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Your Online Guide » Guide to Medical » High Cholesterol

[C624]Cholesterol Lowering Natural Supplements
by R Heavner, R H
The first line of treatment in lowering cholesterol levels are lifestyle changes such as proper diet, weight loss, and exercise. Along with lifestyle change, your doctor is also likely to prescribe medication to help in lowering and maintaining your cholesterol levels. A number of prescription drugs to lower cholesterol are available on the market, with a number of them (statins in particular) advertised very heavily in the media.

The statin class of drugs is quite popular as the cholesterol lowering drug of choice. It is sometimes difficult to judge whether this is due to their effectiveness or to the massive marketing campaigns from the pharmaceutical industry. Either way, as the top selling drugs in the nation, there are a tremendous number of prescriptions written for statin drugs.

Statins are known as HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, and work in the liver to slow the development of cholesterol. Studies have indicated that statin drugs tend to work best at lowering LDL, or bad cholesterol, but tend to not be as effective at reducing triglyceride levels. A few of the current statin drugs on the market are: atorvastatin (Lipitor) , fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor), and rosuvastatin (Crestor). Another, Vytorin, is a combination of Zetia (ezetimibe) and the statin drug Zocor (simvastatin). In an unsettling FDA report in January 2008, it was noted that Vytorin did not reduce atherosclerotic plaque any better that simvastin given alone, and in some cases actually resulted in an increase in plaque. Beyond common side effects such as headaches and nausea, the more serious side effects of statins include extreme muscle pain and muscle disease (statin induced myopathy), as well as serious liver problems.

Beyond statins, there are other classes of drugs which may be prescribed to help in lowering cholesterol levels. While not hyped with as much fanfare as statins, they have been shown to be effective for many patients.

One such class of drugs are resins, also known as bile acid-binding drugs. The resins basically work in the intestines to help increase elimination of LDL cholesterol. As the body digests food, it uses cholesterol to make bile. Resin type drugs bind themselves to bile. As the liver increases the production of bile, the body will use up more cholesterol. A few of the resin type drugs on the market are Cholestyramine (Questran?, Questran? Light, Prevalite?, Locholest?, Locholest? Light), Colesevelam Hcl (WelChol?), and Colestipol (Colestid?).

Fibrates are termed fibric acid derivatives and tend to be best at lowering triglycerides. In some cases they also have been known to raise levels of HDL. They are usually prescribed for patients with high triglyceride levels and low HDL levels and may be used in conjunction with statins. A few of the fibrate drugs on the market are: Gemfibrozil (Lopid?), Clofibrate (Atromid-S), and Fenofibrate (Antara?, Lofibra?, Tricor?, and Triglide?).

Niacin in the form of nicotinic acid works by affecting the production of blood fats in the liver. In prescription form niacin is used to help lower LDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides. A few of the prescription niacin preparations on the market are Niaspan? and Slo-Niacin?.

Do you suffer from high cholesterol? Regardless of whether or not you get regular physical exercise, are undergoing diet therapy, or losing weight, you should look into cholesterol lowering medications. These drugs are sometimes the only strategy you can use if all the other ones fail. First of all, you should understand the role cholesterol plays in the body. It is present in all of the body's cells. The problem is, when you have too much, your risk of heart disease is increased. For that reason, you need to eat a healthy diet and have an active lifestyle.

Taking drugs to lower your cholesterol is dependent on a few different factors. One of these is the amount of it in your blood, as well as the amount of other fats. You can lower your cholesterol level significantly with cholesterol lowering medications. However, these drugs can be expensive in some cases and might have side effects. You should be vigilant about maintaining a healthy diet that's low in fat, exercise regularly, stay at a healthy weight, and refrain from smoking. Try to do a bit of research on the potential side effects also. If you do experience any, talk to your physician about it.

Statin
All sorts of cholesterol lowering drugs exist. One is known as statin. These drugs can be quite effective at lowering your cholesterol levels. At the same time, however, they are known to produce side effects. Studies that have been conducted on the subject indicate that you should use “Co-Enzyme Q-10” along with the statin drugs. This is because these cholesterol reducing drugs can deplete some essential enzymes. By using the “Co-Q” supplement, your heart will be protected.

Bile Acid Sequestrates
These drugs are another option to consider. Bile acids in the body are secreted from both the gall bladder and liver in bile. They pass through the intestine to decrease the level of fatty content in food as a way to improve absorption. Following this, they are re-absorbed into the intestine, and then go to the liver once more. One disadvantage in using this type of medication is malabsorption.

Fibric Acids
Also known as “fibrates,” fibric acids are effective because they reduce the production of triglyceride and take it out of circulation. These medications also up the amount of HDL, referred to frequently as “good cholesterol. Fibric acids contain lopid, gemfibrozil, or fenofibrate (tricor)..

Nicotinic Acid
These acids, also commonly called “niacins,” work by reducing levels of the “bad cholesterol,” that is, LDL. They also help to increase HDL. In large enough doses, niacins vitamins can reduce triglycerides.

It's not very difficult to take these drugs, for the most part, but be aware that there are a certain number of drug-interactions associated with their use. Stomach problems are the most common complaint of people who take them (usually cramps, pains, or constipation). The symptoms, however, while they vary in severity, usually go away as the therapy goes on. Making the right choice of cholesterol lowering medication for you is a very important decision.

Article Source : Pg. 15

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Both R Heavner & Sarah Thomas are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

R Heavner has sinced written about articles on various topics from High Cholesterol, About Web Hosting and Fitness. For more information about your cholesterol level and how to control it visit our website: . R Heavner's top article generates over 5400 views. to your Favourites.

Sarah Thomas has sinced written about articles on various topics from Computers and The Internet, Breast Enlargements and Ski. Sarah Thomas provides articles on . You can find more of her work at the site. Sarah Thomas's top article generates over 1500000 views. to your Favourites.
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