Contents:
- Medical Video: Statin Misinformation: Mayo Clinic Radio
- What cholesterol medications are doctors usually given?
- When to start taking cholesterol medication?
- Are there any side effects from taking this cholesterol medication?
Medical Video: Statin Misinformation: Mayo Clinic Radio
Lifestyle changes are the first way that is often taken to prevent or treat high cholesterol levels in the body. However, it does not rule out the possibility that you are still encouraged to take routine cholesterol medication by a doctor. Now, the question now is when is the right time to take the medicine?
What cholesterol medications are doctors usually given?
Medications for cholesterol are usually relied upon to reduce high cholesterol levels in the body. The type of cholesterol medication most doctors recommend is statins. Statins work by blocking the formation of cholesterol in the liver, which in turn prevents more severe blockages in the arteries.
Statins are considered effective for lowering triglyceride and bad cholesterol levels low-density lipoproteins (LDL), while increasing good cholesterol or high density lipoprotein (HDL). This certainly can help reduce your risk of stroke, heart disease, and heart attack.
There are various types of statins that are often prescribed, such as:
- Lovastatin (Mevacor®, Altoprev ™)
- Pitavastatin (Livalo®)
- Atorvarstatin (Lipitor®)
- Rosuvastatin (Crestor®)
- Pravastatin (Pravachol®)
- Simvastatin (Zocor®)
- Fluvastatin (Lescol®)
All types of statin drugs basically work together effectively to reduce the body's cholesterol levels. But it would be better, to still consult a doctor to get a drug that is in accordance with the conditions and symptoms you experience.
When to start taking cholesterol medication?
Not a few people who choose to take cholesterol drugs to prevent stroke and heart disease. In fact, these cholesterol-lowering drugs should not be taken carelessly and still need a doctor's prescription to get them.
Your doctor will consider your health condition along with all the risk factors that you have before prescribing cholesterol medications. You can start taking cholesterol medication if the cholesterol level in your body is quite high, so you risk creating complications if not treated immediately.
Normally, overall total cholesterol must be below 200 mg / dL. While LDL cholesterol should not be more than 130 mg / dL.
In essence, not everyone can easily take cholesterol medication. According to the American Heart Association, there are four main groups that should benefit from statins.
First, adults in the age range of 40-75 years with LDL cholesterol levels 70-189 mg / dL. This group generally does not have heart disease, but is at risk of experiencing it in the next 10 years. Especially for people who have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and active smokers.
Second, people who already have heart and blood vessel disease, are mainly associated with hardening or narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis). For example for people with heart attacks, strokes due to blockage of arteries, angina, minor strokes, peripheral arteries, and so forth.
Next, people who are 21 years or older with very high LDL cholesterol levels exceed the normal limit, which is above 190 mg / dL. Lastly, people with diabetes and have LDL cholesterol levels 70-189 mg / dL. Moreover, if people with diabetes have proven risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and smoking.
Are there any side effects from taking this cholesterol medication?
Dr. Patrick McBride, MPH as chair of the cholesterol clinic at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, explained that cholesterol-lowering drugs statins can be optimal for lowering cholesterol levels in the body after 2-4 weeks of drinking it regularly, quoted from the WebMD page.
Unfortunately, just like other drugs, statin drugs also have side effects in the form of headaches, muscle aches, liver damage, and increased blood sugar levels. So, even though it looks effective and promising, it's best not to just stick to cholesterol-lowering drugs.
You still need to maintain total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL levels to stay normal by routinely carrying out a healthy lifestyle. It includes designing healthy eating patterns according to body condition, maintaining ideal body weight, exercising regularly, stopping smoking, and managing stress well.
