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HOW CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DRUGS WORK

You have seen the commercials on television for many cholesterol-lowering drugs, you have even considered going to the doctor to find out what your cholesterol level is, but you still are not sure just who should take a cholesterol lowering drug and when they should start taking one.Is it when you're older?Is it only if you eat fast foods on a regular basis?Is it when you start to have chest pains or tingling in your arms?How do the cholesterol lowering drugs work anyway?You may think to yourself that you eat right and even get a little exercise now and then so you are ok.You don't have anything that you would consider a warning sign of high cholesterol.Well, maybe a little more information on how cholesterol lowering drugs work might be beneficial for you.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs work in a few different ways.There are four main types of cholesterol lowering drugs; they are satins, niacin, bile-acid resins, and fibric acid derivatives. Each of these types of cholesterol-lowering drugs work in a different way.

The first type of cholesterol-lowering drugs-Satins-block the cholesterol in the liver from being produced.They also lower the LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides and they also can have a small effect in raising the HDL (good cholesterol).Satins are the first to be prescribed to patients with high cholesterol.

The next type of cholesterol lowering drugs is niacin.Nicotinic acid is a B- complex vitamin.It is found in food, but you also can get it by a prescription as well.Niacin lowers LDL and raises H DL.

Bile-acid resins are the next type of cholesterol reducing drug.These drugs work in the intestine, they attach to bile from the liver and prevent if from being absorbed into the circulatory system.Bile is made largely from cholesterol so these drugs work by decreasing the body's supply of cholesterol.

Fibric acid derivitives or fibrates is the last type of cholesterol lowering drug, they reduce the production of triglycerides, which are another fat in the blood stream, and can increase the good cholesterol (HDL).

When would a person consider taking a cholesterol lowering drug?The first line of defense against a high cholesterol level is to eat a low-fat, high fiber diet and exercise.But for some people this is not enough to lower the cholesterol level.These are the ones that should consider taking a cholesterol lowering drug to bring their cholesterol level to a safe level.However the cholesterol lowering medication is most effective when combined with a low-fat high-fiber diet.

What happens if you don't control your cholesterol with a low-fat high-fiber diet and a cholesterol lowering drug?You open yourself up to risk of heart disease.When there is too much cholesterol in the bloodstream it builds up in the walls of your arteries, this build up causes the arteries to harden.The arteries become narrow and the blood flow to the heart is slowed or blocked.If enough blood and oxygen cannot reach your heart and there is a complete blockage to a portion of the heart, the result is a heart attack.

The benefits of taking a cholesterol-lowering medication are clear.With the right medication, some attention to your diet, and maybe even a little more exercise you might be on your way to a healthier life. A low-fat, high fiber diet is a good place to start but if that is not enough for you to get your cholesterol under control then a cholesterol-lowering drug should be taken to assist in the prevention of heart disease.

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