For the estimated 98 million Americans with high cholesterol, there are several options for lowering their risk for heart disease: diet, exercise and/or medications. Typically, when a patient is first diagnosed with cholesterol that's over 240...
According to the American Heart Association, or AHA, elevated blood cholesterol is a major controllable risk factor for serious heart disease and stroke. Cholesterol levels are directly related to risk of heart disease, so it's important to start...
Lipitor is an anti-cholesterol medication used to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, as mentioned in Medline Plus, a website supported by the National Institutes of Medicine. Lipitor is classified under the HMG-CoA reducatase inhibitors,...
Crestor is a medication that belongs to the drug category of statins or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, according to Medline Plus. (The generic form is called rosuvastatin.) It is used to decrease the amounts of cholesterol in your blood that can...
The medicine Lipitor (or the generic version of atorvastatin) is prescribed for patients who have high cholesterol levels. According to Drugs.com, Lipitor (or the generic version) works by blocking the cholesterol production in the liver, thereby...
High blood cholesterol leads to coronary heart disease, increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke. When lifestyle modifications aren't enough to bring your blood cholesterol levels under control, your doctor may prescribe medications....
Crestor is the brand name in the United States for the generic rosuvastatin, a medication prescribed for the treatment of high triglycerides and high cholesterol. Because Crestor decreases the amount of cholesterol produced by your body, it can...
Crestor is a prescription medication available as an oral tablet. Known generically as rosuvastatin calcium, it is indicated for the reduction of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and triglyceride levels. Crestor is also...
Elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood increase the chances of a person developing a heart attack, stroke or peripheral vascular disease. Cholesterol level goals need to be individualized and are set according to a person's risk of...
Simvastatin is a prescription medication indicated for high cholesterol and triglycerides. Information provided by the drug manufacturer states that it is also indicated for reduction of heart-related events such as heart attack in patients at...
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the blood that helps contribute to healthy cell function. Problems arise, however, when excessive levels of a certain type of cholesterol builds-up in the blood. At high levels, low-density lipoprotein...
A large amount of cholesterol is found in your skin. It helps retain moisture and keep out toxins. It's no wonder then that both elevated blood cholesterol and cholesterol medications also affect your skin. One major source of complaints regarding...
Doctors prescribe statins to lower cholesterol, so if you are considering stopping your daily dose, make sure it's with a physician's permission. Some people stop taking cholesterol medication because of unpleasant side effects, including...
Grapefruit is thought to be a cross between the orange and the pomelo, a large citrus fruit that originated in Southeast Asia. The red varieties originated in Texas in the late 1920s. The color description refers to the part you eat, not the peel...
High cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia, is defined as having greater than 200 mg of cholesterol per deciliter of blood. Although the body needs cholesterol, a waxy fatty substance, to build cell walls, it makes all that it requires...
Statins are medications used to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood. While cholesterol is necessary for the body to function properly, too much cholesterol can cause arteries to clog. The excess cholesterol can cling to artery walls,...
Triglycerides are fats in your body's fat tissue and bloodstream. When your triglyceride level is too high, it can cause strokes or heart attacks. High triglycerides can narrow or harden your arteries, causing your heart to work too hard....
The amino acid L-arginine facilitates the production of creatine, another amino acid that your liver, pancreas and kidneys make as an energy source. L-arginine also helps to flush ammonia out of your body. The toxic substance is a byproduct of...
Cholesterol is necessary to the functioning of all human cells and structures. However, when total cholesterol levels exceed 200 mg per deciliter of blood, a diagnosis of high cholesterol may be warranted. High cholesterol, or hyperlipidemia, may...
Simvastatin is a cholesterol drug that is prescribed to lower levels of LDL, the form of cholesterol commonly described as "bad." Simvastatin is approved for use in people aged 10 years old and up. The medication should be used in conjunction with...
You're probably most familiar with cinnamon as a spice baked in rolls and pies and added to hot cereals and warm beverages such as apple cider. Cinnamon has traditional medical uses as well, including treatment of upset stomach, inflammation and...
According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 98.6 million adults over the age of 20 have cholesterol higher than 200 mg/dl - the diagnostic threshold for having hypercholesterolemia. High cholesterol is a primary risk factor for heart...
There are many different types of cholesterol-lowering drugs. Each one works differently and each has its own unique side effects. Before taking any medications, author Thomas Andreoli in "Cecil Essentials of Medicine" suggests trying behavior...
Red yeast supplements are used as a natural alternative to statin drugs to achieve cholesterol lowering. According to a study done at the Center for Human Nutrition at the UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles, CA, red yeast significantly lowers...
Cholesterol is the way like substance that is a key component of cell membranes and the production of steroid hormones. Although certain amounts of cholesterol are required for proper functioning of the body, excess cholesterol can increase the...
Niacin is one of the essential B vitamins naturally found in legumes, dairy, eggs, lean meats, fish, and poultry as well as some fortified breakfast cereals. Most adults only need between 14 and 16 mg of this vitamin each day. But when certain...
Shiitake mushrooms are indigenous to China, Japan and other Asian countries. Not only are they are dietary staple in these cultures, but shiitake mushrooms have also been cultivated for their medicinal properties since pre-historic times. These...
Most fiber is not digested, but moves through the gastrointestinal tract and out of the body via the stool. Even though it does not get metabolized, fiber offers many important health benefits. It can retain water, prevent constipation and reduce...
Heart disease is just one of several conditions linked to high cholesterol. Physicians describe a person's cholesterol level by two numbers: HDL, sometimes referred to as the "good" cholesterol and LDL, the "bad" cholesterol. There is also another...
