Experiences with
High cholesterolHigh cholesterol does not usually cause symptoms. You can only find out if you have it from a blood test.
You can help lower your cholesterol by eating healthily, getting more exercise, stopping smoking and cutting down on alcohol.
Some people may need to take medicines such as statins to help lower their cholesterol.
Check if you have high cholesterol
High cholesterol does not usually cause symptoms. You can only find out if you have it from a blood test.
Your GP might suggest having a test to check if your cholesterol level is high.
This may be because of your age, weight or a condition you have (like high blood pressure or diabetes).
- you have not had a test before and you're over 40, overweight, or high cholesterol or heart problems run in your family
You're more likely to have high cholesterol.
You can also get a cholesterol test at a pharmacy, but you might have to pay for it.
Having a cholesterol test
There are 2 ways of having a cholesterol test.
Taking blood from your arm
Some blood will usually be taken from your arm with a needle.
This is sent to a lab to check your cholesterol level. You should get the result in a few days.
You might be asked not to eat anything (to "fast") for up to 12 hours before the test. But most people do not need to fast.
Finger-prick test
If you're over 40, you may have a test during your NHS Health Check. You can also get this check at a pharmacy.
This is a check-up that can help spot early signs of problems like heart disease and diabetes.
The test can be done by pricking your finger. A drop of blood is put on a strip of paper. This is put into a machine that checks your cholesterol in a few minutes.
Ways to lower your cholesterol
To reduce your cholesterol, try to cut down on fatty food, especially food that contains a type of fat called saturated fat.
You can still have foods that contain a healthier type of fat called unsaturated fat.
Check labels on food to see what type of fat it has in it.
Try to eat more:
- oily fish, like mackerel and salmon
- olive oil, rapeseed oil and spreads made from these oils
- brown rice, wholegrain bread and wholewheat pasta
- nuts and seeds
- fruits and vegetables
Try to eat less:
- meat pies, sausages and fatty meat
- butter, lard and ghee
- cream and hard cheese, like cheddar
- cakes and biscuits
- food that contains coconut oil or palm oil
Exercise more
Aim to do at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of exercise a week.
Some good things to try when starting out include:
- walking – try to walk fast enough so your heart starts beating faster
- swimming
- cycling
Try a few different exercises to find something you like doing. You're more likely to keep doing it if you enjoy it.
Stop smoking
Smoking can raise your cholesterol and make you more likely to have serious problems like heart attacks, strokes and cancer.
If you want to stop smoking, you can get help and support from:
- your GP
- the NHS Stop Smoking Service – your GP can refer you or you can ring the helpline on 0300 123 1044 (England only)
They can give you useful tips and advice about ways to stop cravings.
Cut down on alcohol
Try to:
- avoid drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week
- have several drink-free days each week
- avoid drinking lots of alcohol in a short time (binge drinking)
Ask your GP for help and advice if you're struggling to cut down.
Medicine to lower your cholesterol
You might need medicine to lower your cholesterol if:
- your cholesterol level has not gone down after changing your diet and lifestyle
- you're at a high risk of having a heart attack or stroke
Ask your doctor about the medicines you can take.
Statins
Statins are the most common medicine for high cholesterol.
They reduce the amount of cholesterol your body makes.
You take a tablet once a day. You usually need to take them for life.
Other medicines for high cholesterol
Other medicines may be used if statins do not work or you do not want to take statins.
These include:
- other tablets – such as ezetimibe, fibrates, bile acid sequestrants (also called resins) and bempedoic acid
- injections – such as alirocumab, evolocumab and inclisiran
Related links
Medicines for high cholesterol
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