Medication for High Cholesterol: When Is It Necessary?

When is medication not necessary for high cholesterol?

You may not need medication to lower your cholesterol if you:

• Are younger than 40

• Are otherwise healthy

• Only have mildly elevated cholesterol

In these cases, your cardiologist and/or primary care physician may help you lower your cholesterol naturally. 

How can you lower your cholesterol naturally?

Heart-healthy lifestyle changes may help lower cholesterol naturally. Habits to lower cholesterol include:

• Eating a heart-healthy diet

• Exercising regularly

• Losing weight safely and sustainably

• Reducing stress

• Limiting alcohol

• Not smoking

• Practicing good sleep hygiene

When are medications necessary for high cholesterol?

You may be a good candidate for cholesterol-lowering medications if:

• You have a history of heart disease

or if:

• Your LDL cholesterol is above 190 mg/dL

or if:

• You are between the ages of 40 and 75

• You have a history of diabetes

• You have an LDL above 70 mg/dL

or if:

• You are between the ages of 40 and 75

• You have an LDL above 70 mg/dL

• You have other heart disease risk factors

Even if your care team chooses to treat your high cholesterol with medications, it’s still a good idea to practice heart-healthy habits. This will not only help with your high cholesterol, but it may also help lower your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and other conditions linked to high cholesterol.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Alexandra Schwarz, MD

Alexandra Schwarz, MD, is a board-eligible sleep medicine physician and a board-certified family medicine physician. She is a member of both the AASM and the ABFM.

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