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* Eggs more precisely egg yolks. Both cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are ways to increase your chances of heart attack and stroke. The high cholesterol medication would aim at lowering the levels of the LDL while at the same time it would increase the levels of the good cholesterol, the HDL. By HDL, it is meant high-density lipoprotein and by LDL it is low-density lipoprotein. The cholesterol ratio is thus read as TOTAL: HDL and LDL:HDL. Fibrates act effectively by lowering the level of triglycerides and, to some degree, boosting HDL level.


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By following a low cholesterol diet, getting adequate exercise, quitting smoking and watching the alcohol intake, you will not only feel and look better, youll have the satisfaction in knowing that you did something about your cholesterol. The cholesterol range to be healthy should stay within these readings. More people need to be aware of not only their total cholesterol level, but also of their level of bad cholesterol.

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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.