Cholesterol is a natural substance found in your blood. It helps builds cells. However, if cholesterol in your body is higher than usual, it can lead to heart issues. When the level increases, fatty deposits start to develop in the blood vessels. That can lead to clots or blockages in your arteries. This disrupts the blood flow and can also lead to a stroke or heart attack.
Medical treatment for cholesterol
The lipid profile or lipid panel blood test is used to determine the cholesterol level in the body. If it is higher than usual, the doctor will suggest certain lifestyle changes. Generally, a healthy diet and regular exercise can help you control the disease. However, if the levels remain high, you will require medication. Multiple medicines can treat the condition. Your doctor will determine the right one depending on your age, possible side effects, health, and more.
Statins
Your liver requires a specific substance to produce cholesterol, and statins block that substance. This results in a decrease in cholesterol levels. Medicine also helps to reduce the deposits that form on the artery wall.
Bile-acid-binding resins
Bile acid is a vital substance present in your body and is required for digestion. The liver uses cholesterol to create acid. Bile acid-binding medicines, like the colesevelam (Welchol), cholestyramine (Prevalite), and colestipol (Colestid), help. As a result, your liver uses excess cholesterol to make the required amount of bile acids. That helps decreases its levels in your blood.
Cholesterol absorption inhibitors
Cholesterol is absorbed from what you eat by the small intestine, which is then sent to the bloodstream. Ezetimibe (Zetia) is a medicine that limits that absorption and effectively lowers the cholesterol levels in your blood. This medicine can be taken with your statin medicine.
Home remedies for cholesterol
It has been clinically proven that certain natural products can help reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. You can use them as home remedies.
Astragalus
This is an herb that is used in traditional Chinese medicine to enhance the immune system. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Some studies have shown that it can improve the health of your heart and impact cholesterol levels.
Flaxseed
High levels of cholesterol can lead to heart diseases, but you control that with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). It is a type of omega-3 fatty acid that can be found in flaxseed and flaxseed oil.
Garlic
Garlic has been used for medicinal purposes for ages, and for a good reason. It can reduce not only cholesterol levels but also control blood pressure.
Red yeast rice
This traditional Chinese product contains a considerable amount of monacolin K. Its chemical components are identical to a certain active ingredient used in lovastatin, a medicine used to lower cholesterol. So, red yeast rice can help with that, too.
Apart from these, it would help if you also stopped smoking, limit alcohol consumption, exercise, eat healthily, and try to remove stress from your life.
