There are over 100 million American adults that should seek medical advice to lower their high blood cholesterol levels. Statins, a cholesterol lowering medication which have few side effects have helped to fight heart disease and lower cholesterol levels, even though Americans are really getting fatter.

There are things that can help you fight this problem. This article is designed to teach you how to do something about your cholesterol problems. First we will take a brief look at what cholesterol is and then we will show you how statin medications, prescribed by your doctor, can make you healthier. To treat high cholesterol there are many different types of statins, and we will review them for you.

Cholesterol a waxy, stout like substance shows itself naturally in cell membranes and walls throughout your body. Producing hormones is one of the uses of cholesterol. If there is too much cholesterol in your bloodstream problems start to surface.

Your doctor may choose that you need help in controlling your cholesterol if you are not able to reduce it using natural treatments. Even if your doctor prescribes any of these medications, you must still follow through with healthy lifestyle treatments as well. There are several different types of medications used to lower cholesterol, but we will focus only on statins.

What are statins and how do they work? Statins repress the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme controls the rate that cholesterol produces itself in the body. These drugs can lower cholesterol from 20 to 60%. They slow the production while they increase the liver’s ability to withdraw LDL (Low Density Lipoproteins). Statins lower the LDL levels better than any other type of drug.

While decreasing triglycerides and total cholesterol, statins can also make a moderate increase of High Density Lipoproteins (HDL). Within 4 to 6 weeks of starting the medications positive results are normally seen. Lowering heart attack risks, strokes, and other high cholesterol level related coronary diseases are what statins have been demonstrated to do.

Taking statins is not a excellent thought if: you are pregnant or breastfeeding; you have liver problems; you have experienced renal failure; you regularly drink 3 or more alcoholic drinks a day; or if you have allergies to the ingredients in statins or statins themselves. As always make sure to contact your local physician before using cholesterol lowering drugs.

Brand names of statins that you might recognize are Lipitor, Lescol, Mevacor, Altocor, Pravahol, Zocor and Crestor. There are some drug and/or food interactions that you should be aware of. More than one quart of grapefruit juice per day can decrease the ability of the liver to process some statins. More importantly there may be other medications that can interact and cause serious side effects.

If you are taking prescription or even over-the-counter drugs such as: birth control pills, immune system medications, medication for infections, medication for heart failure, HIV or AIDS, herbal supplements, Coumadin, or other cholesterol drugs make sure to let your doctor know before taking statins.

Although unlikely, it is possible for side effects to appear from the use of statins. If you happen to experience the following: vomiting, discolored urine, pain, muscle soreness, stomach pain, or weakness immediately stop taking the medication and contact your doctor.

Tags: Cholesterol