The truth of the matter is coming up with an answer to how long does it take to reduce cholesterol will have a great deal to do with what type of treatment program you are using, if there are any extenuating circumstances that might get in the way of results, and how committed you are to the diet and lifestyle changes necessary to produce the intended outcome.
For example if you are a diabetic, smoke, are overweight, can't stay away from the high saturated fat foods, and have untreated high blood pressure your results will not be so great, that is if you see any results at all.
So how long it will take to reduce cholesterol will have a lot to do with how well you follow a few simple rules. They are:
*Less than 7 percent of calories from saturated fat
*Less than 25 percent of calories from cholesterol
*Not smoking and staying away from second hand smoke
*Losing any excess weight you may have accumulated over the years
*Effectively managing conditions that may elevate cholesterol readings such as diabetes and high blood pressure
*Consume an extra 10 grams of soluble fiber a day (oat meal, oat bran, apples, beans)
*Minimizing stress levels
*Implementing doctor approved exercise 5 or more days a week
How long does it take to lower cholesterol implementing these eight steps? The answer is from anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks, though some results may be seen in certain individuals almost immediately, perhaps even within the first week.
Additionally, after three months or so if LDL cholesterol levels haven't dropped below 130 milligrams for every deciliter of blood your doctor will likely suggest a prescription medication, most likely one of the very popular statin medications. This will be particularly true if you fall into one of the heart attack risk categories.
Statin medications interfere with the livers ability produce cholesterol by blocking the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase that is necessary for the liver to ramp up production. These medications work fast, lowering cholesterol levels in 1 to 2 weeks, but the downside is that many people will need to continue to take them for a very long time. Statin medications also come with long list of possible side effects and are sometimes somewhat unpredictable, requiring close monitoring by your doctor. What Next? How long does it take to reduce cholesterol is somewhat unpredictable and lowering cholesterol, in most cases, is about being committed to changing old habits, adopting new healthier habits, and enlisting the help of convention medications such as statins or natural cholesterol reducing remedies if needed. Put simply, this basically means finding ways to increase HDL (good cholesterol) and decrease LDL (bad cholesterol levels), and bring overall cholesterol down to acceptable heart healthy levels.
Certainly the aforementioned statin drugs will be one of your options but they do carry a number of serious label warnings. The side effect risks have made natural cholesterol reduction supplements, combined with diet modification a safe and effective combination worth considering.
