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What Everyone Should Know About Lowering LDL Cholesterol

5 minute read

By Check

Cholesterol is a waxy substance helps the body make hormones and vitamin D, but high levels can cause plaque deposits in arteries. These deposits narrow coronary arteries and make it difficult for blood to pump through the body.

High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, peripheral artery disease, and stroke, but there are steps you can take to reduce your LDL (bad) cholesterol and reduce your risk factors for heart disease. Here’s what you should know about improving your cholesterol levels.

The Role of Cholesterol in the Body

The human body needs a healthy amount of cholesterol to function. This fatty substance is produced by the liver and absorbed from food then distributed throughout the body to make hormones and vitamin D.

Cholesterol is distributed through the blood by lipoproteins. There are two types of lipoproteins:

When your LDL levels are too high and the HDL levels are too low, your cardiovascular risks are much higher. Rising LDL cholesterol levels are related to atherosclerosis, or a condition in which LDL cholesterol combines with other substances and forms plaques that build up in the arteries. This can lead to angina (chest pains), heart attack, stroke, and coronary artery disease.

Symptoms of High Cholesterol

There are no symptoms of high cholesterol, but the consequences — stroke, heart disease, and peripheral artery disease — do have symptoms. The most common symptoms of heart disease include:

How to Lower Your Cholesterol

Lowering your cholesterol level may require a combination of lifestyle changes and treatments from a physician. Along with changing your diet and getting regular physical activity, your doctor may prescribe medication called statins to bring down your LDL levels and reduce your risk of heart disease.

Statins are a class of lipid-reducing drugs that reduce triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood by blocking a chemical in the liver that makes cholesterol. These drugs, like Lipitor and Zocor, can reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and premature death by around 25-35% but they do come with risks. About 10% of statin users develop muscle pain and aches. Other risks and side effects include increased liver enzymes, worsening asthma, potential birth defects in pregnant women, and a risk of muscle damage while taking statins with antibiotics or antifungal medications.

A physician may also prescribe niacin, a B vitamin that is very effective at lowering triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels and raises HDL levels. Niacin is taken in tablet form 1-3 times a day. Niacin is very powerful and should always be administered under the care of a doctor as careful dosage is important. Niacin doses high enough to affect cholesterol levels can also increase the risk of liver damage and gout. It can also increase blood sugar levels which can be harmful to patients with type 2 diabetes.

Diet for Lowering Cholesterol

The safest and most effective way to reduce your cholesterol levels is through dietary changes. A diet to lower cholesterol focuses on whole foods high in fiber, which reduces your LDL cholesterol, while avoiding cholesterol-rich foods like red meat. The following tips can help you build a healthy and balanced diet that supports healthy blood cholesterol levels.

Foods That Lower Cholesterol

The following foods can help you naturally reduce your bad cholesterol levels.

Conclusion

If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, you aren’t alone. About 33% of Americans have high cholesterol, but diet changes alone can reduce your cholesterol levels by up to 15%. Making smart food choices and replacing unwise food choices can help you keep your cholesterol levels under control and live a healthier life. If dietary changes aren’t enough to bring your cholesterol under control, a physician can prescribe medication like statins that will help you reach your goal and enjoy improved heart health.

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