If you are one of those craving to lower cholesterol below 200 mg/dL with the help of drugs and not through various lifestyle changes viz more exercise, a better diet and weight loss, you may be heading for the wrong side of the fence or very soon waking up on the wrong side of the bed.

Once patients start taking these medicines, they usually stay with them and there are some side effects. Statins like lipitor may be the most powerful cholesterol-lowering drugs in the whole world but they like all drugs can cause numerous side effects viz muscle pain and damage to muscles and the liver. Other medicines can block cholesterol absorption and raise blood sugar and uric acid. Some even have been known to promote the formation of gallstones and are a major cause for bloating.

So much so, to shy you away from reaching out to those incorrigible little pills. But what are the other options remaining and can they be trusted especially when the trend of usage of cholesterol and blood pressure medicines by young adults appears to be rising rapidly — at a faster pace?

Experts point to higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol problems among young people and that is why popping pills is in fashion. According to Dr Anil Dhal, Cardiologist, Max Hospital, New Delhi “Although medication can bring cholesterol levels down, high cholesterol can and should be prevented by improving diet and increasing physical activities.”

Like high blood pressure, high cholesterol level is a "silent" condition that offers no early warning. Most people first discover the problem during a routine physical exam with a blood test. They often find they have high blood pressure as well.

So don't jump to medicines right away to lower cholesterol and instead make some changes in your life and get daily exercise. As most of your body's cholesterol is made in your liver and the rest comes from your diet, it becomes vital to lower the amount of fat and cholesterol in your diet.

Causes of High Cholesterol

• Diet
• Weight
• Level of physical activity
• Age (levels increase with age)
• Gender (men have higher cholesterol)
• Alcohol consumption
• Heredity

Says nutritionist Ms. Mridula Mahna, Senior Dietician, Lok Nayak Jaipraksh Hoapital, “Be mindful about limiting saturated fat (fat in meat and whole-fat dairy products) and trans fat (fat found in many commercial foods and in deep-fried fast foods). Increase the amount of fibre rich diet. Lose weight, if need be.”

There may be restrictions of options for any diet buff who has been suffering from symptoms of high cholesterol but a personalized fad diet whereby you may have to count calories, fat, carbs, weigh your portions, take fat or calorie blockers or eat only raw foods definitely pays off sooner and for the better.

No one likes the word fat, but the trick is choosing the right ones. For example, if chips and snacks are your thing and something you can’t do without, today you can easily opt for healthy transfat free Lays and Kurkure, guilt free. Saturated fats – found in fats such as lard, butter and ghee, dairy products, biscuits and pastry and cookies – do have an impact, and it is these foods that need to be cut out of your diet.

Fibre is beneficial, so try to include foods like wholegrain bread and breakfast cereals such as Quaker Oats, and a variety of fruit and vegetables. Of late, oats has received thumbs up from doctors across the world for the ‘sponge’ effect it provides to absorb fat rich cholesterol from the system and aiding digestion.

Next among lifestyle changes comes weight loss and exercising. Ideally, you should be exercising for 30 minutes a day, at least six days a week to get your heart beating smarter. Try taking the stairs, walking to the shops or going to the gym. Regular exercise helps raise the level of HDL cholesterol in your body, and reduce the amount of circulating LDL cholesterol, helping your heart stay healthy.

Try the above mention healthy tips for a minimum of a couple of months. If your cholesterol hasn't budged, then you can think about medicines. Its amazing what losing five or 10 kilos can do to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels!

For those who are motivated to reduce their too-high cholesterol levels, there's always a treatment trade-off to be made. Either go on a strict low-fat diet, or take a pill with potential side-effects. But whatever maybe your choice, when it comes for choosing a healthy long life nothing beats wisdom, patience and the right lifestyle.

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