Cholesterol
Choosing to make changes to your diet and lifestyle can have a positive impact on your health and wellbeing.
What Is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a type of fat found in our blood. Our bodies need cholesterol to work properly, but having high levels of cholesterol in our bodies can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
There are several different types of cholesterol but the main two are:
- HDL – High Density Lipoprotein which is considered as “good” cholesterol, and
- LDL or Low-Density Lipoprotein which is considered as “bad” cholesterol.
Cholesterol is produced in the liver and comes from foods we eat, such as; dairy, red meat, nuts and oily fish.
Heart UK
Heart UK are the leading UK Cholesterol Charity. Their website offers clear information about cholesterol, such as:
- What is cholesterol?
- What is high cholesterol?
- What do my test results mean?
For a 7 Step Plan to help you prepare to lower your cholesterol click here
Heart UK have developed a tool named the Ultimate Cholesterol Lowering Plan (UCLP) which offers a personalised plan for healthy cholesterol. It guides you on how to lower cholesterol while giving you the freedom to choose foods you like and build a diet that works for you click here
NHS Guidelines
The NHS website provides information to help you understand your test results, advice on how to lower your cholesterol levels and information about medication you may have been recommended. If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, we recommend you book an appointment with your GP or Pharmacist to discuss your results further.
Patient Info
The website has a range of articles covering all types of medical conditions/illnesses. An interesting one related to cholesterol is titled ‘How to shop for a low cholesterol diet’. Within their Health Topics is information related to high cholesterol.
British Heart Foundation
The British Heart Foundation provides information to help you understand your test results and explains the different types of cholesterol.
Some foods can help lower cholesterol. Find out more about the types of foods recommended to add into your diet, to help lower your cholesterol.
Lifestyle changes
High Cholesterol levels are often caused by eating fatty food, being overweight, lack of exercise, smoking and drinking alcohol. Making changes to these areas of your lifestyle can help to improve your health. More information about general lifestyle changes can be found on our Health Check webpage or the above website provide more specialised advice regarding lowering cholesterol within your diet: Heart UK and British Heart Foundation.
How can I improve my cholesterol levels?
Eat Well
Move More
Swap Fats
Quit Smoking
Discuss Medication
Cholesterol Lowering Therapies
For many people, lifestyle changes on their own are not enough to bring their high cholesterol down to a healthier level to lower the risk of heart disease. Many people will need to take statins, a type of cholesterol-lowering drug.
The contents of this website are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Throughout this website are links to other websites which are not under the control of Droitwich, Ombersley & The Rurals Primary Care Network. We have no control over the nature, content and accuracy of these sites.