Lowering Cholesterol and Achieving Lifelong Health

Tamara Rose was young and active when she first learned that she had high cholesterol. The busy mom of four had a family history of high cholesterol and was first tested in her 20s. After nearly two decades, and despite taking three medications to manage her levels, her cholesterol hadn’t budged. That’s when she was referred to Adventist Health Sonora’s Lipid Resource Center.

Specialized guidance

The Lipid Resource Center aims to help people lower their LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol levels and reduce their risk of heart disease. Advanced clinical nurses, exercise instructors, and nutritional therapists work directly with patients and their physicians to monitor cholesterol levels, provide education, and manage their health with medication and lifestyle improvements.

Rose says the regular visits to the center were exactly what she needed to make lasting changes. Instead of checking her levels once a year, she visited every three months. “I felt like I had more control over what was happening because I had better feedback and more accountability,” she says. “I was seeing the results of my efforts much faster.”

Simple fixes

Through regular visits to the Lipid Resource Center, Rose worked with her team to figure out the best time to take her medications and find substitutes for food that can negatively impact cholesterol. “I am on the go a lot, so I was grabbing processed foods out of convenience,” Rose says. “They had some great suggestions of snacks I can prepare ahead and take with me, so I don’t get hungry and end up in a drive-thru.”

Staying active is another important part of lowering cholesterol, so Rose is intentional about getting more steps each day. “I drive a lot, so I’ll stop at a park and take a walk halfway through,” she says.

Lifelong health

All that effort paid off. Not only did her LDL cholesterol levels lower to a healthier range, but under the guidance of her cardiologist she was able to stop taking one medication and cut the dosage of another in half. And she says she’s more motivated than ever to keep up the healthy choices.

An avid outdoor lover, Rose says she looks forward to camping and hiking with her grandkids in the future. “I feel like I’m taking the steps to be healthy enough to stick around for a long time so I can share my love of nature with my family.”