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Suggest Medication And Diet To Reduce Cholesterol Levels

Posted on Mon, 3 Nov 2014

Question: Hi Doctor,

I am 33 years old and currently I see my Total cholestrol is 287 , trigylcerides is 321, HDL cholestrol 41,LDL cholestrol 181.8,VLDL cholestrol 64.2.I Please advice me the best medication and food diet[indian] that I can take to reduce the cholestrol levels.

Thanks in advance,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Please find diet details below

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.

I have read through your query in detail.
The medicines you are taking are
1. ATOCOR-F film-coated tab: atorvastatin 10 mg, fenofibrate 160 mg.
2. TELLZY-CH tab: telmisartan 80 mg, hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg.

I think you have consulted a cardiologist and both medicines are good for you but you should get liver function tests done regularly when on ATOCOR-F. Also you must get cardiac enzymes as told by the cardiologist. These medicines should be continued as per your doctor.

Your cholesterol results are higher than normal and you must also take precautions to balance your fat intake in diet.

A healthy south XXXXXXX meal plan might look like the following

Breakfast
1 bowl sambhar
2 tsp chutney
2 - 3 idlis +/ - 1 bowl upma +/- 1 vegetable uttapam

Mid day 1 glass of milk (fat free)

Lunch
1 bowl salad
2-3 chapatis +/= 1.5 bowl rice
1 bowl seasonal vegetable
1 bowl dal/sambhar/rasam/egg curry
Curd

Evening you can have a fruit or sprouts

Dinner
1 bowl salad
2-3 chapatis +/- 1.5 bowl rice
1 katori dal/sambhar/rasam
1 katori seasonal vegetable

Other than above you can have tea or coffee twice a day.

You can include 30 minutes of brisk walking every alternate day.

Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (40 hours later)

Hi Doctor,

Thanks for the information.I just want to share you the diet I used to have in a week/month.I drink occassionally or some times continously during parties[for 2 days]eat chicken biryani pretty oftenly.I am a non-smoker.I take green tea in the morning every day and 1Tea spn of flax seeds once in a day.With the above food habits and regular exercise and if I take atocor daily does the cholestrol level comes to normal level?

and also please find the list of other questions which I have and kindly suggest me the best cholestrol doctor in kormangala, XXXXXXX

1. What are the dangers of having high cholesterol? Can other problems develop?

2. What could have caused my cholesterol to be too high? Is it inherited?

3. Are there things I can do at home or in my life to reduce my cholesterol?

4. Is medicine necessary? Are there alternative treatments?

5. If medicine is needed, how does the medicine work?

6. How long can I take medicine? What are the side effects? Is long-term use harmful?

7. How can exercise help to lower my cholesterol?

8. How often do I need to get my cholesterol level checked?

Thanks,
XXXXX

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please find details below

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.

My suggestion on diet will be to avoid fats and oils. If you have chicken regularly then please limit the intake to two pieces. As for biryani, please try and have from a good place and do no over eat. At home you can get all your cooking done with olive oil.

In Koramangala, I suggest you consult cardiologist at St.Johns Hospital for complete evaluation. The doctors there are among best to treat high cholesterol related conditions.

1. What are the dangers of having high cholesterol? Can other problems develop?
This can cause coronary heart disease which is leading cause of heart attack.

2. What could have caused my cholesterol to be too high? Is it inherited?
Part of it is inherited if it runs in your family. Your lifestyles is also responsible for your condition.

3. Are there things I can do at home or in my life to reduce my cholesterol?
You must follow strict low fat diet for some time and can tell people at home to cook in olive oil. Please also do some meditation and light physical exercises.

4. Is medicine necessary? Are there alternative treatments?
At the moment it is necessary and alternate treatments like diet control and exercises should be done even if you are taking medicine.

5. If medicine is needed, how does the medicine work?
It causes changes in fat metabolism and storage. This is a biochemical process.

6. How long can I take medicine? What are the side effects? Is long-term use harmful?
Please take medicine as per cardiologist suggestion. You may have to get blood tests done for liver function and muscle enzymes every six months. Side effects are rare and if you have any discomfort of body pains then please discuss with your doctor.

7. How can exercise help to lower my cholesterol?
Light brisk walking every alternate day for 30 minutes and meditation for 30 minutes can help.

8. How often do I need to get my cholesterol level checked?
The cholesterol levels can be checked every six months. This depends on the results of complete heart check up that your cardiologist will do.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar