October 2009 Treating High Cholesterol The most important things you can do to treat high LDL cholesterol levels is to adequately manage your weight, keep up regular physical activity, and moderate your food intake using a cholesterol-lowering diet. In some cases, cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins may be used to assist in lowering LDL levels. Treatment overview More Resources Exercise to Help Your Heart Modifying Your Diet Break Bad Habits Prescription Drugs That May Help Supplements That May Help Not All Cholesterol is Bad HDL ("good") cholesterol is used by the body to carry cholesterol away from the heart, helping to prevent against heart disease. While cutting out LDL ("bad") cholesterol from your diet will lower the risk of heart disease, it is essential to maintain high HDL cholesterol levels to ensure a healthy heart. Find Out More Ask the Doctor Question: "My doctor and I are confused by my cholesterol levels. My good cholesterol is extraordinarily high, at 94, but my bad cholesterol is on the high side, too, at 154. To resolve this good news/bad news story, my doctor ordered a C-reactive protein test which, of course, came back right in the middle of the normal range. I don't smoke or have other risk factors for heart disease. Would you advise me to start a statin or some other drug?" Read Dr. Lee's answer