Managing High Cholesterol With The Help of an Online Doctor

Cholesterol has had a bad rep for years among the common man. It is widely believed that any kind of cholesterol is bad for the body and avoiding anything with cholesterol is the best way of keeping your heart healthy. This couldn’t actually be further from the truth! Cholesterol is an essential fat-like substance in the body that is used by the body to perform several vital processes like:

- Producing bile, which helps your body digest food

- Building cell membranes

- Helping the body produce vitamin D, and

- Producing some hormones like oestrogen and testosterone)

While 75% of the cholesterol in your body is produced by your liver itself, the other 25% comes from the food you eat. An online doctor can help you make certain lifestyle changes to help keep your heart healthy and happy. There are two main types of cholesterol: HDL and LDL.

Lipoprotein is the carrier of cholesterol in the body. High-density lipoprotein is the kind of cholesterol that is more commonly known as “good” cholesterol. HDL helps your body remove excess cholesterol from the arteries and takes it back to the liver for disposal.

Low-density lipoprotein or LDL, on the other hand, is commonly known as “good” cholesterol because this type of cholesterol tends to build up in the arteries over time and can clog them. This then results in a higher risk of strokes, heart attacks and other heart-related problems.

There are several factors for a higher amount of LDL cholesterol in the blood. These include:

- Genetic factors. South Asian, Maori, Middle Eastern, Pacific Islander, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people or those with a family history of heart problems are at higher risk of high cholesterol and should regularly get tested.

- Obesity. A BMI of greater than 30 puts you at greater risk of high cholesterol.

- Age. High cholesterol is much more common in people over the age of 40, as age hinders your liver’s ability to adequately metabolize cholesterol. Women post-menopause are also at higher risk.

- Gender. Men over the age of 50, and women over 65 are at higher risk.

- Poor diet. Eating a diet too rich in saturated and trans fat can contribute to higher levels of LDL in the body.

- Not getting enough physical activity can result in weight gain, which can increase your chances of having high cholesterol.

According to Australian guidelines, you should be getting your cholesterol levels or lipid profiles tested every 5 years once you reach the age of 45. For people in high-risk groups, this recommendation changes to every 5 years once you reach the age of 35. A lipid profile will check the total number of LDL, HDL and the third type of cholesterol known as triglycerides. Normal total cholesterol levels lie beneath 5mmol/L, with normal LDL levels being less than 3mmol/L. 

If you’ve been diagnosed with a low to moderate risk of a heart attack in the next 10 years (under 15%), your online doctor may suggest making some lifestyle changes to check if your risk goes down. If even after 6 months the results don’t improve, you may be prescribed medication. For high-risk patients, an annual test may be recommended and both lifestyle changes and medication will be prescribed in most cases.

For those on cholesterol-lowering medication, it can be a hassle having to go to their regular doctor every few weeks to get a repeat prescription for their medication. An online doctor takes the trouble out of your visit by helping you manage your cholesterol levels from the comfort of your home and may also write you an online prescription and get it faxed to your nearest pharmacy. How easy is that?

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