Cholesterol Medications
 

Sometimes diet and exercise may not reduce high cholesterol sufficiently, in which case your doctor may prescribe cholesterol reducing medication.

Cholesterol medication is sometimes recommended for people whose bodies do not seem to respond to such mtehoda s diet changes, regular physical exercise, or weight loss. In such cases further treatment may be needed for the reduction of high blood cholesterol levels.

Roughly speaking for men under 35, or for women who are pre-menopausal, LDL levels of 190 to 219 mg/dL means that cholesterol medication perhaps is better not taken unless the person is already in a high risk group; for example such as diabetics.

Cholesterol medication is cheaper and less invasive than bypass surgery - a bit of a dramatic statement, but true nevertheless.

Drugs can't always fix the damage we might do to ourselves so even if your doctor prescribes medication for you, it's important to eat a healthy diet. There's no point undoing whatever good the medication is doing for you. Healthy eating includes such things as fresh fruit, vegetables, grilled chicked, fish and the leaner cuts of meat. It's also a very good idea to avoid too many treats and snacks like pastries, cakes, and other junk foods - hard to do, but extremely benefical. 

Be aware that certain drugs have been though to trigger a muscle-wasting condition. Bizarrely, the risk factor can be increased if certain the drugs are taken with grapefruit juice. Always check with your doctor for any special precautions necessary when taking cholesterol medications. As with everything related to your health, good information is paramount and the advice of your doctor is your first port of call every time.

Trying to lower your cholesterol completely naturally may be very hard work so you might want to ask your doctor about the range of treatments available. Probably the most common and well-known treatment right now is through statins. Statins help to reduce LDL levels by removing cholesterol from the blood. That, in turn, helps prevent any further build up of plaque in the arteries. In some cases it can even reverse the existing damaging build up of plaque.

Statins usually need you to continue treatment for life. Before committing to such a long regime it's always best to discuss your treatment options with your doctor. New treatments are being developed all the time.

Statins work by blocking the production of cholesterol in the liver itself and they lower LDL - which is often known as 'bad' cholesterol -and triglycerides. They also have a slight effect in raising HDL, which is also known as the "good" cholesterol. The terms "good" and "bad" are just ways of describing the different types of cholesterol, but you do require some of each type for normal health. The total amount and ratio between them will determine whether they're "good", or "bad".

There are various Statins available so if you need them don't be afraid to ask your doctor which is best for you - it's your treatment and it's a good idea to be clued up on it as much as you can. Most doctors will happily discuss such issues with you. 

Statins inhibit production of cholesterol by "jamming" the pathway by which it is made. That slows down production of cholesterol so your liver can more effectively filter out the "bad" cholesterol, or LDL, already in the blood. Do remember though that even if you are taking cholesterol lowering medication it's important to make healthy lifestyle choices as much as you can. For some people it can mean the difference between life and death - literally