{"id":19099,"date":"2021-09-24T01:33:30","date_gmt":"2021-09-23T17:33:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/?post_type=health-article&#038;p=19099"},"modified":"2025-05-19T17:51:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T09:51:47","slug":"how-lower-your-cholesterol","status":"publish","type":"health-article","link":"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/health-articles\/how-lower-your-cholesterol\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Lower Your Cholesterol"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"19099\" class=\"elementor elementor-19099\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d49c9d7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d49c9d7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae28b54 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ae28b54\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"subtopic01\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Is cholesterol good or bad?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a148040 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a148040\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<h5><strong>What is Cholesterol?<\/strong><\/h5><h5><br \/>Cholesterol is found in our blood and is a type of fat (lipid). Cholesterol is needed by our bodies\u2019 cells. Our body produces all the cholesterol it needs (mainly in the liver) but it can also be obtained from the food that we eat. There are Bad cholesterol (LDL) and Good cholesterol (HDL)<br \/><br \/>Too much of cholesterol causes a buildup in our arteries, which are the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the body. This causes a hardening in the arteries and is also known as atherosclerosis. The arteries involved will get narrow and this makes it difficult for blood to flow through it.<br \/><br \/>Cholesterol itself is not bad. It is needed for our bodies to function. However, too much of it is bad and can cause heart attacks and strokes (cardiovascular diseases).<br \/><br \/>Trials have shown that if we reduce LDL-C (a type of \u201cbad cholesterol\u201d) by 1 mmol\/L, cardiovascular death reduces by 22%.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bbf8293 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"bbf8293\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container{height:100%;width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty{position:relative;min-height:22px;min-width:22px}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f308936 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f308936\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"subtopic02\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">When to check for cholesterol?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-819d259 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"819d259\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>The Malaysian Clinical Practice Guidelines on Cholesterol recommends all persons more than 30 years old to be screened. These individuals should have a complete lipid (cholesterol) profile done. (Total Cholesterol (TC), Bad cholesterol (LDL-C) ,Good cholesterol (HDL-C) and Triglycerides (TG)).<br \/><br \/>The presence of other Cardiovascular risk factors (blood sugar), blood pressure (BP), weight, smoking status, physical inactivity, family history, should also be determined and the individual counselled appropriately.<br \/><br \/>Individuals who are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease should have a lipid profile earlier in life (&gt; 18 years of age). This includes individuals with a family history of premature CVD, genetic dyslipidaemias, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus (DM) and abdominal obesity.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2600cf6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2600cf6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"836\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-19089\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-2.jpg 836w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-2-300x108.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-2-768x276.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 836px) 100vw, 836px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-adf0057 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"adf0057\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c2b721 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4c2b721\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"subtopic03\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Tips to reduce cholesterol<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-04bf362 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"04bf362\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong>1. Exercise<\/strong><br \/><br \/>Exercise can help to lower our LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides. Moderate exercise can help to raise our HDL (good) cholesterol. Do try to have 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic exercise. Suggested exercises are brisk walks, cycling, swimming, playing sports. In times of MCO when we are confined indoors, High intensity interval training (HIIT) is a good exercise regime which does not require much space, time or equipment. It is important to do an exercise you enjoy and look for a partner to join in. That will help keep you on track to exercise.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7c84c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f7c84c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"836\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-3.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-19090\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-3.jpg 836w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-3-300x108.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-3-768x276.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 836px) 100vw, 836px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dbf25d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"dbf25d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae27358 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ae27358\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>2. Eat heart healthy foods<\/strong><br \/><br \/>Reduce foods with\u00a0<strong>saturated fats<\/strong>. Red meat and dairy products are high in saturated fats. This will increase our total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol. If we want to eat red meats, then choose leaner cuts of meat, low fat dairy and monounsaturated fats.<br \/><br \/>We should also reduce\u00a0<strong>trans fat<\/strong>. Trans fat reduces good cholesterol and increases bad cholesterol. Trans fat is found in fried foods and commercial products like frozen pizza, cookies, crackers and cakes. Read the labels on the packaging, \u201cpartially hydrogenated oil\u201d is also trans fat.<br \/><br \/>Try to eat foods rich in\u00a0<strong>omega 3 fatty acids<\/strong>. Although Omega 3 fatty acids do not have an effect on LDL (bad) cholesterol, they do increase HDL (good) cholesterol. However, there are studies that show that Omega 3 fatty acids do not have much effect on the rate of cardiovascular events.<br \/><br \/>Increase the intake of\u00a0<strong>soluble fibre<\/strong>\u00a0like fruits, oats and oat bran, vegetables, beans and lentils. These help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol. Research shows that people who eat 5g to 10g of oats saw a drop in their LDL.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f5159c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f5159c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"836\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-4.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-19091\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-4.jpg 836w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-4-300x108.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-4-768x276.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 836px) 100vw, 836px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd52999 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"dd52999\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac3d15b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ac3d15b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>3. Quit smoking<\/strong><br \/><br \/>If you smoke, do stop. This might increase your HDL (good) cholesterol. Quitting smoking is also very important to reduce your overall risk of heart disease. Within one year of stopping smoking, your risk is half of that of a smoker. After 15 years of stopping smoking, your risk is similar to someone who has not smoked before.<br \/><br \/><strong>4. Lose weight<\/strong><br \/><br \/>Losing weight is an important step for our general well being. Losing as little as 5% of your body weight would decrease LDL cholesterol levels. It also could result in a drop in blood pressure and sugar levels.<br \/><br \/>Try to achieve Body Mass Index (BMI) &lt;23 kg\/m2 or at least 5-10% reduction in body weight over 1-2 years.<br \/><br \/>Do look into your eating habits and daily exercise routine.<br \/><br \/><strong>5. Drink alcohol only in moderation<\/strong><br \/><br \/>If you do drink alcohol, do drink in moderation. For healthy adults, this means not more than one drink a day for females of all ages and men older than 65, up to 2 drinks a day for men below 65 years old. Too much alcohol could lead to other serious problems like high blood pressure, heart failure and strokes.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15b3226 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"15b3226\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"836\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-5.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-19092\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-5.jpg 836w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-5-300x108.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-5-768x276.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 836px) 100vw, 836px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-777a731 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"777a731\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-209dc10 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"209dc10\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>6. Do take your medications if prescribed<\/strong><br \/><br \/>If you are taking medicines to lower your cholesterol, do take them regularly. Lowering cholesterol will lower your risk of cardiovascular diseases. We cannot cure cholesterol but we can manage it. Stopping medications will result in our cholesterol levels rising and therefore our risk of cardiovascular diseases rises as well.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-387e512 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"387e512\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a010dd1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a010dd1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"836\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-6.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-19093\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-6.jpg 836w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-6-300x108.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-6-768x276.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 836px) 100vw, 836px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3834dc4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"3834dc4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c7267a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c7267a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>7. Do have regular checks with your doctor.<\/strong><br \/><br \/>Cholesterol is not the only risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We should check for other risk factors as well and manage them too.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-846fb4d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"846fb4d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-818f83e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"818f83e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"subtopic04\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Answers to common cholesterol questions<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ddae9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6ddae9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"836\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-7.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-19094\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-7.jpg 836w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-7-300x108.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-7-768x276.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 836px) 100vw, 836px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1aafc1e elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"1aafc1e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ec9135 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ec9135\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong>1. Do only fat people have high cholesterol? What about thin people?<\/strong><\/h5><h5><br \/>Unfortunately, while people who are overweight are more likely to have high cholesterol levels, thin and skinny people can have high cholesterol levels too. Regardless of weight, we should have our cholesterol checked regularly.<br \/>\u00a0<\/h5><h5><strong>2. Can medication reduce cholesterol?<\/strong><\/h5><h5><br \/>Yes. While not everyone will need to be on cholesterol lowering medicines, medication is effective in reducing LDL (bad cholesterol).<br \/>\u00a0<\/h5><h5><strong>3. Can supplements reduce cholesterol?<\/strong><\/h5><h5><br \/>Unfortunately, while supplements may help to reduce cholesterol, they are not a replacement for medications.<br \/><br \/><strong>Fish oil\u00a0<\/strong>supplements &#8211; It may be useful in the treatment of elevated triglycerides. Fish oils is not a replacement for statins in the treatment of elevated LDL-C.<br \/><strong>Co- enzyme Q10\u00a0<\/strong>-No definitive evidence to support the use of Co-enzyme Q10 on the reduction of cholesterol level and primary prevention of CVD.<br \/><strong>Red yeast rice<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Red yeast rice contains substances that are similar to statins. However, unlike statins, there is no data on its long-term safety.<br \/><strong>Garlic<\/strong>\u00a0&#8211; Natural Medicine Comprehensive Database recently downgraded garlic to a rating of \u201cPossibly ineffective\u201d. Garlic can also cause drug interactions and increased risk of bleeding<br \/><strong>Apple cider vinegar<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 There is no evidence at present for cardiovascular protection.<br \/><strong>Virgin coconut oil or coconut oil<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The use is not supported by scientific evidence when taken on its own. It worsens the cholesterol profile., increases total cholesterol and LDL and HDL.<br \/><br \/><\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22a83f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"22a83f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"836\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-8.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-19095\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-8.jpg 836w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-8-300x108.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/health-article-cholestrol-sub-banner-8-768x276.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 836px) 100vw, 836px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-500493c elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"500493c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05a49fe elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"05a49fe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong>4. Can cholesterol lowering drinks reduce cholesterol?<\/strong><\/h5><h5>Sterols and stenols are plant-based chemicals that are similar in size and shape to cholesterol. They are absorbed into the blood stream and prevents cholesterol from being absorbed. This lowers cholesterol in the body.<\/h5><p>Although we get sterols from plant-based foods like vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, whole grain, fruits and vegetables, they are generally not enough to lower cholesterol. Food companies have developed foods with plant stenols added to them such as yogurt drinks, milk and fat spreads.<\/p><p>However, they are not effective enough to replace medications (if you need medications based on your cholesterol levels and risk).<br \/>\u00a0<\/p><h5><strong>5. How fast can cholesterol levels be reduced?<\/strong><\/h5><h5>Usually, with diet and exercise, we would expect changes in cholesterol levels in 3 to 6 months.<\/h5><p>Are you experiencing any symptoms of high cholesterol? Take up a\u00a0<a class=\"link\" href=\"\/malaysia\/specialties\/cardiology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">heart screening package<\/a>\u00a0for early detection and consult our best cardiologists in Columbia Asia for advice.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cholesterol is found in our blood and is a type of fat (lipid). Cholesterol is needed by our bodies\u2019 cells. Our body produces all the cholesterol it needs (mainly in the liver) but it can also be obtained from the food that we eat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":19086,"template":"","topic":[156],"language":[136],"class_list":["post-19099","health-article","type-health-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","topic-internal-medicine","language-cn"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How To Lower Your Cholesterol - Columbia Asia Hospital I Private Hospital in Malaysia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/health-articles\/how-lower-your-cholesterol\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How To Lower Your Cholesterol - Columbia Asia Hospital I Private Hospital in Malaysia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Cholesterol is found in our blood and is a type of fat (lipid). 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