Q: I’m worried about atherosclerosis and want to work on lowering my cholesterol. I don’t want to use medication yet – what are some other things I can do to improve my cholesterol?
A. According to Howard N. Hodis, M.D., professor of medicine and director of the Atherosclerosis Research Unit in the Keck School of Medicine of USC, it is important to first establish through your doctor whether or not you have heart disease or risk factors for heart attack or stroke. If so, medication to lower LDL—low-density lipoprotein— or “bad” cholesterol should be initiated immediately. However, if there is a low risk of disease, Hodis says non-drug alternatives, such as exercise and dietary measures, may help lower LDL. Stanol spreads, fiber and oatmeal may sometimes help in facilitating a reduction in bad cholesterol. Nonetheless, the most you can really reduce LDL is between 10 to 20 percent without medications, says Hodis. “Most people who want to reach national recommended goals of an LDL count below 130 need some form of medication,” he concludes.
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