›› High Cholesterol Medicine

High cholesterol is one of the major factors to consider when trying to avoid heart disease. Everyone has cholesterol. It is needed by every cell inside of your body. Problems arise when you have too much of this in your bloodstream. If you routinely have high levels of cholesterol, it can build up inside your arteries and restrict the blood flow to your heart, which commonly will lead to a heart attack. Nearly half of all heart disease related deaths are attributed to high cholesterol, the nation’s No. 1 killer of both sexes. If diet and exercise can’t control your cholesterol, you may need to ask your doctor about taking a cholesterol lowering medication.

There are a number of factors to weigh when considering whether or not a cholesterol lowering medication would be right for you. These include the levels of cholesterol and other fats in your bloodstream as well as your family’s history. Your risk of developing heart disease rises greatly if there is a history developing heart disease in your family. Be sure to tell your doctor if there is any history there.

It is also important to be knowledgeable about what is being measured when you have a cholesterol check at the doctor. Cholesterol and triglycerides are carried in your bloodstream by what are called Apo proteins. When a lipid joins an Apo protein, a lipoprotein is formed. A normal blood screening test will measure the level of two substances: low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad” cholesterol) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good” cholesterol). Too much LDL will increase your risk of heart disease while HDL protects against heart disease.

LDL levels are especially important because LDL is the “bad” type of cholesterol. LDL forms fatty plaques in the walls of your arteries. When these plaques form in your blood vessels, they stop blood flow to your heart. This phenomenon commonly causes chest pains (angina) and can lead to a heart attack. A blood clot can also form because of these plaques. This will also block your arteries and cause a heart attack.

If you have high LDL cholesterol, the most common treatment is diet, exercise, and the inclusion of a statin based drug. The diet will normally consist of switching from high-fat foods to those that are lower in saturated fat and cholesterol.

When simple lifestyle changes aren’t enough, high cholesterol lowing medications might be added to your treatment plan. These medications not only prevent new plaques form forming, but they also can help to repair damaged blood vessels. There are many different brand names on the market today, so be sure to discuss every possible drug with your doctor to make sure you get what option is best for your case. The type of drug your doctor will prescribe depends on many different factors. These factors include just how much LDL and HDL cholesterol you have and whether or not your triglyceride levels are high. Your age can also enter into the equation. There is no specific drug that works well for everyone, so sometimes you have to try a few different ones before you get optimal relief.