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.

• Lack of exercise: Physical inactivity can lead to high cholesterol. A sedentary lifestyle combined with an unhealthy diet can be a recipe for disaster.

• Smoking: Smoking damages the lining of your arteries, leading to plaque buildup and high cholesterol.

• High blood pressure: High blood pressure forces your heart to work harder, leading to plaque buildup and high cholesterol.

• Medical history: If you have a history of medical conditions such as heart disease, you may be at increased risk for high cholesterol.

• 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.

• Smoking: Cigarette smoking damages the walls of your blood vessels, making them more likely to collect plaque.

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 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.