Diet, exercise, stopping smoking and limiting your alcohol consumption can all help with managing your condition.
Keeping your kidneys safe
To find out more about keeping your kidneys safe when at risk of Acute Kidney Injury download our How to keep your kidneys safe leaflet
It features information on:
- Symptoms
- Kidney function
- Acute Kidney Injury
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Diagnosis
- Diabetes
Keeping your cholesterol level low
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is an important type of fat found in the body. It is carried around in the blood and can build up on the walls of blood vessels, making them narrow. Most of the cholesterol found in your blood is produced in your own liver.
A tendency towards high cholesterol can run in families. If you eat a lot of fat (especially saturated fat), this may also cause a high cholesterol level. In addition, people who have CKD with very high levels of protein in their urine may also have high levels of cholesterol in their blood.
The ideal cholesterol level
Scientists have discovered that low cholesterol levels are associated with low levels of heart disease. Advice about the ideal levels for cholesterol is changing as researchers find out more. Recent analysis suggests that high cholesterol levels in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) should be treated in the same was as in people with normal kidney function. There is no 'target level' for cholesterol that is right for everybody, your doctor will be able to advise you according to your level and your individual risks of developing disease related to high cholesterol levels.
The main forms are 'LDL cholesterol' (LDL stands for Low Density Lipoprotein) and 'HDL cholesterol' (HDL stands for High Density Lipoprotein). LDL cholesterol is the one associated with damage to the circulation and is sometimes called 'bad'. High levels of HDL cholesterol offer some protection against damage, and is considered to be 'good'. Sometimes your doctor will measure HDL and total cholesterol and tell you a ratio before making a decision about treatment with drugs.
Eating to reduce your cholesterol level
foods that are high in cholesterol include dairy products, eggs and red meat. Many processed foods contain a lot of cholesterol, so it is a good idea to get into the habit of always checking the information on the labels.
The type of fats that increase blood cholesterol levels are known as 'saturated fats', while 'unsaturated fats' (which include olive oil) may be less harmful. If you are eating for health, you should try to reduce the amount of fat in your diet, and this may cause a small reduction in the cholesterol levels in your blood.
You should try to eat a balance of different types of food, with the right amounts of protein, carbohydrate, and fresh fruit and vegetables.
Drugs to reduce cholesterol
If you are eating sensibly and losing wight but your blood cholesterol levels are still too high, the doctor may offer you treatment with tablets called statins. Several statins are available, and your doctor will prescribe one that will be suitable for you.
Statin drugs are generally well tolerated but may have side effects in some people. You can feel generally unwell with nausea or sickness, and may have to stop taking the tablet. It is important not to do this without first discussing with your doctor what would be best. Some people have aches and pains in their muscles. This is a serious side effect; if it happens to you, tell your doctor immediately.
Who should have cholesterol-lowering drugs?
If someone has already had a heart attack or stroke, they will usually be advised to take a statin. If there is no known vascular disease, statins are given according to the risk of events occurring in the future. This risk is calculated using a calculator called QRISK2 that takes account of factors such as age, cholesterol level and family history. People with CKD are considered to be at increased risk of heart attack and stroke, compared with people with normal kidney function.