New Methods for Reducing Cholesterol
High cholesterol levels, especially high LDL (low-density lipoproteins) levels, can significantly increase your risk of cardiovascular diseases. Having high LDL levels can increase your risk of:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Angina (chest pain)
These health effects of cholesterol range from painful and disabling to deadly. Chronic high cholesterol levels can significantly increase a person’s risk of cardiovascular death, the leading cause of death in the US.
This makes lowering your cholesterol level an important priority for your health. Fortunately, research continues to reveal new ways to reduce your cholesterol, including two new drug therapies approved in the last ten years.
Bempedoic Acid – A Citrate Lyase Inhibitor
The most recent drug to debut in the fight against high cholesterol is bempedoic acid, a citrate lyase inhibitor. Adenosine triphosphate citrate lyase (ACLY) is an enzyme that performs several roles in the body. One of these roles is the processing of fat and the creation of cholesterol.
Inhibiting the action of ACLY can reduce the body’s levels of LDL produced. As a result, the body’s LDL levels can drop, potentially helping a person to reduce their risk of cardiovascular conditions.
PCSK9 Inhibitors
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a protein that interferes with the body’s ability to break down LDL cholesterol. In particular, PCSK9 encourages the breakdown of the LDL receptor, a protein that pulls LDL from the blood into cells to be digested and broken down.
PCSK9 inhibitors reduce the amount of PCSK9 available, so the body can break down LDL cholesterol more effectively.
More Traditional Cholesterol-Lowering Methods
The new methods of lowering cholesterol are additional strategies to reduce cholesterol. However, it’s often best to use multiple strategies to lower your cholesterol. Here are some of the more old-fashioned things you should be doing to bring down your cholesterol.
Healthy Eating
Your diet can have a significant impact on your cholesterol level. Reduce your intake of saturated and trans fats. Trans fats, in particular, are strongly associated with your LDL levels, and it’s best to eliminate them completely. This is easier because the FDA banned partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, the name given trans fats in food.
You can also reduce your cholesterol by eating more soluble fiber. Soluble fiber reduces your LDL levels in blood. However, the effect is relatively small, and should be seen as an easy complement to other diet changes – not a standalone strategy.
Exercise
Exercise helps your body increase the level of good cholesterol, HDL (high-density lipoproteins), which can moderate the negative impact of LDL. The recommended exercise level is at least 30 minutes of exercise five times a week or at least 20 minutes of vigorous exercise three times a week.
Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements aren’t as effective as medications, but some of them can help you lower your cholesterol. Some commonly recommended dietary supplements include fish oil, ground flaxseed, green tea extract, niacin, plant stanols and sterols, and whey protein.
Although these aren’t medications, they can have side effects and interact with medications. Talk to your doctor before taking dietary supplements and always tell your doctor which supplements you’re taking.
Other Cholesterol Medications
In addition to the new medication options, we have many other drugs that can help lower cholesterol levels. These have established track records, so their effectiveness and side effects are well-known.
- Statins work by reducing the amount of cholesterol your body produces and helping it eliminate cholesterol in the blood. They are the most widely used cholesterol-lowering medication. They are generally effective, with a low incidence of serious side effects, and come in many different varieties, including generics that make them affordable.
- Cholesterol absorption Inhibitors work by keeping your body from absorbing cholesterol from food. They are usually used only if people get negative side effects or don’t see good results from statins. In the latter case, you can take a version that includes a statin.
- Bile acid sequestrants attach to cholesterol and other substances in food, keeping your body from absorbing them. Although this medication can be effective at reducing LDL levels by up to 25%, it can cause unpleasant side effects that make it hard for people to take large doses.
Get Help Lowering Your Cholesterol
At South Denver Cardiology Associates, we are dedicated to delivering the highest quality cardiac care using the latest technology as well as traditional approaches to improve heart health. We are often the first in the region to debut new treatments, techniques, and devices. However, we know it’s better to protect heart health so you don’t need an intervention. We promote healthy lifestyle choices and smart medication options to keep you healthy. It helps us to deliver not just the best results to our patients, but also the best value.
To learn how South Denver Cardiology can help you achieve a healthy heart with our combined approach, please contact us today for an appointment.
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