It is imperative to lower high cholesterol levels
Cholesterol levels of more than 200 mg/dL is considered to be high for the body. If a cholesterol level of this magnitude continues to remain in the body, it deposits in the blood vessels leading to several complications one of which is heart attack. Cholesterol deposition on eyelids is known as xanthomas.
High cholesterol deposits lead to several complications like chest pain, heart attack and stroke.
Statins coupled with healthy diet and exercise can lower cholesterol
Doctors recommend statins, commonly known as cholesterol lowering drugs, for those who have high cholesterol.
Statin increases the liver's ability to remove the bad cholesterol or the low density lipoproteins from the blood and hence regulate the level of cholesterol in the body.
Proper diet and healthy lifestyle habits can help the body get rid of high cholesterol. Health reports say exercises stimulate enzymes that help the liver remove bad cholesterol from the blood.
So, how long does it take to lower high cholesterol?
“Cholesterol levels can be reduced by both healthy diet and cholesterol lowering drugs, together with regular physical exercise,” says Dr Ravindra Gupta - Lead Consultant - Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital Gurgaon.
“Initially, to bring the cholesterol level back to normal, medicines are prescribed by doctors for 3 months. Post this, patients are expected to follow up regularly with doctors until their cholesterol returns to a normal range,” says Dr Shashikant Nigam, Consultant, Internal Medicine, Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad on the importance of medicines.
“Cholesterol lowering drugs, called Statins, usually take 4 to 6 weeks for lowering cholesterol to acceptable levels. In people with very high LDL cholesterol above 190, higher doses of statins are needed to achieve targets quickly,” Dr Gupta says on the role of medicine in controlling cholesterol.
It depends on pre-existing condition of the body as well
"The time taken, however, depends upon the preexisting condition of the patient. For patients with preexisting conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or heart diseases, prolonged intake of medicines may be required to bring cholesterol back to normal levels. Once a patient is prescribed medicines for high cholesterol, they usually need to continue for a long period. Medicines must be discontinued only after consulting a doctor," says Dr Nigam.
He suggests: Patients with high cholesterol must avoid consuming inflammatory foods, items that contain trans- fat, meat, and vegetables cooked in large amounts of oil. Reducing the consumption of alcohol and smoking can also help keep cholesterol in check. Apart from this, good quality sleep, reducing weight, and walking at least 5 km every day is recommended. Sustained efforts to consume a healthy and balanced diet along with regular exercising are always recommended to lower high cholesterol.
Diet and exercise combined with medicine can speed up lowering cholesterol
“If drugs are combined with a healthy diet and exercise, the targets could be achieved much earlier in 2 to 4 weeks,” the expert says, stressing on the importance of physical activity and a healthy diet.
Dr Gupta’s statement also breaks the common myth that medicines are sufficient enough to lower down cholesterol level. Many people stop doing physical activity soon after they are diagnosed with high cholesterol with the assumption that medicines are enough to lower it and putting so much stress on the body can affect the heart.
"Most patients with high cholesterol neglect the above advice of doctors because they believe that they can always take medicines to lower their cholesterol levels," Dr Nigam says.
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LDL cholesterol level should always be checked
LDL cholesterol which is the bad cholesterol needs to be below 100 mg% for those who had heart attack, stroke, Stenting and Bypass and also those who are having diabetes, are smokers, have chronic kidney disease and strong family history of heart diseases, warns Dr Gupta.
For all other healthy individuals, LDL cholesterol targets us below 130, he adds.
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Key points to note
Cholesterol should be checked at regular intervals. Regularly monitoring the blood cholesterol level will save the body from several disastrous diseases.
One should also update the doctor about other health complications they have so that proper medication is given for cholesterol.
The takeaway message
Do not believe in myths or prevalent beliefs on high cholesterol. When you are dealing with health complications as such always trust medically certified information.
If your doctor has recommended you to take statins, do not miss it any day. Check your cholesterol level regularly and update your doctor about its level.
Keep yourself physically fit and active everyday. Include lots of seasonal fruits and vegetables in the diet.