Lowering Cholesterol

LDL-cholesterol is widely accepted as a key modifiable risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), the main form of heart disease.

Many factors affect cholesterol levels such as genetics, body weight etc.³² Healthy levels of both LDL- and HDL-cholesterol will prevent plaque from building up in the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.³³

UK recommendations suggest the following targets for healthy levels:³⁴

• Optimal total cholesterol: less than 5.0 mmol/l
• LDL-cholesterol: 3.0 mmol/l or less
• HDL-cholesterol: 1mmol/l or above
• Triglycerides: 1.7 mmol/l or less

Diet and lifestyle play an important role in lowering LDL-cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and steps can be taken to help your patients towards improving their diet and lifestyle to help them in their journey to lowering cholesterol.

The following dietary and lifestyle changes can lower LDL-cholesterol.