LDL or Low Density Lipoprotein is among the most crucial risk factors with respect to heart disease. However, it is certainly unlike most other danger factors of heart disease as it can be managed or lowered. In order to ensure a healthy heart, the LDL levels should be definitely below 160mg/dL. However, if a person is also having other related risk factors, then the medical practitioners generally want this number to be lowered even more.
Most medical practitioners usually use a combined approach when targeting to lower LDL levels in their patients. The treatment approach that is generally adopted by most of medical practitioners today is a combination of therapeutic agents and modification in the way of life of a person. It has also been suggested and proved that persons can sufficiently lower their cardiovascular risk if they concentrate on aggressively lowering their LDL levels while simultaneously focusing on increasing their HDL, or high density lipoprotein levels.
There are several proved solutions to lower LDL levels and to raise the HDL levels in an individual. The first and foremost technique that has been proved is administration of a statin. A statin at its lowest dose has been shown to lower the LDL levels by almost 10 percent. However, at its highest dose, this lowering can be achieved upto the extent of 55 percent. However a few of people may experience severe negative effects upon administration of statins including muscle pain and weakness, memory loss, liver and kidney damage and in serious cases, a condition called Rhabdomyolysis which is a breakdown of muscle tissue. In addition to lowering the LDL levels, statins also play a role in raising the HDL levels. There are several other cholesterol lowering medications also that can also be prescribed in combination with statins to create a synergistic effect.
Bile Acid Sequestrants is another category of therapeutic agents that can be enormously beneficial in decreasing LDL by around 10 to 20 percent. In combination with statins, the cholesterol lowering effect of these agents is dramatically high. Some of the examples of these agents include colestipol, cholestyramine, colesevelam, etc. These drugs have been proven to be helpful for diabetics as they also contribute towards reducing of the raised blood glucose levels. Other agents that have also been found to be helpful in cholesterol management include Nicotinic acid or Niacin and Fibrates.
Way of life changes have been shown to also significantly help lower LDL cholesterol and reduce the associated risk factors of high LDL levels. One of the very vital lifestyle related factors is maintaining a perfect body weight. Exercise can also prove to be extremely effective in raising HDL. Even a small amount of workouts and exercise can be extremely beneficial in this respect. There are also dietary modifications that can be very helpful such as avoiding or at least limiting the intake of saturated fats. Also, it's crucial to avoid the consumption of trans fats. In fact, one should limit Trans fats to less than 1 per cent of total calories taken every day. Additionally, there are several nutritional supplements also that can be of great help such as garlic, guggulipid, fish oils, plant sterols, flax seed, etc.
Lowering LDL levels is vital, in fact CRUCIAL for good health. Follow the tips above and ensure your LDL levels remain under control and you and your heart will live a long and healthy life.
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