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Cholesterol Treatment

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The link between heart diseases and high blood pressure is well defined and acknowledged. The burning or consumption of fats is vital in the comprehending the development of heart disease.

Fats, which are insoluble in water, are encased in water-soluble lipoproteins to allow them to be transported within a water-based circulatory system.

Four elements of fat metabolism — total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins, and triglycerides — are primary factors and the lipoproteins are synthesized by the liver of ingested as part of the diet.

All adults 20 years of age or older should have a fasting lipid profile, or the total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglyceride, performed at least once every 5 years and more often if the profile is abnormal.

Patients who have an acute event, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) require assessment of the LDL or the bad cholesterol level within 60 to 365 days after the event. Keep in mind that bad cholesterol (LDL) levels may be low immediately after the acute event.

Subsequently, lipids should be monitored every 6 weeks until the desired level is achieved and then every 4 to 6 months.

The effects of LDL in the body is life threatening. It can damage the “arterial wall” and expedite the development of atherosclerosis.

In contrast, HDL or the good cholesterol promotes the use of total cholesterol by transporting LDL to the liver, where it is biodegraded and then excreted. The desired goal is to have low LDL values and high HDL values. The desired level of LDL depends on the patient:

1. Less than 160 mg/dL for patients with one or no risk factors

2. Less than 130 mg/dL for patients with two or more risk factors

3. Less than 100 mg/dL for patients with Coronary Artery Diseases (CAD) or a CAD risk equivalent

Treatment and Medication

Serum cholesterol and LDL levels can usually be controlled by diet and physical activity. Depending on the patient’s LDL level and risk of coronary heart disease, medication therapy may also be prescribed.

The level of HDL should exceed 40 mg/dL and should ideally be more than 60 mg/dL. A high HDL level is a strong negative risk factor for heart disease.

Consequently, it is important that the patient should have a good diet that will inhibit lower LDL levels as well as incorporate physical activities on his daily routine.

Physical Activity

Regular, moderate physical activity increases HDL levels and reduces triglyceride levels. The goal for the average person is a total of 30 minutes of exercise, three to four times per week.

If you are an inactive person, you should start with activity that lasts 3 minutes, such as parking farther from a building to increase the walking time.

For sustained activity, patients should begin with a 5-minute warm up period to stretch and prepare the body for the exercise. They should end the exercise with a 5-minute cool-down period in which they gradually reduce the intensity of the activity to prevent a sudden decrease in cardiac output.

Medications

Medications are used in some instances to control cholesterol levels. If diet alone cannot normalize serum cholesterol levels, several medications have a synergistic effect with the prescribed diet. Lipid-lowering medications can reduce CAD mortality in patients with elevated lipid levels and in those with normal lipid levels.

Keep in mind that medication therapy is reserved for at-risk patients and is not regarded as a substitute for dietary modification. All of these medications have been shown to reduce major coronary events.

Some of these may be used in combination to achieve synergistic effects. For example, LDL cholesterol can be lowered more effectively by adding a low dose of resin to a dose of niacin or statins, or both, than a maximum dose of an individual agent.

Patients with elevated cholesterol levels should be monitored for adherence to the medical plan, the effect of cholesterol-lowering medications, and the development of side effects from cholesterol-lowering medications. Lipid levels are obtained and adjustments made to the diet and medication every 6 weeks until the lipid goal or maximum dose is achieved and then every 6 months thereafter.

All of these things were designed to help lower bad cholesterol levels in the body. If the patient will adhere to these advices, they will surely be able to treat their cholesterol problems in no time.

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