Cholesterol is a fatty, viscous substance produced by the liver. This substance has many purposes inside the body and in normal amounts it is benefic for the proper activity of the organism. Cholesterol has a very important role in protecting blood cells from damage, by covering their superficial membrane. The body also uses cholesterol in producing bile acids (which are vital in digestion of fat), vitamin D and hormones (testosterone and estrogen).
The body requires very small quantities of cholesterol to sustain its normal activity. When cholesterol is produced in excess, this substance accumulates in the bloodstream and deposits in different places of the organism. Excess cholesterol adheres to the interior walls of arteries, soft tissues and body organs, obstructing the normal blood flow. Like many other fats, cholesterol can't be dissolved by the blood and therefore it can easily build up inside the body, causing a lot of harm. If cholesterol blocks the coronary arteries it can cause cardio-vascular diseases and even heart-attack.
Many people have high blood cholesterol levels and therefore they are exposed to heart disease. Age, gender and genetic heritage are all factors of risk in heart disease due to high blood cholesterol levels. Men are more predisposed to having abnormal blood cholesterol levels than women. People with ages over 50 also have cholesterol problems, as their bodies can't eliminate the surplus substance. Overweight people, people with internal disorders and people with diabetes have high blood cholesterol levels due to overproduction of this substance inside the body.
Apart from internal dysfunctions that cause an overproduction of cholesterol, the excessive accumulation of this substance is also facilitated by other factors like inappropriate diet, lack of physical exercise, smoking and the consumption of alcohol. Inappropriate diet rich in saturated fats and simple carbohydrates greatly contributes to blood cholesterol build up. Foods like fatty meats (pork, poultry), organ meats (heart, liver, kidneys), fat dairy products (milk, cheese, butter), chocolate, peanuts considerably increase blood cholesterol levels. Smoking also causes a lot of harm to arteries and facilitates the accumulation of cholesterol in the bloodstream. Smoking is a major factor of risk in heart disease and many people who have abnormally high blood cholesterol levels are smokers. Alcohol abuse is also a factor of risk in heart disease, as it also raises blood cholesterol levels.
Whether high blood cholesterol is the consequence of internal dysfunctions or the consequence of unhealthy lifestyle and diet, it is important to take steps in normalizing its values. Avoid smoking, the consumption of alcohol and fatty foods if you have high blood cholesterol levels. An appropriate diet rich in unsaturated fat, complex carbohydrates and natural fibers can help eliminate blood cholesterol deposits and can also prevent its excess accumulation inside the body. Regular physical exercise is another good means of improving blood circulation and hence, decongesting the arteries clogged with cholesterol.
Persons confronted with abnormally high cholesterol levels that can't be regulated only with the aid of diet and regular physical exercise can opt for cholesterol-lowering drugs to achieve and maintain balanced cholesterol levels. There are many different types of cholesterol-lowering medications at present, each medication having a distinctive action. Although many of today's cholesterol-lowering medications are efficient in reducing LDL (the so called ?bad cholesterol? ? the substance responsible for causing arteriosclerosis and heart disease), they also have many side-effects and thus it is very important to only use doctor-prescribed medications. In order to minimize side-effects and to maximize the benefic action of cholesterol-lowering drugs, you should respect the exact doctor's indications when following treatments with such medications.
At present, the most popular cholesterol-lowering medications are statins. Statins are very efficient in reducing blood cholesterol, as they inhibit the production of the enzyme which stimulates the secretion of cholesterol at the level of the liver. Prescribed in the right dose, statins can normalize the production of cholesterol inside the body, thus reducing the risk of arteriosclerosis and, consequently, heart attack and stroke. For the fact that statins are efficient both in preventing and reversing the undesirable effects of cholesterol inside the organism, they are prescribed to many different categories of patients with cholesterol problems.
The most frequently prescribed statin medications include: Pravastatin (Pravachol), Simvastatin (Zocor), Lovastatin (Mevacor), Fluvastatin (Lescol), Atorvastatin (Lipitor) and Rosuvastatin (Crestor). All these mentioned medications produce similar effects and can successfully reduce cholesterol levels when prescribed in the appropriate dose. Statin medications usually have mild side-effects such as nausea, abdominal bloating and vomiting, which disappear as soon as the treatment is interrupted. In very rare cases, statins can cause muscular problems, liver and kidney failure.
Resins are another commonly prescribed type of cholesterol-lowering medications. Unlike statins, which reduce cholesterol levels by limiting the production of the substance inside the liver, resins stimulate the excretion of the substance from the body. Resins are considered to be very safe and rarely interact with other types of cholesterol-lowering medications. Due to this fact, they are sometimes associated with statins or other similar drugs. The most commonly prescribed resins include: Cholestyramine (Questran), Colesevelam (WelChol) and Colestipol (Colestid).
Other popular medications used for controlling cholesterol levels are nicotinic acid-based drugs. Nicotinic acid, also known as niacin, is actually a vitamin from the B-vitamin complex. Corroborated with other cholesterol-lowering medications, niacin is very efficient in reducing cholesterol levels.
All the mentioned cholesterol-lowering medications are effective in normalizing and controlling blood cholesterol levels. However, it is very important to ask for advice from your doctor before deciding to use such medications. In order to minimize side-effects and to increase the benefic effects of these medications, it is advisable to respect the doctor's orders.
Groshan Fabiola has sinced written about articles on various topics from Woman Menopause, Medical Condition and Health. If you want to find great information on different subjects check out this links. You You can find great content regarding. Groshan Fabiola's top article generates over 6120000 views. to your Favourites.