Understand the result you have
Ask for the actual results and what they mean for you. Total cholesterol is only part of the picture; clinicians also consider the different cholesterol measurements and factors such as blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and family history. A result described as normal by one person is not a personalised treatment decision for somebody else.
Make a couple of food swaps
The NHS recommends reducing saturated fat and choosing foods such as wholegrains, vegetables, nuts and unsaturated oils. Put that into one ordinary meal: use an olive- or rapeseed-based spread instead of butter, or try beans or fish where you usually have fatty processed meat. Check labels on foods you buy often. You do not need to cut out all fat or buy supplements advertised as a substitute for treatment.
Take these questions to your appointment
- What are my results, and what is my overall cardiovascular risk?
- Does my family history suggest inherited high cholesterol?
- What changes would make the most difference in my circumstances?
- If medicine is recommended, what benefit and possible side effects should I understand?
- When should my blood test or treatment be reviewed?
Do not make treatment conditional on weight loss
A clinician may recommend treatment even while you work on food, movement or smoking. Keep taking prescribed medicine unless your clinician advises otherwise. If you are worried about side effects, ask for a review instead of silently stopping. Save the result and the agreed next step somewhere you can find them; a number without a follow-up plan is easy to forget.