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Suggest Treatment For High Cholesterol Levels
Question: I am 72 and had a good cholesterol in 2014, when I had my blood work done in 2015 my doctor said I needed to go on a medication, I told him I would try to get it back down to a good level myself first. I have been looking into supplements, do you know of any? I have read about red yeast, barley, and artichoke extract. I am thinking about the artichoke extract supplement. What do you think? I hate to go on any statins, if I could do something without the side effects of a prescription drug.
Brief Answer:
Therapeutic lifestyle changes and supplements advised as following...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concerns.
Routinely, when a patient is presented for the first time in my clinic with high cholesterol levels, I advise to follow healthy diet and lifestyle changes for the first 3 months. If after this period, the blood cholesterol levels won't improve, then, we can discuss about using medication.
In your case, if it is the first time you've found high cholesterol levels, then, should follow with therapeutic lifestyle and diet changes (TLC):
- avoid consuming foods high in calories, sugar, and fat
- eat more fruits and vegetables
- avoid fried or processed foods
- have more low fat dairies
- be more physically active
- increase water intake
With regards to supplements, you should know the basics of them: they do contain the extract of herbs (artichoke) and cereals (red yeast rice, barley, etc) that can help lower cholesterol faster.
You can use these supplements, however, you need to take also those supplements that contain vitamins and minerals which can also help reduce cholesterol levels too.
Please bare in mind that supplements alone cannot help. You should continue with TLC too.
Hope it was of help!
Dr.Albana
Therapeutic lifestyle changes and supplements advised as following...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concerns.
Routinely, when a patient is presented for the first time in my clinic with high cholesterol levels, I advise to follow healthy diet and lifestyle changes for the first 3 months. If after this period, the blood cholesterol levels won't improve, then, we can discuss about using medication.
In your case, if it is the first time you've found high cholesterol levels, then, should follow with therapeutic lifestyle and diet changes (TLC):
- avoid consuming foods high in calories, sugar, and fat
- eat more fruits and vegetables
- avoid fried or processed foods
- have more low fat dairies
- be more physically active
- increase water intake
With regards to supplements, you should know the basics of them: they do contain the extract of herbs (artichoke) and cereals (red yeast rice, barley, etc) that can help lower cholesterol faster.
You can use these supplements, however, you need to take also those supplements that contain vitamins and minerals which can also help reduce cholesterol levels too.
Please bare in mind that supplements alone cannot help. You should continue with TLC too.
Hope it was of help!
Dr.Albana
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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