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10 Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Your Cholesterol

When you’re dealing with cholesterol numbers that put you at risk for heart disease, the situation can feel confusing and overwhelming. You may wonder exactly what your scores mean and how you might succeed in bringing future results into the healthy range. Perhaps the best way to embark on this quest for knowledge – and change – is by making a list of questions you’d like to discuss at your next doctor’s appointment.

In order to gain the upper hand against cholesterol, it’s helpful to jot down your questions and concerns ahead of time. That way, you can leave with the information you need to make any necessary lifestyle changes – as well as the understanding to go along with your new approach.

A good opening question and conversation starter, given that you’ve undergone a recent blood test for cholesterol – called a lipid panel – is simply, “How’s my cholesterol?”

Here are some other questions to consider. Feel free to add to the list, which you should print and bring to your appointment – along with a pen and tablet for taking notes.

1. What are my cholesterol numbers and what does each mean? Your lipid profile will show three numbers for cholesterol: total cholesterol, HDL or high-density lipoprotein (the so-called “good” cholesterol), and LDL or low-density lipoprotein (the “bad” cholesterol). Your total cholesterol should be under 200 mg/dL, your HDL above 60 mg/dL, and your LDL below 100 mg/dL. When your numbers fall outside acceptable ranges, you need to ask your doctor what your specific goals should be for your next meeting.

2. How are my triglycerides? Triglycerides are another type of fat in the body. Like cholesterol, triglycerides that are present in unhealthy amounts can contribute to heart-disease risk. If your triglyceride level exceeds 150 mg/dL, you are considered to be at risk.

3. Do I have other risk factors? Cholesterol and triglyceride scores are only two indicators of your total heart health. Other factors include your weight, your family medical history, your blood pressure, whether you smoke or engage in regular exercise, your stress level, and any diseases you might have.

4. Given all of these factors, what is my overall risk for heart disease? This is a critical question because, knowing all of your individual risk factors, there are a variety of formulas your doctor can use to make an overall risk assessment. In other words, he can give you the big picture and help you to understand how each risk factor contributes – and, of course, what you can do to lower your overall risk.

5. Do I need to lose weight; if so, how much? Losing as little as 10 percent of your bodyweight, if you are overweight, can have a dramatic effect on cholesterol levels.

6. What effect can regular physical activity have? Exercise is shown to lower LDL and increase HDL. Plus, exercise can reduce or eliminate other risks associated with heart disease, such as obesity, high blood pressure, and many other factors.

7. What type of exercise is right for me? If you are considerably overweight or if you simply haven’t exercised in a very long time, your doctor might have a specific plan to ease you into physical activity. Even moderate walking for 30 minutes – whether 30 minutes of consecutive walking or three 10-minute sessions scattered throughout the day -- can generate benefits. Sometimes the smallest changes, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, can make a big difference.

8. Should I change my diet? Eliminating saturated and trans fats and monitoring cholesterol levels in foods are important steps toward improving heart health.

9. How do I know if my medication is working? This is the time to ask any questions about cholesterol-lowering medication, such as dosage, side effects, time of day to take the drug, whether you can take generic forms, and so on.

10. When should I schedule a follow-up appointment? A lipid profile that reports cholesterol or triglyceride levels that are outside of the norm will likely require that you schedule an appointment to be re-tested before your next annual exam.