Cholesterol - Are Drugs The Answer To Proper Control?

It's simply common sense educate yourself on anything of topic of any significance and what's more important than ones' health. Therefore, before you make the decision to use any drug and for the purpose of this article we will be talking about cholesterol drugs also known as statin drugs, a little education can go a long way in helping one to make the right decision. So, let's get started on Cholesterol Education 101.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat like substance found in cells and the blood stream. Cholesterol is a crucial substance for the body because it assists the body in producing a number of hormones and some cell membrane. As a result, in order for our body to be healthy it needs cholesterol. At the same time, excessive cholesterol can lead to clogged arteries and is a contributing factory in coronary heart disease, which can lead to a heart attack.

Cholesterol is produced in the liver but we also accumulate it through the intake of various food products like butter, whole milk, egg yolks, cheese and poultry. In a nutshell, there are two types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) which is considered bad cholesterol (i.e. only bad if it becomes excessive) and high-density cholesterol (HDL) which is considered the good cholesterol.

What the medical community has considered the optimal level of cholesterol has varied over the past 40 years but the most recent numbers indicate a maximum level of 200 mg/dL (i.e. milligrams per deci liter) for the LDL cholesterol (i.e. bad) and a minimum of 40mg/dL for the HDL or good cholesterol. And yes, the LDL levels are too low that can also lead to problems.

Although cholesterol is not calculated by body weight, if you are over weight you will increase you chances of having elevated bad (LDL) cholesterol level.

The number of cholesterol drugs currently available on the market is vast and before begin taking any cholesterol medication you really should consult your doctor.

Some cholesterol drugs can have serious side effects which, in the long run, may do more harm than good. Only your doctor can properly advise you on which statin or cholesterol drug may be best for you based on your medical history and present state of health.

Another reason why it's so important to do your own research and only get medical advice from a trusted doctor is because you may have to take more than one kind of statin or cholesterol drug.

On the other hand, there have been studies that show elevated cholesterol levels have no effect on overall life expectancy and what is currently being touted as optimal cholesterol levels is much lower than it needs to be. The obvious question is why. Why have optimal cholesterol levels been lowered over the years?

Of course, this information is controversial but it needs to be mentioned because there are always two sides to every story. The vast majority of doctors are good people and they only want the best for their patients but the truth is they simply do not have the time to read every study on cholesterol. As a result, they simply go by what the drug companies tell them about a particular drug. The bottom line is this, it's your health and before using any drug you need to do a little research (look for good and bad information) and then make an informed decision.

Tip - For more information on the cholesterol, click on the first link below.