Surprising Cause of Your High Cholesterol

cholesterol and medsPoor diet, obesity, large waist circumference, lack of exercise, smoking, diabetes, and family history are all risk factors for high cholesterol. But there is an important risk factor missing from that list and you may not even be aware of it.

Many seniors take medications for a variety of ailments. Medications are intended to treat a specific condition, but on the other hand, they can also be the cause of something else. Case-in-point, some medications which you are currently taking could be raising your cholesterol levels.

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Dr. Uma Nambiar of the Strategic Advisory Board explained: “Various kinds of medication have been known to cause mild to significant increase in cholesterol levels.”

Medications That Cause High Cholesterol

  • Predisone
  • Beta blockers
  • Estrogen
  • Progestin
  • Anabolic steroid
  • Cyclosporine
  • Protese inhibitor
  • Diuretic
  • Steroids
  • Retinoids
  • Fluoxetine (antidepressants)

Although these medications have the ability to raise your cholesterol, you should not stop taking them unless specified by your doctor. If you have concerns that your medications are raising your cholesterol levels, then you should speak to your doctor about other options available to you.

A healthy cholesterol level in adults is considered below 200 milligrams per deciliter. A reading between 200 and 239 mg/dL is considered borderline high and a reading over 240 mg/dL is considered high.
Cholesterol levels can be lowered through lifestyle changes such as eating healthy, achieving a healthy weight, regular exercise, and controlling diabetes.

Related: What causes low cholesterol? Health risks, symptoms, and treatment of hypocholesterolemia


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