4 High cholesterol-lowering drugs
High cholesterol should not always be treated with medication, you know. Know when to take medication and when not.
In general high cholesterol is generally symptomatic, but it becomes the forerunner of deadly diseases such as heart attack and stroke. No wonder, if one knows the cholesterol is high, it is as soon as possible to drink a cholesterol-lowering drug.
The act of consuming cholesterol-lowering drugs is not always necessary. Before discussing further medicine, you need to know the ideal cholesterol levels and high.
There are four main types of cholesterol in the body, namely total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein), HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein), and triglycerides. Ideally, total cholesterol levels are less than 200 mg/dl (milligram per deciliter); LDL cholesterol is less than 100 mg/dl or less than 70 mg/dl if it has diabetes, heart disease, or stroke; HDL cholesterol more than 50 mg/dl; and triglycerides less than 150 mg/dl.
Cholesterol prevention
If any of the cholesterol levels are not the ideal range, it means that you experience dyslipidemia, or are known simply by the term high cholesterol. The initial handling of high cholesterol does not use medicines, but by improving lifestyle in the form of:
- Do not consume trans fats (e.g. fried foods) altogether.
- Consume lots of vegetables and fruits.
- Do rhythmic sports (cycling, jogging, swimming, etc.) at least four times a week, at least 30 minutes each time.
Do these three things regularly for 1 month, then check the re-cholesterol level. If cholesterol levels drop, then your diet and exercise efforts are effective for lowering cholesterol. Maintain that lifestyle and do it regularly.
Cholesterol medication
However if the cholesterol does not go down after 1 month of diet and exercise, consumption of cholesterol-lowering drugs should be considered, especially in:
- People aged 40-75 years old who have LDL cholesterol levels > 100 mg/dl and have diabetes.
- People who have a history of heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease, or other vascular disorders.
- People aged 21-40 years old who have LDL levels above 190 mg/dl.
There are many types of cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as:
1. Statins (eg: simvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin), which work by inhibiting the formation of cholesterol so that it will lower LDL cholesterol, lower triglycerides, and increase HDL.
2. Fibrat, which is a cholesterol-lowering drug that works to lower triglycerides. This type of drug is ineffective for lowering LDL cholesterol.
3. Bile acid sequestrant (eg: Cholestyramine and cholestatic), which works by binding to bile fluid so that LDL cholesterol from food cannot be absorbed by the intestine.
4. Other drugs such as niacin, Ezetimibe, omega-3, and so on.
When to consume cholesterol drugs?
To consume a cholesterol-lowering drug, you are advised to consult a physician first. Conducting the treatment itself is not recommended because no side monitors the possibility of adverse effects of the drug. To be known, cholesterol-lowering drugs can cause side effects of impaired liver function, muscle aches, nausea, and so on.
Also, if the doctor advises you to take cholesterol medication, it is necessary to take note of the medication regularly. Consume at the same time (for example, every morning after a bath or a moment before bedtime), keep the drug in a closed and cool place, and check your cholesterol periodically. At the beginning of drug use generally, cholesterol checked every 3 months.
Don't forget, even if your doctor recommends taking cholesterol-lowering medications, the main treatment of high cholesterol like diet and regular exercise should not be left behind.