A blood test is the only way to find out. High cholesterol, the NHS says, usually causes no symptoms, so a patient can carry it for years without a warning sign. What the health service tells such patients to do first has drawn fresh coverage: for some people, changing how they eat and move may bring the number down without a prescription for statins.
The Mirror reported on July 8, 2026 on NHS guidance setting out that route. Worth stating plainly: this is existing advice from the health service, not a new drug approval or a medical finding.
What the guidance says
According to the NHS, too much cholesterol can block blood vessels and makes heart problems or a stroke more likely. The usual culprits are a diet heavy in fat, a lack of exercise, excess weight, tobacco and alcohol. Heredity plays a part as well, and the condition can run in families. Age, sex and ethnic background matter as well: the NHS lists people over 50, men, women who have been through the menopause, and people with South Asian or sub-Saharan African roots as being at greater risk.
The advice on food is to cut back on fatty items, especially those rich in saturated fat, and to favour unsaturated fats. The NHS names olive and rapeseed oils, plus spreads made from them, with wholegrain bread, wholewheat pasta and brown rice. The Mirror added fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and oily fish. Food containing coconut oil or palm oil is on the list to limit.
On exercise, the NHS sets a bar of at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity. Walking, swimming and cycling are the suggested starting points. Smoking raises cholesterol too, and the health service points smokers to stop-smoking support.
Alcohol has a ceiling. The NHS advises against drinking more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, and anyone near that level should spread it over three or more days. The Mirror noted that binge drinking is discouraged and that several alcohol-free days are advised.
Where statins still fit
This does not take medicine off the table. According to the NHS, statins are offered when someone already has cardiovascular disease, or sits at higher risk and healthier habits have failed, or are unlikely, to do the job alone. A GP might suggest them after a diagnosis like coronary heart disease or angina, the Mirror said, or where personal and family history suggest a risk over the next 10 years. The NHS uses a health assessment called QRISK for that estimate, and diabetes, chronic kidney disease or inherited high cholesterol all count as risk raisers.
Most people who take statins have few or no side effects, the Mirror reported. They are usually taken long term, and the NHS tells patients to check with a pharmacist or doctor before they stop. Where statins are unsuitable, alternatives include ezetimibe and bempedoic acid.
Sources
- NHS says these changes could lower cholesterol – without statins (Mirror)
- High cholesterol – How to lower your cholesterol – NHS
- High cholesterol – NHS
- Statins – NHS
