Before prescribing you statins, your doctor might recommend a series of lifestyle changes (Image: Getty)
The NHS has outlined several crucial lifestyle modifications that your doctor may propose prior to prescribing medication. These suggestions might be made before considering statins, among the most frequently dispensed medicines across the UK.
Statins are a category of medications capable of lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, commonly known as “bad” cholesterol, within the bloodstream. Excessive LDL cholesterol poses significant health risks as it can lead to arterial narrowing and hardening.
It also represents a substantial risk factor for cardiovascular disease, an umbrella term encompassing various heart and circulatory system conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, angina, and coronary heart disease. This remains amongst the principal causes of mortality across the UK.
According to the NHS website, a GP may suggest statin therapy if you’ve received a cardiovascular disease diagnosis or if your individual and familial medical background indicates a likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease within the coming decade, and lifestyle interventions haven’t mitigated this risk.
Exercising regularly is one lifestyle habit that could help lower your cholesterol (Image: Getty)
However, before prescribing statins, your GP will “usually” advise certain modifications. The NHS stated: “If you’re at risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the near future, your doctor will usually recommend lifestyle changes to reduce this risk before they suggest that you take statins.”
The NHS notes these adjustments “reduce your cholesterol level and cardiovascular disease risk”. The recommended changes include:
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet
- Exercising regularly
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink
- Stopping smoking
However, the NHS has stated: “Statins may be recommended if these measures do not help.”
Diet
The health body said you should try to cut down on fatty food, especially food that contains a type of fat called saturated fat. “You can still have foods that contain a healthier type of fat called unsaturated fat,” it said.
Therefore, you should try to eat more:
- Oily fish, like mackerel and salmon
- Olive oil, rapeseed oil and spreads made from these oils
- Brown rice, wholegrain bread and wholewheat pasta
- Nuts and seeds
- Fruits and vegetables
And you should try to eat less:
- Meat pies, sausages and fatty meat
- Butter, lard and ghee
- Cream and hard cheese, like cheddar
- Cakes and biscuits
- Food that contains coconut oil or palm oil
Exercise
The NHS said you should aim to do at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of exercise a week.
Read more: Exact amount of chocolate to eat for a ‘healthier heart’
Read more: Cancer risk and ‘bad’ cholesterol could be slashed by 27p spice
Stop smoking
The NHS said: “Smoking can raise your cholesterol and make you more likely to have serious problems like heart attacks, strokes and cancer.” If you want to stop smoking, you can get help and support from your GP or the NHS Stop Smoking Service – your GP can refer you or you can ring the helpline on 0300 123 1044 (England only).
Alcohol
The NHS said you should:
- Avoid drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week
- Have several drink-free days each week
- Avoid drinking lots of alcohol in a short time (binge drinking)
What is considered high cholesterol?
The only way to be sure if your cholesterol levels are too high is to take a cholesterol test. These will confirm your:
- Total cholesterol – the overall amount of cholesterol in your blood
- Good cholesterol (called HDL) – this may make you less likely to have heart problems or a stroke
- Non-HDL cholesterol – the difference between total cholesterol and HDL
The NHS explained: “What is a good target level for you depends on things like your age, whether you have any health conditions and your risk of cardiovascular disease.” But generally, the following levels are considered “healthy”:
- Total cholesterol – below 5mmol/L
- HDL (good cholesterol) – above 1.0mmol/L for men or above 1.2mmol/L for women
- Non-HDL (bad cholesterol) – below 4mmol/L
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
