High blood cholesterol - Treatments and drugs

Lifestyle changes such as exercise and eating a healthy diet is the first line of prevention against high cholesterol. However, if made ​​significant lifestyle changes and total cholesterol - and especially LDL cholesterol remains high, your doctor may recommend medications.

 

The specific choice of drug or combination of drugs depends on various factors, including individual risk factors, age, current health and possible side effects. Popular choices include:

Statins. Statins - are among the most common drugs prescribed for lowering cholesterol, a substance liver mass needed to make cholesterol. This causes the liver removes cholesterol in the blood. Statins may also help remove cholesterol from plaque build up on artery walls, can reverse coronary artery disease. Choices include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor).

Link density plastic - acid. The liver uses cholesterol to make bile acids, a substance needed for digestion. The drugs cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran), colesevelam (Welchol) and (Colestid), lower cholesterol indirectly by binding to bile acids. This prompts the liver uses cholesterol to make more excess bile acids, reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood.

Cholesterol absorption inhibitor. The small intestine absorbs cholesterol from the diet and release it into the bloodstream. The drug ezetimibe (Zetia) helps reduce blood cholesterol by reducing the absorption of cholesterol. Zetia may be used in conjunction with any statin drugs.

Combination cholesterol absorption inhibitors and statins. The combination drug simvastatin - ezetimibe (Vytorin) reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines and cholesterol production in the liver. It is unknown Vytorin is effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease than using a simvastatin.

Medications for high triglycerides

If you have high triglycerides, your doctor may prescribe:

Fibrates. The drug fenofibrate (Lofibra, Tricor), gemfibrozil (Lopid), triglycerides decreased by decreasing hepatic production of VLDL and promote the removal of triglycerides in the blood. VLDL cholesterol contain mostly triglycerides.

Niacin. Niacin (Niaspan) reduce triglycerides by limiting the ability of hepatic LDL cholesterol and VLDL production. Prescription and prescription niacin is available, but prescription niacin is preferred because it has the least side effects. Dietary supplements containing niacin available functions are not effective in reducing the triglycerides, and can damage the liver.

Omega - 3 fatty acid supplements. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements may help reduce cholesterol. Can supplement prescription or doctor may prescribe Lovaza, omega-3 fatty acid supplements prescription as a way to reduce triglycerides. Lovaza can be done with a cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins. If you choose to supplement prescription, ask your doctor first to OK. Omega-3 fatty acids can affect supplements are taking other medications.

The effectiveness of different

Most of the cholesterol drug was well tolerated, but the effects vary from person to person. The common side effects are muscle pain, stomach pain, constipation, nausea and diarrhea. If you decide to use cholesterol medication, your doctor may recommend a liver function test every few months to monitor the effect of the drug on the liver.

Children and treatment of cholesterol

Diet and exercise is the best initial treatment for children 2 years of age and older have high cholesterol or obesity. American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends treatment with prescription drugs, such as statins for children 8 years and over if a child has a high level of LDL cholesterol. However, this proposal is controversial. The long-term effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs has not been studied in children. In addition, certain cholesterol medications such as niacin is not recommended for children. Because of the disagreement in the medical community about this topic, talk with your child's doctor about the best way to reduce your child's cholesterol.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Lifestyle changes are necessary to improve cholesterol levels. To bring results, reduce excess weight, healthy eating and increase physical activity. If you smoke, quit.

Weight Loss

Lose 5-10 pounds can help lower cholesterol levels. Start by taking an honest look at their eating habits and daily routine. Consider the challenge to lose weight and how to overcome them. Establish long-term sustainability goals.

Eat a heart-healthy foods

What food have a direct impact on the level of cholesterol. In fact, a diet rich in fiber and cholesterol-lowering foods that can help lower cholesterol as much as statins for some people.

Choose healthy fats. Saturated fat and trans fat increases LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol. Not receive more than 10 percent of daily calories from saturated fat. Monounsaturated fats are found in nuts, olive oil and canola oil is a healthy choice. Almonds and walnuts are other sources of healthy fats.

Remove the fat. Fat, which is often found in margarine and cookies, cakes and snacks. Not only increase the total fat, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol lowering.

We can see that the current food labels. But do not rely solely on this label. In the United States, if the food contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fat, it can be marked. It does not seem much, but if you eat a variety of foods with a small amount of fat, it can rise quickly. Instead, read the ingredient list. If foods containing partially hydrogenated oil, which is a fat and should seek alternate.

Limit cholesterol in food. Should not exceed 300 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per day or less than 200 mg if you have heart disease. The concentration of cholesterol sources include organ meats, egg yolks and whole milk products. Use lean cuts of meat, egg substitutes and skim milk instead.

Choose whole grain. Different nutrients found in whole grains enhance cardiovascular health. Choose whole-grain bread, pasta, flour and brown rice. Oatmeal and oat bran are other options.

Fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber, which can help reduce cholesterol. Seasonal fruit snacks. Experiment with vegetable casseroles, soups and stir-fries.

Eating fish is good for the heart. Some types of fish such as tuna, cod and halibut, have less total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol than beef and poultry. Salmon, mackerel and herring are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, enhance cardiovascular health.

Drink alcohol only in moderation. Average use of alcohol may increase HDL cholesterol levels, but the benefits are not strong enough to recommend alcohol for those who do not drink. If you choose to drink, do so in moderation. This means no more than one drink per day for women and 1-2 drinks a day for men.

Exercise regularly

Regular exercise can help improve cholesterol levels. OK doctor, working up to 30 to 60 minutes of exercise each day. Take a brisk walk every day. Cycling. Swim laps. To maintain momentum, keep cheerful. Find a gym or join an exercise group. And no need to get all 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day. If possible split in 3-6 about 10 minutes of exercise, will receive a number of benefits to reduce cholesterol.

No smoking

If you smoke, stop. Come smoking can improve the level of HDL cholesterol and the benefits do not end there. Just 20 minutes after quitting smoking, reducing blood pressure. Within 24 hours, reducing the risk of a heart attack. Within a year, the risk of heart disease is half of smokers. Within 15 years, the risk of heart disease is similar to that of someone who never smoke.

Alternative medicine

Few natural products have been proven to reduce cholesterol, but some may be helpful. OK doctor, consider supplementing reduce cholesterol and products:

Artichoke.

Barley.

Beta-sitosterol (found in supplements and some margarines, such as Promise Activ).

Psyllium (found in seeds and bark products such as Metamucil).

Garlic.

Oat bran (found in oatmeal and whole oats).

Sitostanol (found in supplements and some margarines, such as Benecol).

It may have heard of a supplement to reduce cholesterol. Some trademark red yeast rice contains lovastatin, the active ingredient in the drug Mevacor. This may not be secure, because there is no way to determine the quantity or quality of lovastatin supplements.

If you choose to supplement reduces cholesterol, remember the importance of a healthy lifestyle. If prescription drugs to lower cholesterol, use it as directed. Make sure your doctor knows supplements are used.

Prevention

The heart healthy lifestyle changes can similarly reduce cholesterol, may help prevent high cholesterol. To help prevent high cholesterol, may:

Losing extra pounds and maintain a healthy weight.

Quit smoking.

Eat a low-fat, low-salt diet, including more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Exercise most days of the week for at least 30 minutes.