1. See your doctor
The first step in lowering your cholesterol is to see your doctor. Your doctor will discuss your diet, lifestyle and family history. At this point your doctor may refer you for a cholesterol test.
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2. Cholesterol test
A cholesterol test is a blood test that measures the level of cholesterol in your blood. Usually, you will be asked to drink only water and not eat food for 12-16 hours before the test. Your doctor will advise you if there are any specific requirements for the test.
3. Your results
Your test results will be sent to your doctor. Your doctor will discuss these results with you, taking into account your family history and any other risk factors. Depending on your results, your doctor may discuss changes to your diet and lifestyle that can help to lower cholesterol levels. Your doctor might also prescribe a cholesterol-lowering medication for you.
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4. Diet and lifestyle changes
Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help lower your cholesterol levels. Your doctor may suggest you make improvements in your diet and lifestyle for 6 weeks and then return for re-testing.
To help you with your diet and lifestyle changes we've created a series of downloadable guides.
5. Re-testing and results
After 6 weeks, you need to return to your doctor. Your doctor will re-test your cholesterol levels to see if there has been any improvement. Depending on your results, your doctor may prescribe cholesterol-lowering medication, or may recommend that you continue with your diet and lifestyle changes.
6. Monitoring and maintenance
Your doctor will monitor your cholesterol levels at regular intervals. They will let you know how often you need to have your levels tested and stress the importance of maintaining your healthy lifestyle improvements, and any medication they may have prescribed.
To help you maintain your healthy diet and lifestyle changes, visit the following links:
Take a trip through this interactive cholesterol-lowering journey. Here you will find all the information you need to set you on the path towards lowering your cholesterol and improving your health. Simply follow the prompts and click on the links and downloads for more information.
Managing your cholesterol may be a lifetime journey. Having a good understanding of how high cholesterol is diagnosed and treated will help you make the changes necessary to start managing your cholesterol. This cholesterol-lowering journey will take you through the steps you may need to take, from seeing your doctor and having a cholesterol test through to understanding your results and the treatments available. Above all, it is important to remember that your cholesterol-lowering journey will be specific to you. Your doctor is the best person with whom to discuss your diagnosis, risk factors and treatment.