How high is high cholesterol before you need to take medication to lower it?

People who have  high blood cholesterol need to reduce it to normal levels because it can lead to other serious diseases later, such as diabetes, heart disease, blood vessel blockage, insufficient blood flow to various organs of the body, and can be life-threatening.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs are an option and treatment that doctors will consider for some patients who need to lower their cholesterol to prevent future dangerous diseases. However, in some cases, cholesterol-lowering drugs may not be necessary or cannot be used.

Cholesterol lowering drugs

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pisan Jongtrakul, a pharmacologist at Chulalongkorn Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, stated that statins are drugs that lower bad cholesterol (LDL), increase good cholesterol (HDL), and reduce inflammation of the arteries. They are very useful drugs for people with heart or brain disease.

How high does your cholesterol need to be before you need to take medication to lower it?

In people who do not yet have clogged arteries

1. LDL level greater than or equal to 190 mg/dL
2. LDL level 70-189 mg/dL and diabetes mellitus
3. The risk of developing atherosclerosis in 10 years is more than or equal to 7.5% and the last group that will definitely benefit is
4. In people who already have blocked blood vessels, such as coronary artery disease or cerebral infarction

Things to know when using statins

1. Even if the cholesterol levels are normal, people with coronary artery or cerebrovascular disease still need to take statins indefinitely to prevent the disease from recurring.
2. Only people who do not have coronary artery disease, have high LDL cholesterol in their blood, and are at high risk of developing the disease can benefit from statins, as assessed by LDL and HDL levels, along with gender, age, history of hypertension, diabetes, and smoking, http://ufabet999.app etc.
3. People who are assessed to have a cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease (CV risk score) of less than 10% within a 10-year period generally do not need to take a statin.

High cholesterol, what should I avoid eating?

• Saturated fats such as palm oil, coconut milk, animal skins, processed meats
• Foods high in cholesterol, such as fish eggs, egg yolks, liver, and squid.
• Trans fats, such as margarine, artificial cream, and high-fat baked goods
• Sweet and high-sugar foods such as desserts and soft drinks
• Alcoholic beverages and energy drinks