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To give cholesterol drugs to children, they must be under the care of a pediatric endocrinologist to determine the best drug for their condition. Learn more about high cholesterol in children with help from a pediatrician in this free video on taking care of your children.
If you are looking for a wonder drug to reduce your cholesterol levels, the Mayo Clinic says that one class of cholesterol-reducing drugs (the statins) are being called as much. But statins are just one of several drugs that help with lowering cholesterol levels. Others include: bile-acid sequestrants, nicotinic acid (niacin) and fibric acid.
High cholesterol is a growing issue in American medicine. The cholesterol in the blood sticks to the sides of the arteries to form plaque. This plaque grows until the blood can no longer flow freely through the arteries. Statin drugs have been used to reduce that amount of cholesterol in the blood. Now there is a class of drugs that are said to affect cholesterol absorption.
Cholesterol is a substance produced in the liver necessary for many processes in the body. Too much cholesterol in the body can lead to heart disease. There are drugs which are specifically designed to stop the production of cholesterol in the liver. An example of medications in this class are Zocor and Lipitor.
Almost 50 percent of all American adults either have or will have high cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association. High cholesterol does not mean that you are doomed to have a heart attack or cardiovascular disease. Neither does it mean you will have regular appointments with a doctor to get cholesterol medication. What it does mean is that you will need to take steps to help lower your cholesterol to reduce your chances of heart attack and cardiovascular disease. While medication can be prescribed by your doctor, there are ways to improve cholesterol without medication.
When a doctor diagnoses a patient with high cholesterol, he is also saying that the patient is at risk for coronary artery disease. The aim then becomes to get cholesterol numbers down into the normal range. While changes in diet and beginning an exercise program can help, a doctor may also prescribe a cholesterol-lowering medication. While medications can do this, they can also cause other problems.
While cholesterol drugs are usually effective at lowering cholesterol levels, the side effects can be unpleasant, and in some cases, may seriously affect your health. Any prescription drug has the potential to cause side effects, but because cholesterol medications known as statins can have some acute adverse reactions, individuals taking these drugs should see their doctors often.
According to the American Heart Association, approximately 98.6 million American adults have blood cholesterol levels over 200 mg. Having high cholesterol poses a higher risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and other health conditions. But taking cholesterol drugs can help get this issue under control and prevent health complications. Before taking a cholesterol drug, it helps to have a few tips.
Medications that fight high cholesterol may work in several different ways, including lowering your bad cholesterol (low density lipoprotein) and triglycerides and increasing "good" cholesterol (high density lipoprotein). Cholesterol medications are commonly used and generally safe but may cause side effects such as digestive problems and interactions with certain foods. Consider these facts from the Mayo Clinic about the types of drugs used to fight high cholesterol.
