Taking low-doses of certain over-the-counter medications sold as dietary supplements can help to lower your cholesterol and blood pressure. As two of the risk factors associated with heart disease, doctors recommend that you control your cholesterol and blood pressure as you age. Aspirin and niacin are two over-the-counter medications you can use to help manage and treat high cholesterol levels. However, you should not attempt to self-treat cholesterol. Only take these medications under the treatment and supervision of a medical professional.
Niacin as a Supplement
Niacin is a B vitamin, known as B-3, that helps your body enter and stay in a relaxed state. According to "Feel Better, Live Longer with Vitamin B-3: Nutrient Deficiency and Dependency," niacin is a natural sleep aid that can help your body lower your bad cholesterol levels, known as low-density lipoproteins, or LDL. Additionally, niacin can help your body increase good cholesterol, known as high-density lipoproteins, or HDL, and help your body to maintain an optimum ratio between the two.
The Way Niacin Works
While your body receives niacin from the foods you eat, without supplementation, your body typically does not consume enough niacin to benefit your cholesterol. Therefore, doctors commonly recommend niacin supplements to increase your HDL. According to "Cholesterol Control Without Diet," niacin interacts with your HDLs increasing their number in your body. At the same time, niacin collects the LDLs in your bloodstream and helps your body to remove this harmful type of cholesterol through waste.
Aspirin as a Supplement
Doctors commonly recommend aspirin supplementation to lower your blood pressure and minimize the risk of developing heart disease. According to "Aspirin and Ibuprofen," individuals who have suffered a heart attack or are at high risk of suffering a future heart attack, can benefit from taking one aspirin per day as a health supplement. Aspirin functions in your body by preventing blood platelets from sticking together and clogging your arteries. Preventing clogged arteries is also important in the treatment of cholesterol.
Aspirin and High Cholesterol
According to "Cholesterol Control Without Diet," individuals with high cholesterol show a lowered response to aspirin for the treatment of clogged arteries than individuals with normal cholesterol levels. Therefore, if you have high cholesterol, aspirin become less effective in reducing the amount your blood platelets stick together. Therefore, doctors commonly recommend supplementation with both niacin and aspirin to help minimize your risk for developing heart disease.
References
- "Cholesterol Control Without Diet!"; William B. Parsons Jr.; 2000
- "Feel Better, Live Longer with Vitamin B-3: Nutrient Deficiency and Dependency"; Abram Hoffer and Harold D. Foster; 2007
- "Doctor Yourself: Natural Healing That Works"; Andrew Saul; 2003
- "Aspirin and Ibuprofen; 2 Volume Set; Aspirin and Related Drugs"; Kim D. Rainsford; 2004
