High blood cholesterol, defined as a total cholesterol level over 240 mg/dL, affects one in every six adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a major risk factor for heart disease, you should take steps to lower your cholesterol. Initially, doctors suggest making therapeutic lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and increasing physical activity, which can lower cholesterol by 10 to 20 percent in some patients, according to The Society for Vascular Surgery. For others, taking a cholesterol-lowering medication classified as a statin is necessary to lower cholesterol levels into the healthy range.
Cholesterol Levels
The two main types of cholesterol include low-density lipoprotein, LDL, and high-density lipoprotein, HDL. Doctors refer to LDL as the "bad" cholesterol because this type remains in the blood vessels, forms plaque and restricts the flow of blood. Healthy people with no other heart disease risk factors should keep their LDL levels less than 160 mg/dL. Those at moderate risk for heart disease, which includes people with at least two risk factors, should keep their LDL levels at less than 130 mg/dL. High risk patients or patients who already suffer from heart disease must keep their LDL less than 100 mg/dL, and some doctors suggest striving for less than 70 mg/dL. Many patients require a statin medication to reach these LDL cholesterol goals.
Action
Although changing your diet and reducing the amount of saturated and trans fat you consume can help lower your cholesterol levels, food contributes only 25 percent of all the cholesterol in your body. The cells in the liver produce approximately 75 percent of your total cholesterol. Statin medications are also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors because they work by inhibiting the action of the enzyme known as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase. The liver cells use this enzyme to produce cholesterol, and without it, cholesterol production becomes significantly slower.
Types
Several different statin medications exist, including simvastatin, atorvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin and rosuvastatin. Although these medications function the same, they differ in the dosage and the cost. The type of statin medication prescribed and the daily dosage depends upon how high your blood cholesterol measured and how much you need your LDL levels to decrease. Because of the potential for side effects, like nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and muscle or joint pain, you should start at the lowest dosage and then determine if a higher dosage is necessary to meet your desired LDL cholesterol level.
Impact
Lowering your total blood cholesterol levels and your LDL cholesterol level makes a huge impact on the overall health of your cardiovascular system, reduces the risk for heart disease and prolongs your life. Although statins effectively lower total and LDL cholesterol levels for most patients, others may experience only slight reductions. Discuss your results with your doctor, as he may be able to trigger larger reductions by changing to another type of statin or adding another medication known as ezetimibe, which can help reduce LDL by another 15 to 20 percent, according to MayoClinic.com. Statin medications also exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, which help stabilize the lining of the blood vessels and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke caused by pieces of plaque breaking away.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: High Cholesterol; February 2011
- The Society for Vascular Surgery; Hyperlipidemia; October 2009
- "Cellular Molecular Life Science"; Lipid-Lowering Drugs; K. Pahan; May 2006
- MayoClinic.com: Statins: Are These Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Right for You?; February 2010
