Describe some interventions designed to lower serum cholesterol as a means of preventing CVD.

A. Dietary changes
1. Eating foods low in saturated fat
2. Eating many fruits and vegetables
B. Regular physical activity
C. Although diet and exercise can prevent high cholesterol and manage cholesterol levels,
if someone has already developed high cholesterol, these alone are typically insufficient
to lower it to an acceptable level.
A. Statins and other drugs that physicians can prescribe are effective for lowering LDL and reducing CVD risk and mortality.
1. Disadvantages of drugs include their side-effects, cost, and prescription requirement.
E. Complexities of recommendations for lowering cholesterol:
1. Drugs are less likely effective without also changing behaviors.
2. Lifestyle changes should be made first, especially for low-risk patients.
3. Diet and exercise can improve HDL to total cholesterol ratio and lower LDL.
4. Statin drugs tend to lower LDL, but not to raise HDL.
a. For people with resistant and/or very high cholesterol, these drugs help.
5. Lowering cholesterol should be regarded more urgently by people with hypertension,
smoking, diabetes, and other multiple risks for CVD.