Cholesterol

What is Cholesterol?

Everyone hears about cholesterol but how many people know what it is or even if they should care? Estimates are that 106 million Americans have high cholesterol levels.

In order to know the affect cholesterol has on you, knowing what it is, the causes for different levels, symptoms if any for cholesterol problems and what drugs or other treatment are available are important.

Medically speaking cholesterol is a lipidic, waxy steroid found in cell membranes, transported through the body in the blood plasma. In easier to understand terms it is waxy, fat-like and is made in the liver and is also contained in certain foods such as meats, eggs, and dairy products and it is carried through the body in blood. Cholesterol is essential for all animal life and most especially human life. However, if cholesterol levels in the blood are too high then medical problems may be associated with it. Some of the body functions or organs that high cholesterol affects are the heart and vascular system as well as the gallbladder and liver. Heart attack, stroke,

Causes on High Levels of Cholesterol

Gender, age, family history, diet and exercise can all cause or affect cholesterol levels. Some of the factors such as gender and age are out of our control, but others such as diet and exercise are in your control.

High Colesterol Symptoms

There are no symptoms for high cholesterol, but there are other disease risk factors such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other health problems that along with high cholesterol can cause even more serious health problems. There is a definite link between high cholesterol and heart disease, diabetes, etc. Since there are no symptoms of high cholesterol your doctor will need to perform tests to determine the levels of cholesterol in the blood and how best to treat it. The first step to determine cholesterol levels is with a blood test. The blood test will show the levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) known as the "bad" cholesterol, HDL (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) "good" cholesterol, Triglycerides and overall or total cholesterol. The resulting findings are evaluated and accessed, determining the treatments prescribed by your doctor. Additionally your doctor will perform a physical exam including checking your heart rate, blood pressure and obtaining your medical history if unknown.

Treatments

In addition to drug treatment, your doctor will recommend dietary and lifestyle changes to help in lowering your LDL cholesterol levels and/or increasing the HDL levels. Some doctors may be willing to try alternative herbal or nutritional supplements before prescribing drug treatment. Other doctors may wish to use only drug treatment or a combination of both to treat high cholesterol and this is something you will need to discuss with your doctor.

Drugs prescribed for cholesterol include Statins, used to block the overall production of cholesterol in the liver, while lowering the LDL "bad" cholesterol and mildly affect the raising of the HDL "good" cholesterol level. Some of the Statins medications include Crestor, Lipitor, Lescol, Mevacor, Pravachol and Zocor. Other drugs for cholesterol treatment are Nicotinic Acids a B-Complex vitamin including Nicolar and Niaspan. Bile acid resins which work inside the intestines where they bind with bile from the liver to help the body rid itself of cholesterol and include Questran and Questran Light, Colestid and WelChol. Fibrates are sometimes prescribed as they may help by reducing the production of triglycerides and assist in raising the HDL levels and include Atromid, Tricor and Lopid.

In Closing...

High cholesterol and the effects on your body can be confusing, and seemingly insurmountable, but when you work with your physician, you will be better able to understand and control high cholesterol.