High cholesterol is a condition that can be treated one of 2 ways; through lifestyle changes based on diet and exercise and in more extreme cases with prescription drugs used in conjunction with the first 2. No matter the ways used to lower cholesterol not taking care of the complication creates dangers that can be life threatening. Raised cholesterol levels can lead to atherosclerosis (a hardening of the arteries), which puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke.

If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol here are 5 ways you can lower your levels without the use of prescription drugs.

1. Eat a healthful diet – Your diet has a large impact on your cholesterol levels. A diet low in Trans fats and saturated fats is key as these 2 substances are the largest contributor to high blood cholesterol levels. This change alone can have a large impact on what you levels do.

2. Start exercising – Exercise builds up your cardiovascular system which is significant to reversing the dangerous effects caused by high cholesterol.

3. Quit smoking – Smoking accelerates the rate at which dangerous plaques build up in your arteries. These plaques block the flow of blood causing your heart to work harder and raising your blood pressure. This can cause a heart attack or if a plaque breaks loose it can cause a clot and a stroke.

4. Reduce stress – Learning to relax can have a positive effect on cholesterol levels. Stress can contribute to high levels of cholesterol even when you are eating a low fat low cholesterol diet.

5. Visit with your doctor – As more is educated about cholesterol and its effects on your health doctors are becoming more in tune with the proper way to treat this dangerous complication. Most doctors will recommend changes in diet and exercise before they prescribe cholesterol lowering medications. In more extreme cases drugs will be prescribed along with lifestyle changes. In many cases once your cholesterol is under control there is a valuable chance that medications can be discontinued.

If you adhere to these 5 ways to lower cholesterol you will soon see an improvement in your levels along with your overall health.

For more info about how to decrease cholesterol please visit the website Lowering Cholesterol by clicking here.