Cholesterol Helpline

Our dedicated, experienced team offer impartial information on healthy lifestyle, blood fats and related conditions. We are unable to give personalized, individual advice and the information we provide does not replace the care and support from your own health care professional.

If you are unwell or you need urgent help please contact your own doctor or NHS 111, or dial 999 in an emergency.

We are currently answering enquiries by email. Please let us know what help or information you need by contacting:

ask@heartuk.org.uk

We aim to answer your enquiry in a minimum of 7 working days. This may be longer due to our current limited resources, national holidays and the very high demand for our service.

You may be able to find the information you need from our frequently asked questions below:

Please click on the links below for more information:

What do my test results mean - find out what your cholesterol and triglyceride numbers mean compared to our recommendations

Reasons for a higher level of cholesterol - lists all the different causes of raised cholesterol levels

Reason for a higher level of triglycerides - explains the role of triglycerides and why they can be high

Latest thinking on higher HDL cholesterol and our current specialist recommendations

Healthy eating to help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels - includes information on the Ultimate Cholesterol Lowering Plan

Information cholesterol lowering medication - includes statins, ezetimibe, bempedoic acid, PCSK9 inhibitors, inclisiran and icosapent ethyl

Lipoprotein (a) - frequently asked questions and webinar

Pregnancy and blood fats - our specialist recommendations for women pre, during and post pregnancy

If you are unable to email us, you can write to us at:

Cholesterol Helpline, HEART UK - The Cholesterol Charity, 7 North Road, Maidenhead SL6 1PE

What are people saying about us?

"I emailed the helpline as my cholesterol test result was not that straight forward and I wanted to get some expert advice to help me understand and take control of my cholesterol. Tina was so helpful, it was lovely to talk to someone who was obviously so well versed in the subject. Tina helped me gain the confidence to take responsibility for my own health. It was wonderful to feel I was talking to someone who was clearly an expert and really understood where I was coming from. Thank you, HEART UK, for this fantastic service."

Deidre, Gloucestershire

"I have had such wonderful help and support from HEART UK’s helpline. The team are so friendly and patient and it does not matter how many times I ask a question they are always there for me. It’s a wonderful service and I am so grateful to have their support. I can’t speak highly enough of the help they have given me."

Vera, Buckinghamshire

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Please note this is not a diagnostic service. Our helpline aims to complement the information and support people have already received from their health care professional, not replace it.

The Cholesterol Helpline is not an emergency service and those in need of urgent help should contact their GP or seek help from services such as NHS 111 or emergency services.

Calls to our 0345 helpline costs no more than calls to geographic (01 and 02) numbers and must be included in inclusive minutes on mobile phones and discount schemes. Calls from landlines are typically charged between 2p and 10p per minute while calls from mobiles typically cost between 10p and 40p per minute. Calls from landlines and mobiles to 0345 numbers are included in free call packages.