cause symptoms. You can only find out if you have it from a blood test.”
Guidance suggests you can lower your cholesterol by cutting down on fatty foods – especially those high in saturated fat – and incorporate more fruit and vegetables, nuts and seeds, brown rice and grains, olive oil, and oily fish. You should also aim to do at least 2.5 hours of exercise each week, with the NHS recommending activities like walking, swimming and cycling to begin with.
Smoking can also raise cholesterol, and the NHS further recommends cutting down on alcohol. This means not drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week, avoiding binge drinking, and having a number of alcohol-free days each week.
Some people, though, will also need to take statins. Most people who take statins tolerate them well, with no or few side effects. A doctor may recommend you begin taking statins if you have been diagnosed with a form of cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as coronary heart disease or angina.
This may also be the case if your personal and family medical history suggests you’re at risk of developing CVD over some point in the next decade – and lifestyle changes have not reduced your risk.