Cholesterol Reducing Drugs
Cholesterol is a substance that is found in every cell of your body. A fat-like substance, cholesterol is a vital part of your cell membranes and is important in hormone production. Cholesterol is a naturally occurring substance and usually does no harm, especially for the healthy individual. However, excessive levels of cholesterol can lead to heart disease, which is the number one killer in most of the world today. This is the reason why cholesterol-reducing drugs are important.
The body produces all the cholesterol it needs, which means that all cholesterol gleaned from diet is unnecessary and therefore harmful. Too much cholesterol in the blood causes fat deposits to form in the blood vessels. Over a period of time, these fat deposits make it harder for blood to pass, which in turn means less oxygen for the heart and the brain. When the heart gets less oxygen, the risk of a heart attack is substantially increased. When the brain gets less oxygen, the risk of a stroke is similarly increased.
High blood cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia, can be prevented through lifestyle changes. For the most part, regular exercise, a balanced diet and adequate rest will do the trick. Of the three, diet is probably the most important, since we already know that excess cholesterol comes from what a person eats. Dairy products such as eggs and butter are the usual culprits, along with red meat. To reduce your cholesterol levels, you simply have to reduce how much of these foods you eat. As much as possible, oils and other fatty foods should be avoided.
Of course, if all else fails, buying cholesterol-reducing drugs such as statin is a viable course of action. Statins are life medication cholesterol-reducing drugs, which means that you can expect to take them the rest of your life. If you stop using statin, your levels will shoot up again. Also, when using statins, you may need to get regular liver checks. Because these cholesterol-reducing drugs damages your liver, it is best to use them only at a doctor's recommendation.
Disclaimer: Cliff Schaffer does not personally endorse or support any of the comments made within the writings of this article. |