Managing your cholesterol and slowing the buildup of plaque in your arteries requires eating a healthy diet, staying active, and — in some cases — taking CRESTOR® (rosuvastatin calcium).
There are many benefits of having an honest, long-term relationship with a doctor. It can make doctor visits more productive and even help you identify health factors such as high cholesterol before they become serious. Making the most of the time spent with the doctor can lead to a better relationship and more effective management of specific health problems.
Cholesterol management is an excellent example of how an open and honest relationship with your doctor can be beneficial. Your cholesterol levels may change throughout your life, and other health conditions that can make management of high cholesterol more important may develop or even go away over time. By having an established relationship with your doctor, you and your doctor can monitor your cholesterol levels, your overall health, and any specific health issues you may have. Then you can work together to set goals and make plans for reaching those goals that are realistic, that benefit your health, and that you can agree to.
Asking questions and understanding your doctor’s advice
While at the doctor’s office, it’s important to ask as many question as necessary so you can understand the health issues that concern you. Sometimes patients and their families feel uncomfortable asking questions, or feel like they are being rushed when they are in a busy physician’s office — it’s a common situation in many offices in the American health care system that can be worse for families that also have a language barrier to overcome. All of these factors make it even more important for you to understand how each topic you discuss affects your health.
If the concepts are complicated, ask whether your doctor has any charts or tools you can look at or use, or whether he or she can refer you to any books or Web sites that might provide more information. And, by all means, if you’re having (or think you will have) trouble following your doctor’s advice, say so. It’s your doctor’s job to help to improve your health. It’s your job to make sure he or she has all the information to make that possible.
Your time with your doctor may be limited. Use it wisely. But it’s also your best opportunity to better understand your health and to build an action plan to help get your cholesterol right. The better prepared you are, the more valuable the visit will be.
Questions to ask your doctor
Preparing questions ahead of time and taking them along to the doctor’s office can help you stay focused and get helpful information about lowering cholesterol during your visit.
- What are cholesterol levels and which ones are most important?
- Why is it important to lower my LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol?
- How can my high cholesterol or my loved one’s high cholesterol contribute to the slow buildup of plaque in arteries over time, a disease called atherosclerosis?
- What health factors increase the risk for plaque buildup?
- Can you tell me more about bruits, the ankle/brachial index, or other ways to look for signs of plaque buildup?
- What steps can I take to help manage cholesterol and slow the progression of plaque buildup?
- Should I take CRESTOR?
- How is CRESTOR taken, and for how long?
- What are the possible side effects of CRESTOR, and how do they compare to the potential dangers of unmanaged cholesterol?
- Are there any medications (prescription or nonprescription) to avoid taking with CRESTOR?
- With CRESTOR, is it still important to eat healthy and stay active too? If so, why?
- What types of diet changes or activities might help, and how do I stay motivated?
- Beyond lifestyle changes, are there nonprescription approaches to lowering cholesterol? If so, are they effective and are any precautions necessary?
- If you or your loved one smokes, ask the doctor for tips on how to quit smoking.
- If you or your loved one has high blood pressure, ask the doctor why hypertension makes it even more important to manage cholesterol.
- If you or your loved one has diabetes, ask the doctor why managing cholesterol is so important.