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The question many patients have is what exactly can be done to reduce their cholesterol to a normal cholesterol level? People who are overweight and undergo drastic weight-loss programs also tend to develop an increase in the cholesterol triglyceride content in the body. You want your LDL levels low and your HDL levels high. In order to avoid the side effects, people today are looking for healthier alternatives, and fortunately, they find that there are plenty. Sometimes the problem is in your genes.


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Some people complain that they dont have time to exercise but finding time to exercise is not that difficult, it just requires a little derivation from your normal routine. He has decided to put you on cholesterol medication. It is imperative to your health and long term well being to control the amount of bad cholesterol that you consume. Weight can be controlled by either or both dieting and exercise. Above 190 mg/dL is very high risk level.

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Using Cholesterol Lowering Medication


While diet and exercise remain the major checks on high cholesterol levels, cholesterol lowering medication is prescribed in many cases, usually in combination with dieting and physical activity. Cholesterol in blood is in the form of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides. The goal of using cholesterol lowering medication is to reduce the concentration of LDL, since it is the most harmful of cholesterol types; also to decrease triglycerides, and to maintain or increase HDL as it works to lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Cholesterol Lowering Drugs

Several drugs are, in common practice, used as cholesterol lowering medication. Some important names among these are fibrates, statins, nicotinic acid, and bile acid sequestrants.

Fibrates

Fibrates act effectively by lowering the level of triglycerides and, to some degree, boosting HDL level. However, these drugs are not targeted at lowering the concentration of LDL. Studies reveal that most of the fibrates-users with heart diseases face a lower risk of heart attack. Gemfibrozil is the best known fibrate in the US.

Dosage of fibrates includes two doses daily. Fibrates do not have many side effects, though some gastric and intestinal problems have been reported. Further, fibrates can intensify the action of medicines that work by thinning the blood (prescribed mostly for high blood pressure).

Statins

Statins are the most effective type of cholesterol lowering medication when it comes to lowering the LDL in blood. Hence, these are the drugs most often prescribed to patients of cardiovascular diseases who suffer severe heart problems. Statins slow down the production of cholesterol and help the liver more efficiently remove the LDL present in the blood.

What makes them ideal for treating patients is the fact that statins also bring down the concentration of triglycerides and in addition boost the HDL in blood. Important statins include lovastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, and atorvastatin. Statins are administered one dose daily, preferably in the evening. Except minor digestive disorders, statins have no serious adverse effects.

Nicotinic Acid

The principal constituent of nicotinic acid is niacin, a type of vitamin B, which reduces triglycerides and LDL while boosting HDL part of the cholesterol. This makes it an effective cholesterol lowering medication. In addition, it is a relatively inexpensive drug, usually available without a physicians prescription. However, it is not at all wise to use it since it carries side effects (hot flashes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea etc.). It also tends to increase blood sugar and therefore is not suggested to be used by diabetics.

Bile Acid Sequestrants

Bile acid sequestrants act by lowering LDL up to 20 %. These can be used in combination with a stain (if prescribed). Main types of bile acid sequestrants prescribed are cholestyramine, colestipol, and colesevelam. Intake of these drugs includes mixing with water or fruit juice and taken once or twice daily. Bile acid sequestrants might interfere with the proper absorption of other medicines being used.