Patient information

Short pages written by our GPs to go with a text message or a test result. Open the one your message points to, or search below.

• Changing your cholesterol treatmentYour cholesterol has come down, but not as far as we aim for. Your text message says which change we are making.
• Cholesterol after a heart attack or strokeOnce your arteries have caused a problem, we aim your cholesterol lower than we would in someone who has never had one.
• Choosing not to take a statinThank you for telling us. We have recorded your decision, and you can change your mind at any time.
• Deciding about a statinYour GP has recommended a statin to lower your chance of a heart attack or stroke. This page uses NICE's own figures, so you can decide.
• High triglyceridesTriglycerides are a blood fat, but they are not cholesterol. A single high reading often does not mean much.
• Muscle aches on a statinYou have told us your tablet may be causing symptoms. We take that seriously, and we can almost always sort it out.
• Starting AtorvastatinYour GP has prescribed Atorvastatin 20mg. It has gone to your usual pharmacy and is on your repeat prescriptions.
• Very high cholesterolYour cholesterol is high enough that we want to find out why, rather than treat it as ordinary.
• Your cholesterol is on targetYour cholesterol is at the level we aim for on your current tablet. Nothing needs to change.
• Your cholesterol resultYour cholesterol is higher than ideal. Your overall chance of a heart attack or stroke is low, so you do not need tablets.