High cholesterol is when you have too much of a substance known as cholesterol in your blood. Having high cholesterol increases your risk of several serious conditions like heart disease, stroke, and heart attacks.

It’s a common condition but is also a very preventable condition. While some people are more likely to get high cholesterol because of genetics and other factors, most cases can be linked to poor eating and exercise habits.

If you’re at risk of high cholesterol or simply want to prevent it from developing, this guide from Pharmacy Planet will help you keep your cholesterols at safe levels.

What’s Good and Bad Cholesterol?

Not all cholesterol is bad for you. Cholesterol is a waxy substance located in your blood that your body actually needs to build healthy cells. This is why you need a certain amount of ‘good’ cholesterol to stay healthy. It’s the ‘bad cholesterol’ that causes issues. Bad cholesterol is almost always linked to the types of food you consume. 

Good cholesterol: Also known as high-density lipoprotein (HDL). It is responsible for carrying some of the bad cholesterol from your arteries to your liver, where it is then broken down and passed out through the body. Having a healthy level of HDL reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke. 

Bad cholesterol: Also known as low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol, bad cholesterol causes a buildup of fat in the arteries, narrowing them. This makes it harder for blood to flow and puts you at risk of heart attack and stroke. 

Causes of High Cholesterol 

Anyone can get high cholesterol and it can be caused by factors in your control and out of your control. High cholesterol is most often caused by lifestyle choices, such as eating an unhealthy, not getting enough exercise, drinking excessively, and smoking cigarettes. It’s also possible to inherit high cholesterol or to get it as a side effect of some medications and medical conditions.

Causes of high cholesterol include:

• Eating too much saturated fat and sodium
• Eating too much refined sugars
• Lack of physical activity
• Cigarettes
• Ageing
• Being of a South Asian background
• Having a family history of high cholesterol
• Being diagnosed with kidney or liver disease
• Being obese or overweight
• Having type 2 diabetes
• Having an underactive thyroid

Males are also more likely to develop high cholesterol than women, but women are still at risk, especially if they don’t eat well or exercise often. 

Prevention of High Cholesterol 

Eat heart healthy foods: Reduce your intake of saturated fats. This means cutting back on red meat, full fat dairy, and processed foods. You should also limit trans fats that are found in margarine and store-bought cakes and crackers. Instead, opt for foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and soluble fibre. This includes foods like oatmeal, salmon, walnuts, flaxseeds, apples, and pears.

Exercise often: As long as you are physically able, you should aim for heart pumping exercise for 30 minutes at least 5 times a week. It doesn’t even need to be all at once! A few bursts of activity throughout the day can make a big difference. If you’re not able to do strenuous activity or work with heavy weights, a brisk walk is enough to get your blood pumping. Other activities are playing your favourite sports, going for a swim, dancing, and taking the stairs instead of the lift.

Lose Weight: By eating well and exercising as much as you can, you’ll not only be lowering your cholesterol but will improving your overall health and weight. The more overweight you are, the more likely you will be to develop weight related conditions like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol. We know how hard it can be to lose weight, but little changes like drinking more water can help you shed unwanted weight.

Limit your alcohol intake: While a glass of red wine now and then can help your heart health, drinking too much can have the opposite effect. Men should limit themselves to a maximum of two drinks per day and women shouldn’t have more than one drink per day.

Stop Smoking: Cigarettes are extremely dangerous to your health. Quitting this habit, no matter how long you’ve been smoking, will improve your health and life expectancy. The benefits add up the longer you go without a smoke, but your cholesterol and blood pressure levels will be one of the first things that improve. Within half an hour of quitting, your blood pressure will start to improve which will then help to improve your cholesterol levels.

Treatment of High Cholesterol

Sometimes doing all of the above isn’t enough. If you’ve been consistently living a healthier lifestyle but your cholesterol levels aren’t improving enough, there are several medications you can take to lower your bad cholesterol. 

At Pharmacy Planet, we can provide you with two of the most proven high cholesterol drugs in the UK. Atorvastatin and Gemfibrozil are prescription medications that, when combined with a healthy lifestyle, can lower your cholesterol. Remember, these medications will not work unless you take steps in your daily routine to reduce high cholesterol. 

1. Atorvastatin Tablets: Atorvastatin is a high cholesterol treatment medication that belongs to a group of medicines known as statins, which are medicines that regulate lipids (fats). If you are at high risk for heart disease, Atorvastatin can also be used to reduce this risk.
2. Gemfibrozil Tablets: Gemfibrozil, also sold as lopid, is a fibrate medication that is used together with a proper diet to treat high cholesterol and triglyceride (fat) levels in the blood.

People who have high cholesterol or are at risk of high cholesterol can benefit from high cholesterol drugs like Atorvastatin and Gemfibrozil. If you want to take control of your cholesterol levels, contact Pharmacy Planet to buy high cholesterol medication online in the UK. All our medications are dispensed by highly skilled pharmacists who will have your order shipped safely, swiftly, and securely to your doorstep.