Sometimes diet and exercise, such as walking or cycling, are enough to lower high cholesterol levels. Olga Molchanova, one of the leading researchers of the National Research Center for Treatment and Preventive Medicine, told socialbites.ca about this.
As Molchanova explains, it is necessary to go through an analysis to find out the cholesterol level. If a high level is detected, you should see a doctor. First, a diet is prescribed: meat is limited, especially fatty. In some cases, it is worth setting aside two days a week without animal products. After three to six months, cholesterol levels can be measured to evaluate the effectiveness of the diet.
“It is also worth adding physical activity to the diet: at least 10 minutes of morning exercises. You can add additional activity. In this case, of course, you need to take into account your own physical endurance. It is better to start with 5-10 minutes of light exercises. In addition, the load should be fun. Now, in good weather, cycling, running, walking for at least half an hour a day can be an excellent option. You can also focus on the number of steps when walking: about 6-10 thousand steps will be enough, ”said the doctor.
In some cases, neither diet nor exercise can help lower cholesterol. These people are prescribed medications such as statins. But the choice of drug is left to the doctor. Molchanova noted that taking drugs is not a reason to stop dieting and activity: it is better to use a combination of them. Efforts to lower cholesterol will significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems, including heart attack and stroke.