What a raised cholesterol means when your overall risk is low, and the changes that make the biggest difference.

Your cholesterol is raised, but your heart risk is low

What this result means

Cholesterol is one of several things that add up to your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Your cholesterol is higher than ideal, but when we put it together with your age, blood pressure, smoking and family history, your overall risk over the next 10 years is low.

That is why we are not recommending tablets at the moment. Tablets make the biggest difference when the risk is higher.

What we have done

We have recorded your result and your risk score in your record. Your GP has reviewed it. No follow-up appointment is needed.

What you need to do

The changes below lower cholesterol and, more importantly, lower your risk overall. Pick the one you can actually keep up.

• Do not smoke. This is the single biggest change if you smoke.
• Move more. Aim for 150 minutes a week of activity that makes you a bit out of breath. Walking counts.
• Eat less saturated fat: swap butter, fatty meat and pastry for olive or rapeseed oil, oily fish, nuts, beans and oats.
• Keep to a healthy weight, or lose a little if you are above it.
• Keep alcohol within 14 units a week.

Your risk score is repeated every 5 years, or sooner if your health changes. You do not need another cholesterol test before then.

If you would rather take a tablet

Some people prefer to take a statin even when their risk is low, for example because a parent had a heart attack young. That is a reasonable choice, and NICE supports it. Contact the practice and your GP will discuss it and prescribe it if you decide to go ahead. You can read what a statin does on our deciding about a statin page first.

When to contact us

Contact the practice if you develop chest pain on exertion, breathlessness, or if a close relative under 60 has a heart attack or stroke. Chest pain at rest, or sudden face, arm or speech changes: call 999.

More information

NHS.UKHigh cholesterol: causes, tests and treatmentchmg.co.uk/nhs-cholesterol - opens their website British Heart FoundationHigh cholesterol explainedchmg.co.uk/bhf-cholesterol - opens their website