###Human: Will exercise or diet help to maintain lipid levels? ###Assistant: Hi. There are three things you are asking, statin, diet, exercise, right? 1. Statin: Scientific evidence shows elevated lipid especially LDL is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke. And guidelines tell us that everyone aged 40 or above, in familial cases even before 40, a lipid profile should be done. If LDL is above a certain threshold (different threshold in presence and absence of risk factors and family history), the statin should be started to prevent coronary events. If your father had started statins early, chances for the current condition was less likely. 2. Diet: Healthy diet is something like a prerequisite for preventing heart diseases, and it is must at all ages. 3. Exercise: Regular aerobic exercise of at least moderate intensity is must for all ages to prevent heart attack and stroke, etc. Two and three, both are must simultaneously, and both must be advised, if not enforced. If I have to advise only one, I would advise exercise. If still any concern, I will be happy to clarify.