If you want to lower your bad cholesterol in the next thirty days and experience a lifetime of good health, you need to work effectively with health care professionals, including your doctor, nurses, pharmacists, and (possibly) nutritionists, dieticians, holistic practitioners, and lipid specialists.

Communicating effectively with your doctors and care givers is very important, since you need to give them information about your condition and symptoms which may help them treat you. However, in today’s world, where many doctors and care givers are rushed and overworked, it can be difficult to communicate in the time your doctor appointment may take.

You can make it easier to communicate with health care workers by choosing the correct ones. Choose a doctor and specialists you feel comfortable with and trust. These professional should have credentials that make you feel that you are in good hands and should also genuinely listen to what you have to say.

If you feel that your concerns are not being taken seriously, there is no reason why you shouldn’t find a health care professional who will listen and give you the care you need. Ask friends and family members for their recommendations or ask for a referral for a second opinion.

Once you have found a doctor that you trust, don’t stop there. Ask questions often and from as many people as you can. Ask friends and family members about their experiences with high cholesterol, ask the nurses who take blood samples about the procedures of lab tests, take the pamphlets and booklets that are offered for free at many clinics.

The more professionals and people you ask and the more information you gather, the better you will be able to use your time with your doctor, since you will know the basics and will be able to ask directed and focused questions in the time you have with your doctor.

As you work to lower your cholesterol over the next 30 days, work to understand all you can about cholesterol and cholesterol treatments. Research and knowledge will make you more able to take the steps you need to lower your cholesterol.

Come prepared for appointments. Do your research ahead of time, so that you do not spend the limited time you have with health care processionals asking basic questions such as “what is cholesterol” which you can find elsewhere. Spend the time with your doctor raising concerns, asking for cholesterol information that is relevant to your particular case, and getting instructions.

One excellent way to be prepared to speak with your doctor is to keep a journal about your heart health and cholesterol. Once your doctor determines that you have elevated levels of bad cholesterol, buy a plain notebook. In it, keep the facts and information you find about your medication, cholesterol, and treatments.

Note down important contact numbers - including contact information for your doctor. Keep track of all the things you do each day - including diet, exercise, and medical treatments - that may affect your cholesterol. In each day’s entry, also note any unusual symptoms or concerns you may have. Keep a running list of questions you may want to ask your doctor at your next appointment. Note the progress you are making. Bring this journal with you when you visit your doctor. It will prove invaluable to your health care processionals in helping you develop a form of treatment that works for you.

Keeping a journal of your eating, exercise, lifestyle changes, and cholesterol-lowering progress is an important step as you lower your cholesterol over the next 30 days.

The most important thing about keeping lines of communication open with your doctor is to keep trying. Show up for appointments, voice your ideas, and follow the directions your doctor gives you.

If you are having trouble following a specific cholesterol-lowering treatment - whether it is because of side effects or lack of motivation - be frank with your doctor about this. Your doctor needs to understand what you are not doing that may be affecting your treatment. Often, your health care professional will be able to give you some tips for making the treatment more realistic for you or may be able to offer an alternative treatment for controlling your cholesterol.

Always be sure to tell your doctor about all medication, herbal treatments, vitamins, and over the counter products you are taking. These can affect your cholesterol medication and can also affect some medical tests.

Doctor Question Checklist

There are certain questions that you need to have answered about your condition over the next 30 days. Whether you get the answers to these questions from your doctor or from another reputable health care professional, if you want to effectively lower your cholesterol, it is important that you understand the answers to the following questions:

• What exactly am I being treated being treated for and what is my condition and prognosis right now?

Never assume that high bad cholesterol is what you are being treated for primarily. Your doctor may be more worried about another condition that is related to high cholesterol - such as obesity, for example - and may be focusing on that in order to help you achieve health.

Understanding what you are being treated for can help you understand what you should be focusing on. Getting the exact numbers and figures related to your condition - such as the actual cholesterol levels - can also help you keep track of your progress as you make the change you need to make to become healthier.

• What are the details of the medications I am taking?

Get a list of the medications and treatments you are taking (including full names) as well as their risks, their side effects, and exactly how they should be taken. Ask about any ingredients or medications these drugs could react with, how these drugs should be taken (on an empty stomach, with food, or at specific times of the day?) and find out how the drugs should be stored.

Many pharmacies now provide complete print-outs that tell you all about the medications you are taking. It is well worth your while to seek out a pharmacy or pharmacist that can give you detailed information about your cholesterol-lowering drugs and can answer all your questions about your medications. Find out what you are supposed to do if you forget a dose or experience side effects.

• What symptoms should I be looking for that indicate that I should seek help right away?

Medication and treatments for high bad cholesterol carry risks, and having higher cholesterol carries its own risks as well. Knowing which symptoms indicate that you need to seek medical help fast - and knowing where to seek that help that help - can save your life. Write down the symptoms you need to stay alert for and carefully write down what you need to do if you experience specific symptoms. Review this until you know it.

• What are the steps I need to take to improve my condition?

Your doctor can recommend specific steps and instructions that you can follow to improve your health. Whether it is a specific diet or a special treatment, knowing what is expected of you is important. Write these down as goals to be met.

• What diet and exercise steps are right for me?

While a low-fat diet and moderate exercise can help lower cholesterol, your doctor can recommend specific routines that can address specific issues in your medical history. If you have diabetes or food allergies, for example, you doctor can help you determine exactly what exercise and diet plan may be right for you.

If you have illnesses such as diabetes or other health issues that may affect your diet and exercise, this is an especially important question to ask as you start making changes to lower your cholesterol.

• What amounts of sodium, fat, cholesterol, calories, and other elements should I be eating each day?

Based on your medical profile, your doctor can tell you exactly how much of what you should be eating, which can make it easier for you to tell what you should be eating - and in what portion sizes.

• Who else can I talk to and what other resources are open to me?

Most doctors are aware of lots of resources, including books, pamphlets, support groups, and other specialists that can help you lower your cholesterol and help you make the choices you need to make.

• Am I a candidate for other cholesterol treatments or for other tests?

Understanding which other treatments and tests may help you - in the future, if not right now - can help you see the options you have for treating your high cholesterol. Often, by getting your doctor to explain why you are getting specific medication, you can better understand your overall health situation.

• What are my most recent test results?

Again, write these down so that you can see your progress and evaluate where your health is now.

• What’s next?

Before you leave your doctor’s office, you should always know what you should be doing next to improve your cholesterol levels and your health. Whether it is scheduling a follow-up appointment or waiting for the results of another test, make sure that you know what the next step of your treatment is.

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