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Where can I find information on cholesterol lowering?

The facts about cholesterol and how it can be lowered

Learn how to lower cholesterol, get advice on starting a low cholesterol diet and find out how to lower cholesterol without drugs.

High cholesterol is a common health issue, and it's one of the primary risk factors for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Luckily, there are many ways to control cholesterol intake. Most of the damage done by unhealthy eating habits can be reversed by a healthy diet and exercise regimen, or by medications. This article offers tips on how to lower cholesterol as well as basic facts about cholesterol and how it works in your body.

Cholesterol Basics

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy material found in all the body's cells. In moderate amounts, cholesterol is not a bad thing. Cholesterol is necessary for producing cell membranes and many of the body's hormones. Some types of cholesterol are better than others, however; low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is known as "bad" cholesterol because it can build up on the walls of arteries and increase the risk of heart disease. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is "good" cholesterol because it's easily carried back to the liver and passed from the body, and can even remove built-up cholesterol in the process. If too much LDL builds up in the bloodstream, it can form thick deposits of plaque that narrow the arteries and limit blood flow, a condition called atherosclerosis. Heavy plaque buildup can increase the chances of heart attack or stroke in the event of a clot.

Lowering Cholesterol

There are a few ways to reduce your cholesterol, but the most effective method is diet and exercise. Avoiding high-cholesterol foods like egg yolks and whole milk and seeking healthier options are big steps toward lowering cholesterol. Moderate exercise -- about eight miles of jogging per week -- can also help lower your LDL levels and can even increase your HDLs. But if diet and exercise don't work, there are a number of medications that, when taken in combination with a healthy lifestyle, can help lower cholesterol. These include statins, resins, fibrates and niacin supplements. Finally, avoid tobacco smoke, which can lower your HDL levels. You can consult your doctor for more detailed recommendations.

Unlike weight loss diets, cholesterol-lowering diets actually demand that you increase your consumption of certain foods. Many of these are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, including fish, walnuts, oat bran and oatmeal. Olive oil and foods fortified with plant stanols, such as orange juice and margarine, can also lower your LDL levels. Finally, as with all diets, regular servings of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, high-fiber foods and poultry are recommended.

In total, you should consume about 25 to 30 grams of dietary fiber a day. The American Heart Association recommends that you limit your intake of total fat to between 25 percent and 35 percent, your saturated fat consumption to 7 percent and your intake of trans fat to less than one percent of your total daily calories. Sodium should be limited to 2,300 milligrams or less per day.

Resources for Lowering Cholesterol

The American Heart Association, a national nonprofit health agency, maintains a great resource for all aspects of a low-cholesterol lifestyle, providing daily exercise routines and a guide to ordering low-cholesterol food at restaurants. The site also provides many helpful resources for getting your cholesterol levels tested, as well as important questions to ask your doctor about effective treatment. In addition, you can find information on the various types of cholesterol-lowering drugs, how they work, and the possible side effects. Find information on how to lower cholesterol on the Cholesterol Counts for Everyone page of the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute's page.


Medications to Lower Cholesterol

Statins, drugs that inhibit LDL buildup, are often prescribed to lower cholesterol. While widely considered a safe and effective method of lowering LDL cholesterol, statins don't have much of an effect on raising healthy HDL cholesterol. They're usually prescribed as a second option after a patient tries a low-cholesterol diet. There are some minor side effects reported, but in rare cases statins can lead to the breakdown of skeletal muscle, which can in turn contribute to kidney failure. However, statins have also been shown in some studies to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Other less-popular but still generally safe options include resins, which aid in the disposal of cholesterol in the intestine, and fibrates, which lower triglycerides and raise HDLs but have little effect on LDL levels.

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