Question: My last cholesterol measurement showed that my cholesterol is back to normal again. Can I stop taking my cholesterol lowering medicine?

Answer: No! You must continue with treatment! High cholesterol cannot be cured, but only controlled by lifestyle changes and cholesterol lowering medicine. By stopping your medicine your cholesterol levels quickly return to where they were before treatment was started. Click here to read more about cholesterol lowering medicine.

Question: I have been prescribed cholesterol lowering medicine. Is it safe to use?

Answer: Like all medications, cholesterol medicines used to lower cholesterol can have side effects but, when your risk of heart disease, a heart attack or stroke is high, the benefits far outweigh the risks. Always discuss any side effects you experience with your doctor. Many studies have confirmed that lowering LDL-cholesterol to goal substantially reduces the chances of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease. Click here to read more about cholesterol lowering medicine.

Question: I am young and healthy, do I need to have my cholesterol checked?

Answer: Yes. Studies have shown that the build-up of cholesterol in arteries begins in late adolescence and early childhood. Young adults of 20 years and older should have their cholesterol checked, particularly if you have a family history of heart disease. The sooner you discover whether or not you have high cholesterol the earlier you can start with lifestyle changes and treatment and the greater the benefit will be to you.  Click here to read more about cholesterol in general.

Question: How can I raise my good (HDL) cholesterol and lower my bad (LDL) cholesterol?

Answer: There are various ways of achieving this. If you have been prescribed cholesterol lowering medication, make sure to take it every day. Cut back on foods and snacks with lots of fat, avoid saturated fat and eat more fruit and vegetables. Also try to exercise at least 30 minutes every day. If you are overweight, try to lose weight. Don’t use alcohol excessively, quit smoking and try to manage your stress. Click here for a quick guide to lowering cholesterol levels.

Question: Is margarine better than butter?

Answer: Yes. Butter is high in saturated fat, which is one of the main culprits in our diet responsible for raising cholesterol levels. Most margarine is made from vegetable oils – find a margarine that is low in trans fat. Choose margarines that contain liquid vegetable oil as the main ingredient, rather than hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil and the least amount of saturated fat.

Question: I have been diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome. What is it and is it bad for my heart?

Answer: Metabolic Syndrome is the name given to a cluster of the most dangerous risk factors for heart disease, namely obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar.

People with the metabolic syndrome twice as likely to die from a heart attack compared to people without the syndrome. Lifestyle has a strong influence on all the components of the metabolic syndrome and therefore the main emphasis is on living a healthy lifestyle. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and blood sugar may, however, need additional treatment with medication.

Question: What is a healthy heart diet?

Answer: A heart healthy diet consists of fruits and vegetables, whole grain
cereals and bread, low fat dairy products, fish and lean meat. Oily fish and omega-3-fatty acids have particular protective properties. Total fat intake should account for no more than 30 % of energy intake and intake of saturated fats should not exceed a third of total fat intake. The intake of cholesterol should be less than 300 mg/day.
Foods low in saturated fat include:1C fat-free or low-fat diary products, lean meats, fish, skinless poultry, wholegrain foods, fruits and vegetables. Look for soft margarines that are low in saturated fat and contain little or no trans fat. Limit foods high in cholesterol, such as liver and other organ meats, egg yolks and full-fat diary products.

For healthy recipes click here, and advice from our expert dietician, click here.

Question: I have just had my cholesterol levels checked. I’m not sure if they are raised and if I should see my doctor?

Answer: You should see your doctor if your cholesterol measurements are any of the following:

• LDL-cholesterol greater than 3 mmol/L
• Total-cholesterol greater than 5 mmol/L

Question: I have slightly raised cholesterol and I was told to follow a healthy diet and do some exercise. How much and how often should I exercise?

Answer: By being a couch potato and doing no exercise you increase your risk of developing heart disease. You should aim to do at least 30 minutes of some form of physical activity on most, if not all, days. Choose something enjoyable that will fit into your daily routine. Regular exercise can help you lose weight, reduce your LDL-cholesterol and raise your HDL-cholesterol.

For exercise tips from our exercise expert click here,

Question: I have heard that there are two types of cholesterol, good and bad. Is that possible?

Answer: Yes, that is true. There are indeed two types of cholesterol: good and bad: 
LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol carries cholesterol from the liver, where it is manufactured, through the bloodstream to the cells. LDL-cholesterol deposits excess cholesterol in the arteries causing them to narrow while increasing your chances of heart attack and stroke. This is why your LDL-cholesterol level needs to be LOW.

HDL (‘good’) cholesterol returns excess cholesterol which is not needed from the bloodstream back to the liver. HDL-cholesterol removes the bad cholesterol from the bloodstream. Some experts believe that it can even remove excess cholesterol from the artery wall which is why your HDL-cholesterol level needs to be HIGH. A high HDL-cholesterol level seems to protect against heart disease.

References and statements on references available on request.