Medical evidence shows that high cholesterol is the prime cause of heart attacks in adults in America today. Over 42 million Americans are walking around with a high cholesterol total which puts them in imminent danger for a heart attack. Another 63 million have a borderline reading which makes them a good candidate to progress into the high cholesterol group. A high cholesterol reading is so dangerous to our system, that it must be addressed in order to ensure good health.
People are dying from heart attacks due to high cholesterol levels because high cholesterol has no symptoms. If you have a family history of heart attacks, you have a predisposition toward high cholesterol. However, having no familial history does not preclude you from developing this condition.
Cholesterol is a soft substance that is waxy in texture, found in the fats (lipids) in your bloodstream as well as in all the cells in your body. Too much cholesterol in your blood, a condition referred to as hypercholesterolemia, places you at risk for dveloping coronary heart disease (CAD), a major cause for heart attacks.
Cholesterol and fats do not dissolve in your bloodstream, and they do not have the ability to transport themselves back and forth between the cells in your body. They are carried by lipoproteins, of which there are two kinds:
- Low density lipoproteins (LDL) - are the major carriers of cholesterol and fats in your system; however, if too much low density lipoprotein cholesterol starts to circulate in your blood, it can build up in the walls of your arteries that feed both your heart and brain. It forms a thick deposit called plaque that can clog the arterial blood flow, a condition that is called atherosclerosis. If it clogs the blood flow to the heart, a heart attack is the result; if it clogs the arteries to the brain, then a stroke results. LDL is called "bad cholesterol" for obvious reasons. A high level of LDL cholesterol (160mg/dL and above) is a sign of serious risk of heart disease; a reading of 70mg/dL should be your goal.
- High density lipoproteins (HDL) - account for about 30% of the cholesterol and fat transportation through your arteries. Medical experts believe that HDL removes excess cholesterol from plaques and, as such, protects against heart attacks. Hence, HDL is called "good cholesterol" for obvious reasons. The higher your reading (40mg/dL in men, 50mg/dL in women), the less risk you have for a heart attack.
Luckily, there are medications that are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors or "statins" that are used to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglyceride levels in your blood or raise good cholesterol (HDL) levels in adults. Control your cholesterol level using Zocor, Tricor and Zetia .
Symptoms of High Cholesterol
There are no symptoms for bad cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends that you have a blood test to determine your LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels at least every 5 years. If your family has a history of heart attacks, you may be predisposed to atherosclerosis through genetics, and you should have the blood test at least on an annual basis.
Factors that Affect Cholesterol
There are factors within your control that affect cholesterol levels. Some of these are:
- Diet - You acquire cholesterol in two ways - through production in your liver, and through the foods that you eat. Saturated fatty acids are the main cause of elevated LDL cholesterol. You should limit your cholesterol intake to less than 300 mgs. per day.
- Exercise - There seems to be a direct correlation between physical activity and HDL cholesterol. The more you engage in physical exercise, the higher your HDL will increase.
- Smoking - Researchers believe that tobacco smoke lowers LDL cholesterol levels while increasing the chances for a blood clot to form.
- Alcohol - Researchers believe that drinking in moderation may, indeed, elevate the "good" cholesterol in your body. However, you should consult your doctor before attempting to raise your HDL cholesterol in this manner.
There have been amazing medical strides made recently in the treatment and control of cholesterol, the "silent killer." Zocor is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor that has produced excellent results in lowering bad cholesterol and elevating good cholesterol. If you keep your cholesterol under control, you can reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Licensed physicians can diagnose the severity of the condition based on the cholesterol blood test and make recommendations according to their findings.
In most cases, a medical drug treatment intervention will reduce and control your cholesterol levels.
Benefits of Cholesterol Medications
- Medications available at Pro-Medics an online pharmacy, will lower your bad cholesterol and raise your good cholesterol, thus reducing your chances of a heart attack or stroke.
- These medications will control your cholesterol level and reduce your risk of serious heart disease.
- These medications will enhance your quality of life.
