If you have, or are at risk for developing, hypercholesterolemia, or high cholesterol, you should know that the statin drugs represent only a part of the array of treatments and deterrents for this cardiovascular condition. High cholesterol can lead to stroke, heart attack and vascular insufficiency. This dangerous condition deserves your attention, especially if there is a history of hypercholesterolemia in your family.
Prevention
As with all health issues, the old adage, "an ounce of prevention is worth a gallon of cure" tells a literal truism about health. Always easier to prevent than treat, hypercholesterolemia becomes progressively resistant to treatment. Diet precautions help get it under control. Eat red meat only occasionally, remove skin from chicken, avoid fried foods, eat low-fat dairy products, limit egg yolks to two a week and pass on rich desserts. When you sauté your foods, use olive oil or canola oil. Be aware that fast foods and most highly processed foods contain harmful trans-fats such as palm and coconut oils.
Diet
Generally, dense foods contain fat and cholesterol. Eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grains. These foods have little fat and contain high amounts of dietary fiber. Protein, while important, now holds a less dominant position on the USDA food pyramid. Choose the leanest cuts of meat and remove skin from chicken. Processed foods like cakes, pies, cookies and muffins often contain saturated fats, so read the labels before purchasing these products. Some foods to help you lower cholesterol include oatmeal, fish high in omega-3 fatty acids such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, sardines, halibut and lake trout, walnuts and almonds, olive oil and foods that contain plant sterols such as some margarines, orange juice and yogurt drinks, according to MayoClinic.com. You can take omega-3 fish oils in capsule form.
Lifestyle
Exercise leads to a strong heart and lungs and strengthens your bones and muscles. Experts recognize that working out also raises your level of HDL, which is considered the "good" cholesterol. It flushes LDL, or "bad," cholesterol from your bloodstream and helps keep your total cholesterol levels in balance. While you want low LDL and triglycerides levels, your HDL level should be high. Regular exercise can raise your HDL. If you smoke or drink alcohol to excess, stop. Discontinuing these habits and lowering your caffeine intake have positive effects on your cholesterol and ultimately your heart.
Medications
Statins lead the pack of effective cholesterol-lowering medications; however, many people cannot tolerate their side effects. The statins include Lipitor, Lescol, Mevacor, Pravachol, Crestor and Zocor. Another group of effective cholesterol-lowering drugs, known as the bile acid sequestrants, include Questran, Welchol and Colestid. Nicotinic acid also lowers LDL and raises HDL, but may cause hot flashes. Fibrates lower triglycerides and raise HDL, and can sometime offset side effects from a statin if taken concurrently. The drug, Ezetimibe also lowers LDL cholesterol, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
