There's more to heart trouble than cholesterol. And there's more to treating heart disease than medication.
While blood cholesterol is a critical factor in heart disease, don't forget the other major risks — age, gender, family history, diabetes and high blood pressure — as well as lifestyle effects. Smoking, alcohol abuse, obesity, stress, lack of exercise, and a fat-rich diet are controllable influences that add significantly to your heart attack risk.
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) advocates modifying your lifestyle first to control cholesterol.* It's a comprehensive plan known as therapeutic lifestyle change (TLC).
It starts with diet: more soluble fiber in the form of cereal grains, beans, fruits and vegetables, and less saturated fat. And there's greater emphasis on weight control and exercise.
These changes won't improve your cholesterol profile overnight. Depending on your heart attack risk, work with your provider to monitor your progress and evaluate any need for medication.
* National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Cholesterol Levels Chart
NOTE: Data from the ongoing Framingham Heart Study indicate that 35% of heart attacks occur in individuals whose total cholesterol level is below 200; but are least likely to happen when it's kept to 150 or lower. The same research suggests HDL at 45 or higher provides significantly more protection than 35. While these levels may be hard for some of us to achieve, any improvement is beneficial.