Cholesterol builds up in the walls of your arteries. Over time, this buildup causes “hardening of the arteries” so that arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart is slowed down or blocked. You can imagine what that looks like if you think about the pipes under your kitchen sink. As they get clogged with food, grease and hair over time, the drainage of water slows and eventually stops completely. Since blood travels through these arteries, or pipes, to carry oxygen to your muscles, organs and tissues including your heart, a blockage could reduce enough blood and oxygen to your heart that you may suffer chest pain, called angina. If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely cut off by a blockage, the result is a heart attack. If this blockage occurs in your brain, the result is a stroke.

High blood cholesterol itself does not cause symptoms; so there are a lot of people that are completely unaware that their cholesterol level is too high. It is important to find out what your cholesterol numbers are because lowering cholesterol levels that are too high lessens the risk for developing heart disease and reduces the chance of a heart attack or stroke. Even if you have already had a heart attack or stroke, lower cholesterol will reduce your chance of having second one. Cholesterol lowering is important for everyone–younger, middle age, and older adults; women and men; and people with or without heart disease.

There are different kinds of cholesterol in your blood that can measured through a simple blood test preformed at your doctor?s office. This blood test must be preformed fasting, which means you can not eat or drink anything but water or black coffee for 8-12 hours before your blood test for them to be accurate.

What is LDL?

LDL (bad) cholesterol is the main source of buildup and blockage in the arteries. The majority of LDL is created by your body in your liver. A smaller percentage of it is absorbed through your diet.  An easy way for patients to remember LDL is the ?bad cholesterol? is to think the L in LDL stands for Lousy cholesterol, or the one you want to Lower.With this form of cholesterol, studies have shown the lower the better.  Babies are born with an LDL of 30-40, so it is hard to lower the LDL too much. Since physicians and various guidelines have different goals for different patients, ask your doctor what your personal goal is for LDL.

What is HDL?

HDL (good) cholesterol helps keep bad cholesterol from building up in the arteries. An easy way for patients to remember this is the good cholesterol is the H in HDL stands for Healthy cholesterol or the one you want to be Higher. Studies show that with this form of cholesterol, the higher the better. If your HDL is below 40, it becomes an additional risk factor for heart disease. If your HDL is above 60, it actually allows you to subtract one of your other risk factors.

What Is Triglicerides?

Triglycerides are another form of fat in your blood which is often high in patients with diabetes, but can be high in anyone. Some patients may only have high triglycerides while all other cholesterol values remain normal. If you have both high triglycerides and high cholesterol, the condition is called ?mixed dyslipidemia?.

What Does Total Cholesterol To HDL Ratio Mean?

Another number that clinical studies have shown to be important in determining your risk of heart disease is the ratio of Total Cholesterol to HDL Cholesterol.  In general, it should be less than 4.0.  Ask your doctor what your value is, and what your specific goal should be. Again this is a number where the lower it is, the better.

The level of your LDL or bad cholesterol along with the number of other risk factors that you may have for developing heart disease will help your doctor decide not only your individual cholesterol goals, but if necessary what your individual treatment will include.Other risk factors for heart disease include age, gender (males), cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, HDL levels below 40, and a family history of early heart disease. Even though physical activity (sedentary lifestyle) and obesity are not included on this list, these are conditions that need to be corrected as well.

There are several treatment options for patients depending on individual test results and goals.   All treatments should include a diet designed to lower cholesterol intake and an exercise plan.  Many treatment plans will include dietary supplements and/or prescription medication(s). There are a variety of prescription medications that can target your specific treatment needs, including but not limited to lowering the amount of LDL created by the liver, lowering the amount of LDL that is absorbed from your intestines, increasing levels of HDL or lowering levels of triglycerides.Your doctor may put you on one, or a variety of medications to meet your individual treatment goals.

Blood cholesterol levels have been proven to be a major, modifiable risk factor for the development of heart disease. A risk factor is a condition that increases your chance of getting a disease. A modifiable risk factor is something you have the ability to change. High cholesterol levels can be treated with lifestyle modifications, supplement and/or prescription medication. Treatment to change blood cholesterol levels have been shown to lower your risk of getting heart disease or having a heart attack or stroke.

There are many different types of cholesterol lowering medications that your doctor may prescribe, however these prescriptions can cause certain nutritional deficiencies that may increase your risk for side effects or diminish the risk reduction you would otherwise get from the cholesterol lowering medications. NutraMD Cholesterol Essential Nutrients® supplement was designed to work with your cholesterol lowering medications by replacing lost nutrients reducing the risk of dangerous side effects, and promote better health.

Medications for treatment of High Cholesterol:

The three main classes include statins, fibrates, and bile acid sequestrants.

Statins include the following medications:
Lipitor (atorvastatin)
Zocor (simvastatin)
Pravachol (pravastatin).
Mevacor (lovastatin)
Crestor (rosuvastatin)
Advicor (lovastatin + niacin).
Caduet (atorvastatin + amlodipine).

The main function of statins is to reduce an individual¡¦s risk for cardiovascular disease (i.e., heart attack, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, and plaque development in arteries) by reducing the total and LDL cholesterol levels as well as by reducing certain plaque promoting factors and increasing artery dilating factors.Your doctor may prescribe a statin if you have high cholesterol or have had heart attack or stroke in the past. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure or diabetes but do not have high cholesterol, your doctor may still prescribe a statin to reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease. Statins help lower cholesterol by blocking it’s direct synthesis throughout the body but primarily in the liver, however the action of the medication also blocks the synthesis of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and has a potential negative effect on the synthesis of vitamin D.

* CoQ10 deficiency has been linked to the following diseases and symptoms:

Congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, rhabdomyolysis (muscle break down), muscle and joint pain, and fatigue.

Therefore to achieve maximum benefit from the statin medication and minimize potential side effects of nutrient deficiencies, you should compliment your prescription medication by taking NutraMD Cholesterol Essential Nutrients® supplement. By doing this you will balance the risk/benefit ratio further in your favor.

Fibrates include the following medications:

Tricor, Antara, and Lofibra (fenofibrates)
Lopid (gemfibrozil).

The main functions of fibrates are to lower triglycerides and raise HDL (good cholesterol).  These medicines also have a mild lowering effect on LDL (bad cholesterol) and total cholesterol. Your doctor may prescribe fibrates in combination with a statin or bile acid sequestrants. The down side of fibrates is there ability to increase muscle pain and myalgia (including rhabdomyolysis).11-15 These medications also have the ability to raise homocysteine levels.11-15  Homocysteine is a chemical (amino acid metabolite) which when elevated is a risk factor for heart disease, atherosclerosis, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and osteoporosis.  The only substances known to lower homocysteine levels are the B-vitamins (folate, riboflavin, cobalamin, and pyridoxine).Therefore to reduce the potential risks while taking fibrates, you should also be taking NutraMD Cholesterol Essential Nutrients® supplement.

Bile Acid Sequestrants include the following medications:

Questran or Questran Light (cholestyramine)
Welchol (colesevelam HCl).

The main functions of bile acid sequestrants are to lower cholesterol by binding to it in the intestine and preventing its absorption thus allowing its excretion in the feces. Your doctor may prescribe this type of medicine in combination with fibrates and statins. Unfortunately, bile acid sequestrants will also bind to vitamins A, D, E, and K as well as essential fats in the intestine preventing their absorption into the blood stream thus leading to their deficiencies. A few of the problems which arise from deficiencies of vitamins A, D, E, K, and essential fatty acids include the following: Heart disease, high cholesterol, stroke, high triglycerides, cancer, thyroid disease, autoimmune disease, bone disease, arthritis, joint pain, muscle pain, cataracts, skin lesions, allergies, and many other.Therefore, to reduce potential side effects of nutrient deficiencies you should take NutraMD Cholesterol Essential Nutrients® supplement as long as you are on bile acid sequestrants.

In summary, cholesterol-lowering medications prescribed by your doctor are necessary to treat your condition; however, you should also be aware that the long term potential nutritional side effects can be just as big a risk factor for your condition as well as other conditions. Put the odds in your favor and maintain your health with NutraMD Cholesterol Essential Nutrients® supplement.

Technorati Tags: Blood cholesterol levels, cholesterol medications, Crestor, HDL, LDL, Medications for high cholesterol treatment, Triglicerides

Cholesterol is a unique substance that is used by every cell of your body to make cell membranes, which are like the skin of the cell. Cell membrane is a gate keeper, it regulate what goes into the cell and what goes out. It determines how to respond to various hormones and other chemicals. Cell membrane produces special substances (prostaglandins) that regulate many important biological functions. One of the major components of the cell membranes is the LDL cholesterol, the same one we call “bad.”

Most major hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, aldosterone, and many others are made from LDL cholesterol. Vitamin D is made from LDL cholesterol. Bile is also made from LDL cholesterol. To satisfy this widespread demand for cholesterol you need to provide about 2,000 mg every day!

So important is the need for cholesterol that your liver, intestine, brain, and other organs are set up to make it. That’s right, most of the cholesterol in your body does not come from food. Even if you never eat anything with cholesterol in it, you will have as much cholesterol as you need because you can make it yourself.

There is a reason why beef has cholesterol - because cows, just like humans, need cholesterol for good health. Cows are strict vegetarians, but they make cholesterol because it is necessary for normal function of every cell of the body.

Low cholesterol increases the risk of stroke. This was first reported in 1971 by Japanese researchers. It was later confirmed by many other studies, including those done in the United States. Some studies have shown a relationship between low cholesterol and colon cancer. Other studies showed that low cholesterol (either natural or caused by drugs) is associated with increased risk of non-cardiovascular deaths (cancer, infections, lung problems).

A National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) held a conference in October 1990 where researchers from the US, Europe, Israel and Japan have presented studies describing this problem. The idea was to figure out why this happens. Well, they did not have an explanation and that’s where it all ended.

If you have not heard about this conference it is because the drug companies have brainwashed most of us (including most doctors) into believing that we need to fight cholesterol and to bring it down. You can’t blame them, that’s how they make many billions of dollars selling cholesterol drugs.

Next time your doctors tells you to use one of these drugs, ask him/her to show you any study that shows that reducing cholesterol will save your life or even significantly reduce the risk of heart attack.

An article in the Lancet (January 2007) written by doctors from Harvard Medical School and University of British Columbia summarized the analysis of all major studies where statin drugs (Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor, Mevacor, etc.) were used to reduce cholesterol levels. They report that none of the studies showed reduction in mortality. In other words the number of deaths was not reduced by drugs.

Statins did not reduce the number of heart attacks in women. They did reduce heart attacks in men between 30 and 69 years by a whopping 1.5%! There was no effect in men older than 69. As the doctors point out, it means that 67 people have to take these drugs for 5 years to prevent 1 heart attack.

Would you be willing to take a toxic drug that can cause liver disease and other serious problems if you could reduce the risk of anything by just 1.5%? I don’t think so.

So now you know the truth about cholesterol, which is more than your doctor knows. If you are taking a statin drug your best bet would be to get off it as soon as possible.

Technorati Tags: cholesterol lowering drugs, Crestor, Lipitor, statin drug, truth about cholesterol

In documents posted online Friday, the Food and Drug Administration cites the findings of AstraZeneca’s study released last November. The study showed that patients with lower cholesterol and few heart risks could still benefit from taking Crestor, setting the stage for a dramatic expansion in use of the drug that already exceeds $1 billion in annual sales.

The British drugmaker wants the FDA to broaden Crestor’s labeling based on those results.

But the FDA’s review also cites several safety concerns, including a higher rate of diabetes in patients taking Crestor.

About 2.8 percent of patients taking Crestor in the 17,000-patient Jupiter study developed diabetes, compared with 2.3 percent of patients taking a dummy pill. The difference was statistically significant, according to the FDA.

But one FDA reviewer suggests that diabetes is a side effect of all drugs in that class, which include Crestor, Pfizer’s Lipitor and other cholesterol-lowering pills.

“It is this clinical reviewer’s opinion that the treatment benefit observed in the Jupiter trial outweighs the risk, but further clinical trials are needed to further define this benefit-risk ratio,” writes the unnamed reviewer.

The FDA on Tuesday will ask a panel of outside experts to weigh in on whether Crestor use should be expanded. The agency is not required to follow the group’s advise, though it often does.

The panel also will discuss 13 deaths due to gastrointestinal disorders seen in Crestor patients, compared with just one in the placebo group. The agency review suggests the higher rate was a “chance finding.”

The FDA also will raise questions about 18 Crestor patients who reported a “confusional state,” compared with four in the placebo group.

AstraZeneca’s Jupiter study focused on patients with lower cholesterol and elevated C-reactive protein, a key indicator of inflammation that can lead to clogged arteries. Under current guidelines, those patients are not recommended for treatment with statins, the best-selling class of cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Patients taking Crestor experienced a 44 percent reduction in major heart problems, including heart attack, stroke and death. It’s unclear whether the positive results seen in Jupiter were due to lower cholesterol or C-reative protein, since Crestor reduces both.

In its own briefing documents, AstraZeneca points out that half of all heart problems occur in patients with normal cholesterol levels, who stand to benefit from expanded use of Crestor.

Broader FDA labeling for the drug would expand the potential U.S. market by at least 6 million patients, according to the FDA. Sales of the drug already rose 30 percent in the last quarter to $1.15 billion compared with the prior year period.

Technorati Tags: AstraZeneca, cholesterol pill Crestor, Crestor, Crestor benefits, Crestor drug, Crestor use

A large study found that people who were taking these drugs when they caught seasonal flu and had to be hospitalized were twice as likely to survive than those who were not on such medicines.

This doesn’t prove that statins can cure flu, or that starting on them after catching the flu would help. A federal study is under way now to test that. Doctors are optimistic, because previous studies also found that statins may improve survival from infectious diseases.

“It’s very promising,” said the new study’s leader, Dr. Ann Thomas of the Oregon Public Health Division. Results were discussed Thursday at an Infectious Diseases Society of America conference in Philadelphia.

“It’s intriguing and exciting,” and the benefit seen from statins is “substantial,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University doctor whose hospital in Nashville, Tenn., was involved in the research.

“There are relatively few downsides to trying statins,” which are cheap, relatively safe, and already among the most widely used medicines in the world, he said.

Treatment is a crucial issue for swine flu because vaccine is slow to reach the public, and flu medicines like Tamiflu are being reserved for only the sickest patients.

Statins have long been known to reduce inflammation along with cholesterol. Much of the damage that flu causes, whether it’s seasonal or the new H1N1 virus, is from inflammation and an overreaction by the immune system as it fights the virus.

Earlier studies found that statins improved survival from pneumonia and serious bacterial bloodstream infections. The new research, sponsored by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is the first large one in the United States to look at statins for flu.

It involved 2,800 people hospitalized with lab-confirmed seasonal flu in 10 states in 2007-2008. Medical records show that 801 received statins in the hospital. They probably were just continuing the cholesterol treatment they had been taking before catching the flu, though researchers don’t know this for sure.

More than 3 percent of those not taking statins died in the hospital or in the following month. The rate was half that among statin users, even though they were more likely to have underlying health problems like heart disease. Researchers took other factors such as age into account and still saw the same benefit from statin use.

“It’s an important study,” said Dr. Andrew Pavia, a pediatrics professor at the University of Utah and head of the infectious disease society’s pandemic flu task force. He said he now places a high priority on testing statins as a treatment.

“It gives us a pretty cost-effective tool if it works,” he said.

There might be justification for trying these drugs now in certain patients not doing well on any other treatment, said Dr. Ronald Turner of the University of Virginia, a prominent virologist who had no role in the new study.

“If you get yourself to the point where you don’t have anything to offer and things are going poorly for the patient, then maybe to try something on a speculative note is appropriate,” he said.

The statin study is the second piece of good news on the treatment front in a week. Last Friday, the federal Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the experimental drug peramivir as a swine flu treatment.

Recent results from an Asian study showed that a single intravenous dose of peramivir (purr-AM-uh-veer) cleared up flu symptoms as effectively as five days of Tamiflu pills. Some very sick patients need IV treatments because they can’t swallow pills or absorb the medicine well.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Birmingham, Ala., is developing peramivir with Japan-based Shionogi & Co.

Statins are available in generic form and also sold as Lipitor by Pfizer Inc.; Zocor by Merck & Co.; Crestor by AstraZeneca PLC, and Pravachol by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., among others.

Technorati Tags: Cholesterol drugs, Crestor, flu treatment, improve flu survival, Lipitor, Pravachol, Zocor

Cholesterol is a waxy substance your body uses to protect nerves, make cell tissues and produce certain hormones. All the cholesterol your body needs is made by your liver. Cholesterol in the food you eat (such as eggs, meats and dairy products) is extra, and too much cholesterol can have negative impacts on your health.

Why is a high cholesterol level unhealthy?

While some cholesterol is needed for good health, too much cholesterol in your blood can raise your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

The extra cholesterol in your blood may be stored in your arteries (blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body). Buildup of cholesterol (called plaque) in your arteries will cause your arteries to narrow and harden (called atherosclerosis). Large deposits of cholesterol can completely block an artery.

If an artery that supplies blood to the muscles in your heart becomes blocked, a heart attack can occur. If an artery that supplies blood to your brain becomes blocked, a stroke can occur.

When should I start having my cholesterol level checked?

Men aged 35 and older and women aged 45 and older should have their cholesterol checked yearly. Depending on what your cholesterol level is and what other risk factors for heart disease you have (see the box below), you may need to have it checked more often.

Risk factors for heart disease

• Having already had a heart attack
• Being a man 45 years of age or older
• Being a women 55 years of age or older
• Being a woman who is going through menopause or has completed menopause
• Having an immediate family member (parent or sibling) who had heart disease
• Smoking cigarettes
• Having high blood pressure or diabetes
• Being overweight or obese
• Being inactive

Are there different types of cholesterol?

Yes. Cholesterol travels through the blood in different types of packages, called lipoproteins.

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) deliver cholesterol to the body. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) remove cholesterol from the bloodstream.

This explains why too much LDL cholesterol is bad for the body, and why a high level of HDL is good. It’s the balance between the types of cholesterol that tells you what your cholesterol level means (see the box below).

For example, if your total cholesterol level is high because of a high LDL level, you may be at higher risk of heart disease or stroke. If your total level is high only because of a high HDL level, you’re probably not at higher risk.

Total cholesterol level

• Less than 200 is best.
• 200 to 239 is borderline high.
• 240 or more means you’re at increased risk for heart disease.

LDL cholesterol levels

• Below 100 is ideal for people who have a higher risk of heart disease.
• 100 to 129 is near optimal.
• 130 to 159 is borderline high.
• 160 or more means you’re at a higher risk for heart disease.

HDL cholesterol levels

• Less than 40 means you’re at higher risk for heart disease.
• 60 or higher greatly reduces your risk of heart disease.

What can I do to improve my cholesterol level?

If you have high cholesterol, it may be necessary for you to make some lifestyle changes. If you smoke, stop smoking. Exercise regularly. If you’re overweight, losing just 5 to 10 pounds can help lower cholesterol levels. Make sure to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish- all of which promote heart health. Avoid saturated and trans fats, which can raise cholesterol levels. Also limit your overall cholesterol intake to less than 300 milligrams (200 milligrams if you have heart disease) per day.

What about medication to lower cholesterol?

Depending on your risk factors, if healthy eating and exercise don’t work after 6 months to 1 year, your doctor may suggest medication to lower your cholesterol level. Most used medications for lowering cholesterol levels are Lipitor and Zocor.

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