

If you have lupus, your doctor will likely have some recommendations. There are many ways you can improve your good cholesterol and lower your bad cholesterol through lifestyle management. You can take steps to help your cholesterol levels if you have lupus. How do you lower cholesterol levels if you have lupus? You’ll have frequent cholesterol testing while you take statins to ensure that they’re helping you and to monitor your overall progress. Your doctor will likely also suggest other treatments, such as lifestyle changes, that can help manage your cholesterol. However, the results suggested that statins could be used alongside other cholesterol treatment options to help bring down cholesterol levels.Ĭurrently, many people with lupus still take statins as part of an overall cholesterol treatment plan. This appears to primarily be because the causes of high cholesterol are different in people with lupus than in people without lupus. A 2019 study found that statins were ineffective as a stand-alone cholesterol treatment for people with lupus.

Recently, research has suggested that this standard approach might not be appropriate. They’re often prescribed for people with lupus who have high cholesterol, or who are at risk for high cholesterol. Statins are the preferred treatment for high cholesterol and heart conditions.

increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD).These include high cholesterol, along with: There are also heart and cardiovascular system symptoms associated with lupus. However, lupus causes many other symptoms.

fingers and toes that turn blue or white in cold temperatures or as a stress response.“butterfly” rash that covers the cheeks.Traditionally, people think of lupus symptoms such as: Symptoms can fluctuate over time and might not look the same with every flare-up. Lupus causes a wide range of symptoms that can be different across different people with lupus. Additionally, the fatigue of lupus can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, and a lack of exercise is proven to raise overall cholesterol, raise levels of bad cholesterol, and limit levels of good, or HDL cholesterol. This can lead to increased cholesterol, especially bad, or LDL cholesterol.Ĭommon lupus treatments, such as steroids, are known to raise cholesterol levels when taken in high doses. It can slow down your metabolism and cause your body to store more fats. Inflammation also affects how the body processes fats. This makes it harder for blood to travel through your body and can lead to a wide range of heart health complications. The constant inflammation of lupus causes stress and damage to the blood vessels, which leads to a faster buildup of plaque on the walls of blood vessels. They’re also at a higher risk for complications of high cholesterol than people without lupus. People with lupus are at a higher risk for high cholesterol. When lupus affects heart health, it can affect blood pressure and cholesterol levels and can raise your risk for heart attack and stroke. Lupus can affect the whole body, including skin, blood cells, joints, brain, and heart. It occurs when your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, bones, and organs.
