My husband has been struggling with high cholesterol levels around 285 mgdL, even though he's been on a super healthy diet with lots of fruits, olive oil, vegetables, and pulses. The numbers haven't dropped much, staying between 250 to 285 over the last couple of months. He recently had kidney stones treated with endoscopy and medication, and now the cholesterol levels seemed to have increased. I'm getting worried; should we consider starting him on medication, or will sticking to the diet eventually help bring the cholesterol down? How long do we need to wait and see if the diet alone is effective? Also, could my father-in-law's heart surgery from 2 years ago be related or give us some clues on managing this better?

Dr Dhankecha Dineshbhai

General Practitioner

• MBBS
• 6+ Yrs

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Based on your husband's cholesterol levels not reducing despite following a healthy diet and considering his family history of heart surgery, it may be necessary to start medication to help lower his cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. One commonly prescribed medication for high cholesterol is Atorvastatin (brand name Lipitor). In addition to medication, continuing with a healthy diet and lifestyle is important for managing cholesterol levels. It is recommended to follow up with regular check-ups with a healthcare provider to monitor the cholesterol levels and adjust the treatment plan as needed. The time it takes to see a significant reduction in cholesterol levels can vary from person to person, but with medication and lifestyle changes, improvements can often be seen within a few weeks to months.

Answered 04/07/2025