I've just gone over my lipid profile results and it's showing a level of 244. I'm really concerned about what this means for my health. What steps can I take to bring it back to normal levels? Also, I'm curious about at what point a bypass might become necessary. Can you give me some guidance on this?

To help lower your cholesterol levels, you can start by making lifestyle changes such as following a healthy diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking. If lifestyle changes alone are not enough to lower your cholesterol levels to a healthy range, your doctor may prescribe medication to help manage your cholesterol. Commonly prescribed medications to lower cholesterol include atorvastatin (Lipitor) at a starting dose of 10-20 mg once daily or rosuvastatin (Crestor) at a starting dose of 5-10 mg once daily. As for when a bypass is needed, the decision to undergo bypass surgery is based on various factors such as the severity of blockages in the coronary arteries, symptoms, and overall health condition. Bypass surgery is usually considered when there are significant blockages in the coronary arteries that cannot be effectively managed with medications or other interventions. Remember to follow up with your doctor for personalized recommendations and monitoring of your cholesterol levels.