MEDICATIONS FOR CONTROLLING CHOLESTEROL AND TRIGLYCERIDES
Like hypertension, high cholesterol levels pose one of the major risks for heart disease. Left uncontrolled and elevated, cholesterol continues to clog the arteries and the disease progresses. But, as with hypertension, you can do much to control cholesterol without drugs.
The first line of defence, once again, is a prudent program of diet and exercise. We've talked about the details before. You've seen the data proving that heart disease can be stopped dead in its tracks and maybe even reversed with the right kind of program.
But some of us simply can't do the job alone. Our bloodstreams contain increased amounts of cholesterol and triglycerides even though we cut back on the foods which raise those levels. Fortunately, there are a number of agents at our disposal to lower our levels into a safe zone.
Let me summarise what I've said earlier, however, as to what a truly safe range is for the person who has already had a heart attack or bypass surgery. It's just not good enough to settle for a cholesterol level under 5.2. That might slow the process down a bit, but it won't stop it and it absolutely won't make it go in the opposite direction.
To do that takes more effort, Heart patients must shoot for cholesterol levels well under 4.6, preferably even lower, ideally down in the 3.6-4.1 range. In terms of the subfractions of cholesterol, the "bad" LDL cholesterol should be down around 2.6 or so, not just below 3.6 (which is the target for the general population). For men, the "good" HDL should be no lower than 1.2 and for women the number is 1.3. And while triglycerides have not been shown to be as much a risk as cholesterol, it's best to keep those numbers under 5.2, preferably down around 3.9 to be on the safe side.
Don't be fooled by your cholesterol levels shortly after your heart attack or bypass. Levels tend to drop dramatically for a while. Many patients think they don't have a problem when they get their test results. But the levels return to pre-heart attack or pre-bypass points two or three months later.
Once you've established what your cholesterol levels really are, for total, LDL and HDL as well as for triglycerides (those all are collectively termed lipids), then try your level best to get those counts down as low as possible with your diet and exercise program. After giving the diet-exercise a fair trial and finding that your lipids are still elevated, your doctor very well may want to put you on one of the agents known to reduce cholesterol. There's a fairly wide choice available.
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Cardio & Blood/ Cholesterol
