High cholesterol treatment available today

High cholesterol is caused by many factors. Genetics, lifestyle choices, and health conditions can all contribute to high cholesterol.

• Unhealthy diet: A diet high in saturated and trans fats can lead to high cholesterol. Saturated fats are found in animal products such as red meat, butter, and cheese. Trans fats are found in processed foods such as crackers, cookies, and margarine. Dietary cholesterol, like that found in eggs, is generally no longer considered harmful.

• Lack of exercise: Physical inactivity can lead to high bad cholesterol (LDL) as well as low good cholesterol (HDL). Exercise is, in fact, the best way to increase your HDL. A sedentary lifestyle combined with an unhealthy diet, on the other hand, can be a recipe for disaster.

• Smoking: Smoking damages and hardens the lining of your arteries, leading to a much higher chance of cholesterol-induced plaque buildup (atherosclerosis).

• Age and gender: Your cholesterol levels rise as you age. Men are also more likely than women to have high cholesterol.

• Being overweight: Excess weight can raise your cholesterol levels.

• Family history: Genetics can play a large role in determining how much cholesterol your body makes. Sometimes, family lineages can even pass on Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH), a condition in which the body produces a huge excess of it. FH isn’t curable, but it can be well managed with your doctor to get levels back into a normal range.

Lifestyle Changes

Making healthy lifestyle choices is the first step in treating high cholesterol. These include:

• Eating a healthy diet

• Exercising regularly

• Quitting smoking

• Reducing stress

Dietary Changes

Eating a healthy diet is one of the most important things you can do to lower your cholesterol. A healthy diet includes:

• Plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

• Lean protein, such as fish, chicken, and tofu

• Low-fat or non-fat dairy products

• Healthy fats, such as olive oil, nuts, and avocados

Exercise

Regular exercise can help lower cholesterol, increase the percentage of HDL, and reduce heart disease risk. Exercise has many other benefits as well, including:

• Weight loss

• Lower blood pressure

• Improved circulation

• Reduced stress levels

Medications

If lifestyle changes alone aren't enough to lower your cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe cholesterol medication. One common medication is a medicine called statins. Other common cholesterol-lowering medications include:

• Niacin

• Fibrates

• Bile acid sequestrants

• Cholesterol absorption inhibitors

• Probucol (rarely used)

• PCSK9 inhibitors (newer class of drugs)

Statins

Statins are the most common type of cholesterol-lowering medication. They work by inhibiting an enzyme in your liver that is needed to produce cholesterol. Statins can be very effective in lowering LDL ("bad") cholesterol and may also help raise HDL ("good") cholesterol. Common statins include:

Niacin

Niacin is a vitamin that can also be used to lower cholesterol. It works by inhibiting the liver's ability to make cholesterol. Niacin is available in an over-the-counter (OTC) supplement and in prescription form. Common prescription niacin products include:

Fibrates

Fibrates are a type of medication that lowers triglycerides and can also raise HDL cholesterol. Common fibrates include:

Bile acid sequestrants

Bile acid sequestrants are a type of medication that binds to bile acids in the intestines, preventing them from reabsorbing. This causes the liver to make more bile acids, which lowers cholesterol levels. Common bile acid sequestrants include:

Cholesterol absorption inhibitors

Cholesterol absorption inhibitors are a type of medication that inhibits cholesterol absorption from the intestines. Common cholesterol absorption inhibitors include:

Probucol

Probucol is a medication that was once commonly used to lower cholesterol. Probucol works by inhibiting the liver's ability to make cholesterol and increasing cholesterol excretion from the body.

PCSK9 Inhibitors

PCSK9 Inhibitors are a new class of drugs that work by inhibiting a protein that causes LDL cholesterol to be reabsorbed into the bloodstream. PCSK9 inhibitors are injectable medications used in addition to statins in people who cannot get their LDL cholesterol levels low enough with statins alone. Common PCSK9 inhibitors include:

Atherosclerosis

Coronary heart disease

Heart attack

Stroke

If you have any of these conditions, it is important to talk to your medical team about ways to lower your risk of developing them.