Cholesterol is a word that strikes fear and concern especially among people who are health-conscious. It is perhaps the most influencing factor that can determine the type of food you eat each day and eating habits as well.
So what is cholesterol and what does it do?
For starters, you must know that there are 2 types of cholesterol which are the good and the bad ones. Cholesterol is a substance that is found among fats that are circulating in the bloodstream of your body. This soft and waxy agent is found in all the cells of your body and plays an important role in your general wellbeing.
The rule of thumb is that if the blood cholesterol level must not be too high because that could put you in the risk of contracting heart-related problems like heart attacks and such. Therefore, you must ensure that the cholesterol level in your body is kept at its regulated level so that you do not experience any complications later.
75% of the blood cholesterol in your body comes from your liver and other cells while the remaining 25% are sourced from the food you consume. There are 2 types of lipoproteisn that carry cholesterol which are the LDL or Low Density Lipoprotein and referred to as bad cholesterol. On the other hand, there is the HDL or High Density Lipoprotein or good cholesterol.
Problems will arise when LDL are caught on by special cells and then gets fixated on the blood vessels’ walls which over time would build up in the arteries that lead to the heart. When this happen, the traffic becomes clogged that could restrict blood flow to the heart and brain that will lead to cardiovascular problems. Meanwhile, HLD will aid in the cleaning up of negative agents and extra cholesterol back to the liver.
Statin – the drug to lower cholesterol
If you are found to have high cholesterol in your blood, then you must find ways to reduce it and keep it regulated. In most cases, you will seek a professional advice from your doctor who will then recommend certain drugs to help you.
How it works?
If you are given statin, then you are taking medication that helps to block the substance that your body needs to make cholesterol which naturally helps to lower them. Besides that, this drug can help your body to re-absorb the cholesterol which was built up in your artery walls so that there will be no further blockage in your blood vessels. This will in turn help to reduce your risk of cardiovascular problems. There are several types of statins like atorvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin and others.
Who should take Statin
Statin should only be taken with the doctor’s prescription and advice. In fact, this type of medication should only be taken if your cholesterol is above 240 miligrams per deciliter or when your LDL is 130 mg/dL or higher. On top of that, you need to be aware that you should only take statin if you are not at risk of a heart attack or stroke. Your doctor will need to check other areas including your family history of cholesterol levels, high blood pressure or hypertension as well as your dietary and lifestyle habits. Other issues that need to be considered includes whether you are a smoker, are you obese and others. There are several dosage of statin and should be prescribed according to your needs by your doctor.
Long term medication – It must be noted that taking medication to lower your cholesterol level could be a long-term solution. In fact, some would consider taking statin as a lifelong commitment because it has been reported that patients who stop taking statin after their cholesterol levels dropped found it harder once it went up again. As such, it is crucial to continue taking statin even after your cholesterol level has dropped. This however can be overcome by changing your lifestyle and dietary practices.
Side Effects of Statin – Most people can take statin while it is reported to have certain side effects like muscle and joint aches which is quite normal. Besides that, people who has taken statin has reported that they experience constipation, nausea and diarrhea which are quite mild while taking too much medication is always harmful for your liver.