New Year’s Cholesterol Control: Top 5 Tips

Reading Time: 2 min

Approximately 1 out of 8 Americans have high total cholesterol values. However, not all cholesterol is bad, and there are many ways to manage both your bad and total cholesterol levels without resorting to medication.At All Day Medical Care Clinic in Gaithersburg, Maryland, our team of medical specialists can test your cholesterol levels, evaluate your overall health, and recommend lifestyle changes that can lower your cholesterol safely and naturally. And if medication is needed, we can help find the right match for your age, weight, and health, so your levels can be lowered with minimal adverse side effects.

Understanding cholesterol

Two different numbers appear on your lipoprotein panel, HDL and LDL. Ideally, your HDL level will be over 60, and your LDL level will be under 100.

HDL

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is “good cholesterol.” It carries bad cholesterol back to the liver, taking it out of your bloodstream.

LDL

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is “bad cholesterol.” It can stick to the walls of your arteries, building up in a form called plaque. Plaque can lead to atherosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries that also narrows the space through which blood flows. The hardening and narrowing, in turn, can lead to the formation of a blood clot, and if a blood clot blocks an artery, it could cause a heart attack or stroke.

The cholesterol test measures both these levels, and the numbers are added together to give you your total cholesterol number. If your number is high, but it’s mainly due to HDL, it’s not that worrisome. But if your number is high, and it’s mainly due to LDL, you definitely need to take active steps to lower your cholesterol.

5 ways you can keep your cholesterol in check

From your diet to your exercise levels to your habits, lowering cholesterol depends on a combination of actions.

1. Eat heart-healthy

By cutting saturated and trans fats, you can help lower your LDL levels. Eating heart-healthy oils, such as found in fish, can help you get the right kind of fat into your diet.

2. Drop 10 pounds

If you lose weight slowly and sensibly, you can also lower your LDL — in fact, lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks, and you can cut your LDL by eight percent.

3. Exercise

Just a couple of hours of exercise a week can help boost your HDL levels. Try for 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week, or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise three times a week.

4. Quit the nicotine

This might just dovetail nicely with another New Year’s resolution. A year after stopping smoking, your risk of heart disease will have dropped by half.

5. Ask your doctor about supplements

Supplements taken under a doctor’s supervision can help lower LDL and raise HDL levels. Ask your attending doctor if this is an option for you.

Ready to meet the new year with less risk of heart disease? Contact our office at 301-275-7515 or make an appointment for a cholesterol test today.

All Day Medical Care Clinic Team

Autor

All Day Medical Care Clinic Team

Understanding ADHD: What You Need to Know

Understanding ADHD: What You Need to Know

The Importance of Self-Care In Managing Stress

The Importance of Self-Care In Managing Stress

Flu Season Is Here: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Flu Season Is Here: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Keeping Your Holiday and Winter Cheer Bright

Keeping Your Holiday and Winter Cheer Bright

Flu vs. Common Cold vs. COVID‑19: How to Tell the Difference This Fall

Erectile Dysfunction – Everything You Need to Know

Erectile Dysfunction – Everything You Need to Know

Depression and Sleep Problems: How Are They Connected?

Depression and Sleep Problems: How Are They Connected?

Understanding Hepatitis B: Protecting Your Health and Future

Understanding Your Options for Mental Health Treatment

Understanding Your Options for Mental Health Treatment

Overcoming Trauma: Finding Light in the Darkness

Overcoming Trauma: Finding Light in the Darkness

Noncardiac Chest Pain: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments 

Noncardiac Chest Pain: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments 

What is RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

What is RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

12 Common Illnesses that Peak in the Fall 

12 Common Illnesses that Peak in the Fall 

New Year’s Cholesterol Control: Top 5 Tips

New Year’s Cholesterol Control: Top 5 Tips

How Mental Health Issues Affect Men Differently

How Mental Health Issues Affect Men Differently

5 Signs Your Anxiety is Problematic

5 Signs Your Anxiety is Problematic

Marathon Running Safety: How to Train Safely

Marathon Running Safety: How to Train Safely

What STD Tests Should I Consider?

What STD Tests Should I Consider?

How Stress Can Increase Your Risk for Heart Disease

How Stress Can Increase Your Risk for Heart Disease

Allergies in Kids: Symptoms & Treatment

Allergies in Kids: Symptoms & Treatment

Secondary Trauma: Help Others, Protect Yourself

Secondary Trauma: Help Others, Protect Yourself

Tips for a Stress-Free and Enjoyable Holiday Season

Tips for a Stress-Free and Enjoyable Holiday Season

Top 10 Tips to Manage Blood Pressure & Prevent Hypertension

Top 10 Tips to Manage Blood Pressure & Prevent Hypertension

What is Common Cold?

What is Common Cold?

10 Critical Dehydration Signs & Prevention Tips

10 Critical Dehydration Signs & Prevention Tips

I Feel Constant Frustration: Can Anger Management Help?

I Feel Constant Frustration: Can Anger Management Help?

The Differences Between Flu and COVID-19

The Differences Between Flu and COVID-19

Common Viruses in Children: 7 Infections Kids Pick Up at School

Common Viruses in Children: 7 Infections Kids Pick Up at School

Holiday Blues: How to Manage, When to Seek Help

Holiday Blues: How to Manage, When to Seek Help

Can Therapy Save My Marriage?

Can Therapy Save My Marriage?

Home-Based Child Behavioral Disorder Help

Home-Based Child Behavioral Disorder Help

Your Complete Guide to Men’s Health Screenings by Ages

Your Complete Guide to Men’s Health Screenings by Ages

How To Deal With Pet Allergies: Tips and Tricks

How To Deal With Pet Allergies: Tips and Tricks

How Setting Goals Can Positively Impact Our Mental Health

How Setting Goals Can Positively Impact Our Mental Health

Comprehensive Mental Health Treatment for All Disorders

Comprehensive Mental Health Treatment for All Disorders

Work Injury? Get Evaluated and Plan Your Recovery

Work Injury? Get Evaluated and Plan Your Recovery

Introduction to Stress and Its Impact on Health

Introduction to Stress and Its Impact on Health

How Can You Ease Back-to-School Anxiety and Stress?

How Can You Ease Back-to-School Anxiety and Stress?

Understanding Anxiety: What Is It?

Understanding Anxiety: What Is It?

What to Expect During Your First Well-Woman Exam

What to Expect During Your First Well-Woman Exam

Guide to Treatment-Resistant STDs for Active Adults

Guide to Treatment-Resistant STDs for Active Adults

The Importance of Relationship and Family Counseling

Strengthen Your Relationship with Couples Counseling

Strengthen Your Relationship with Couples Counseling

How Often Should I Get a Physical?

How Often Should I Get a Physical?

7 Habits for Your Heart-Healthy Living

7 Habits for Your Heart-Healthy Living

What is Croup?

What is Croup?

Essential Screenings for Women’s Health Exams

Essential Screenings for Women’s Health Exams

Parent’s Guide to Teen Depression

Parent’s Guide to Teen Depression

Dizziness: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Dizziness: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

When Should I Go to the ER Instead of Urgent Care?

When Should I Go to the ER Instead of Urgent Care?

We'll text you

Enter your info and we’ll text you shortly.

By clicking Send, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and I consent to receiving text messages from this practice acknowledging that data rates may apply. Message frequency varies.