High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease and heart attacks. Medications can help improve your cholesterol. But if you'd rather first make lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol, try these five healthy changes. If you already take medications, these changes can improve their cholesterol-lowering effect.

May 2, 2024 · Omega-3 fatty acids don't affect LDL cholesterol levels but may help lower triglycerides and increase HDL, the good cholesterol. But because of those acids' other heart benefits, the American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings of fish a week.

Jan 11, 2023 · Diet and exercise are the best initial treatment for children age 2 and older who have high cholesterol or who are obese. Children age 10 and older who have extremely high cholesterol levels might be prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as statins.

Nov 7, 2024 · HDL cholesterol levels are often lower in people who have metabolic syndrome. This is a group of conditions that includes obesity, increased blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. Increased physical activity can raise HDL cholesterol levels while lowering levels of triglycerides, the most common type of fat in the body.

Nov 10, 2022 · May lower LDL cholesterol: May cause nausea, vomiting, gas or diarrhea; may interact with blood-thinning medications: Niacin: May lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides; may improve high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good") cholesterol: May cause itching and flushing, which are more common at the higher doses usually needed to have an effect ...

Jan 11, 2023 · Cholesterol is carried through your blood, attached to proteins. This combination of proteins and cholesterol is called a lipoprotein. There are different types of cholesterol, based on what the lipoprotein carries. They are: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL, the "bad" cholesterol, transports cholesterol particles throughout your body.

Jun 7, 2022 · In the past, it was thought that HDL levels would increase even more if niacin were added to cholesterol-lowering medications called statins, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor) and simvastatin (Zocor). But newer studies indicate that niacin provides little additional benefit when compared with statins alone.

Nov 3, 2022 · Decrease LDL; usually reserved for people who have a genetic condition that causes very high LDL levels or people with heart disease who cannot tolerate statins or other cholesterol lowering drugs : Itching, swelling, pain or bruising at injection site: Citrate lyase inhibitors Bempedoic acid (Nexletol) Bempedoic acid-ezetimibe (Nexlizet ...

Mar 6, 2024 · Statins are drugs that can lower your cholesterol. They work by blocking a substance that your body needs to make cholesterol. Lowering cholesterol isn't the only benefit of taking a statin. These medicines also have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. Statins also may help reduce the risk of certain blood clots.

Jul 11, 2024 · Some studies say that intermittent fasting may lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol. Intermittent fasting also may improve the body's response to a hormone called insulin. Insulin helps control blood sugar levels. Higher LDL cholesterol and higher blood sugar levels in diabetes are risk factors for heart disease.