Step 8: You and your doctor are a team

It's not easy to alter your lifestyle and take cholesterol-lowering medication, especially when you don't feel any symptoms. However, it is exteremely important and beneficial. It is very important, however, that you understand and stick to your treatment plan. Remember:

Helpful Handouts Before you leave your doctor's office, make sure that you ask the right questions. For a list you can print out and take with you, click here.

If you have problems with your medicine, do not stop taking the drug on your own. Talk with your doctor first. Most side effects go away over time, or your doctor may be able to change the dosage or prescribe a different drug.

High cholesterol can be controlled. By working with your doctor to follow your treatment guidelines and to stay informed about your health status, you can reduce your cholesterol and decrease your risk for heart disease.

Once diagnosed with high cholesterol, managing your condition will be a lifelong commitment. The steps you take now are important to improve the quality of your life.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

© 1997- All rights reserved.