What do cholesterol medications do

Nature Reviews — Cardiology. High blood cholesterol. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Listen to your heart: Learn about heart disease. Grundy SM, et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Thanassoulis G, et al. A long-term benefit approach vs standard risk-based approaches for statin eligibility in primary prevention. JAMA Cardiology. Statin intolerance. Mayo Clinic; Lopez-Jimenez F expert opinion. Mayo Clinic. See also After a flood, are food and medicines safe to use?

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VLDL cholesterol: Is it harmful? Wilson's syndrome: An accepted medical diagnosis? Show more related content. Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Changes in this gene can lower the amount of LDL receptors. Many people who have high cholesterol also have high triglycerides a type of fat found in your blood. Some medications can help lower this type of fat directly. Once these levels go down, the total amount of cholesterol is often lowered.

A common prescription for high triglycerides is niacin or vitamin B People taking this medication might experience the following:. When more aggressive treatment is necessary to treat high triglycerides, a class of medications called fibrates is often prescribed. Also, dietary supplements of omega-3 fatty acids — found in fish oil — have been shown to reduce triglyceride levels.

There are a number of lifestyle changes you can make that can help lower your cholesterol. These play an important role in fighting high cholesterol. To help lower cholesterol, start by losing excess weight and eating heart-healthy foods. Eating a heart-healthy diet means decreasing the amount of saturated animal fat you eat. It also means increasing fiber, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish in your diet.

If you are overweight, losing as little as 5 to 10 pounds can help reduce your cholesterol levels. Other important lifestyle changes to consider are to stop smoking and to reduce the amount of alcohol you consume.

Getting exercise every day is another way to fight high cholesterol. Exercise has other health benefits as well. To add exercise to your lifestyle, you can start with something as simple as taking a short walk each day.

Natural remedies have been shown to have some cholesterol-lowering effects as well. However, they should be in addition to lifestyle changes. Some of these include:. It is important to note that you should continue any medication you have been prescribed by your doctor.

There are a number of different types of statins and alternatives. The important thing when deciding on the best treatment for you is to talk openly with your doctor. Changes to your diet and exercise along with natural remedies may help you if statins cause you to have uncomfortable side effects. They can advise when you can lower your dosage or make any changes or additions to your medications.

High cholesterol often has no symptoms, but can lead to serious health issues. Carrying high levels of LDL cholesterol in your blood ups the chance of heart attack and stroke. You want to do all you can to keep cholesterol levels…. Non-HDL cholesterol is a way of measuring how much of the "bad" kinds of cholesterol you have in your blood.

Learn more here. A new study found that cholesterol levels were linked to cancer cells becoming more resilient. Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs. What medications treat high cholesterol? Diana Meeks on behalf of Sigma Nursing.

Family Practitioner. Discovery Health. There's a certain bean that may have cholesterol-lowering powers. Where can you get it? Try a creamy side of hummus. Research shows that chickpeas, Do PCSK9 inhibitors have any side effects?

Donna Hill Howes, RN. Side effects may include high blood pressure, dizziness, nose and throat inflammation, upper respira What should I know before taking statins?