I am told I may have to take cholesterol lowering medications, however, I wonder if I lower my cholesterol with them, and then, say about a year later, go off of them, will the lower cholesterol remain as long as I continue to eat and exercise properly, or is it only a lower cholesterol due to the medication? Ideally, I would like to lower the cholesterol, know it is low, and then continue on a good health path but not take the drugs — my hope is the meds will jump-start the lowering of cholesterol and then when I go off the meds, it is up to me to keep them low. Does anyone have experience with this? Thank you.
It does seem to be an inherited trait, unfortunately. I am 59, and it just seems to be going up each year, in spite of a good diet. Although I’ve noticed that stress seems to elevate it, too. Anyone else notice that correlation — stress and high cholesterol? I’m trying to decide about going on the meds, and so far, it seems most of you are saying the meds will keep it low, but once it is naturally high, it doesn’t go down…correct? Thanks for any feedback.
From my experience, it will go up again. It is the meds that keep it low. However, you could try the diet and exercise and see what happens. But as the doctor explained to me, some people make their own cholesterol. No matter what they eat or how much they exercise, they will have high cholesterol. It is an inherited trait. If you are one of those people, as I am, the only way to keep the cholesterol low is to remain on the meds.