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Did you know that cholesterol isn’t something that just affects older people? Many people make the mistake of thinking that high cholesterol is something that only affect the over 50’s, but, that isn’t always the case.
Doctors recommend that everyone who is 20 and over should be checked for cholesterol at least once every three years. Whether you are in your early twenties or are in your sixties, you should get checked for cholesterol.
If, when you go to get your cholesterol levels checked, you find out that they are too high, you might start to panic. However, there is no need to worry, as there are plenty of ways you can lower your cholesterol levels.
To help you get your cholesterol levels back under control, here are four simple tips to follow:
1. Ask your doctor for a target
The first thing that you need to do is ask your doctor for a target to get your cholesterol levels down, too. Having a target will give you something to aim for, and should help you to lower your cholesterol levels.
The target your doctor gives you will depend on various factors, including your age, weight, and family history. Your target will also depend on how at risk you are of cardiovascular disease, through obesity, smoking or diabetes.
2. Consider taking medication
If your cholesterol levels are bad, your doctor may suggest taking medication to help lower them more quickly. Medication is often recommended if your cardiovascular risk is high, as the health of your heart is at risk.
As well as having the option of opting for doctor-prescribed medication, there are also other options to consider. For example, Choleslo medication is a popular non-doctor prescribed treatment for lowering blood pressure. The Choleslo ingredients help to lower blood pressure and maintain a healthy heart, so are ideal if you suffer from high cholesterol.
3. Exercise regularly
Did you know that by doing regular exercise, not only can you lower bad cholesterol, but you can also increase good cholesterol? So, if you want to improve your general health, as well as decreasing your bad cholesterol levels, exercise is crucial.
This doesn’t have to be intense exercise; you can start off slowly and build yourself up. It’s a good idea to start off with some brisk walking and then slowly build your fitness level up, before doing anything too intense.
4. Steer clear of saturated fats
Doctors used to believe that foods like eggs were to blame for high cholesterol, but that’s not the case. Yes, eating lots of eggs each day isn’t the best idea, but eating a couple a week is fine. The real culprits of high cholesterol are foods containing saturated fats.
Ideally, you want to stop eating foods high in saturated fats, like junk food, instead swapping to a healthier diet. Try to cut down on foods such as butter, animal fats, like suet, chocolate, and oily fish. Instead, eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts and seeds, lean meats, like chicken and steak.
High cholesterol can cause all sorts of health problems, so if your cholesterol is high, you need to get it down. To reduce your cholesterol, speak to your doctor for advice, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.