Introduction
According to the American Heart Association, when measuring cholesterol, you should aim for a cholesterol level of below 200mg/dL. Unfortunately, an estimated 98.6 million Americans have a cholesterol level higher than that. Of those, 34.4 million have a dangerously high cholesterol level of more than 240mg/dL. When reaching these levels, many times the only course of action is the use of cholesterol lowering medications.
Statins
Statins are one of the most commonly prescribed medications to help lower cholesterol levels. Statins work by reducing the body's ability to create cholesterol. This is done by blocking the enzyme hydroxy-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase). This enzyme is responsible for the production of cholesterol in the liver. Statin medications include prescriptions such as Atorvastatin and Lovastatin.
Bile Acid Sequestrants
Bile acid sequestrants, or bile acid resins, work by blocking the body's ability to absorb cholesterol into the bloodstream from the food you consume. This is achieved by binding to cholesterol in such a way that it is unable to pass through the walls of the intestines and into the bloodstream. The cholesterol continues on with body waste through the intestines and is removed with your feces. Bile acid sequestrants include the medications colesevelam, colestipol and cholestyramine.
Niacin
Niacin is another commonly prescribed cholesterol lowering drug. Since niacin is a form of B vitamin, it can also be found in non-prescription strength. Niacin works by boosting your good cholesterol levels. There are two main types of cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDL cholesterol) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL cholesterol). Low-density lipoproteins transport cholesterol from the liver to the cells in the body that require it. High-density lipoproteins work to bring excess cholesterol back to the liver to be metabolized out of the body. Niacin works by boosting the levels of high density lipoproteins in the body. This helps clear greater amounts of cholesterol out of the blood, lowering your overall cholesterol levels.
