Treatment of high cholesterol: the most common methods

To date, the treatment of high cholesterol is at the center of the attention of the global medical community and is the subject of many scientific studies, since high cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia, is a key risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and stroke.

Treatment of High Cholesterol Drugs

It should be noted that the treatment of high cholesterol with drugs has its own characteristics, since high cholesterol (cholesterol or lipoprotein) has no symptoms. The only way to detect it is a blood test.

It is the excess content of protein-fatty compounds in the blood plasma that creates the prerequisites for fat deposits in the blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits begin to reduce the dynamics of blood flow, as a result of which the heart and brain are deprived of oxygen-enriched blood.

It is known that hypercholesterolemia can be inherited, but most often it is the result of an unhealthy lifestyle that has to be treated. When it comes to drug therapy of this pathology, it means the treatment of elevated LDL cholesterol. What is LDL? These are low-density lipoproteins with a high content of lipids and cholesterol, which move it from the liver to the cells. Surpluses of lipids, which are not used by cells and are subjected to peroxide oxidation, and blood vessels suffer. Also there are lipoproteins with very low density (VLDL), which contain triglycerides - a special class of fats, consisting of compounds of esters of monobasic fatty acids and glycerin. If their level is raised, then this leads to hypertriglyceridemia, which is also very harmful for blood vessels.

Treatment of high cholesterol with drugs is carried out using drugs that reduce its level in the blood - lipid-lowering drugs of various pharmacological groups.

Gemfibrozil (other trade names - Gevilon, Gipolisan, Lopid, Normolip) refers to derivatives of fibroic acid, is available in tablets of 450 mg and capsules of 300 mg. Standard dosage: twice a day, one tablet or capsule - morning and evening (half an hour before meals). Among the contraindications of this drug - the pathology of the gallbladder and pregnancy, and among the side effects - nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, a decrease in the white blood cell count. Medicines, a similar action - Clofibrate and Fenofibrate (Traicor).

Also reduces the level of LDL nicotinic acid (niacin, vitamin B3 or PP) in tablets of 0.05 g. It is recommended to take 2-6 grams per day (after meals) in three divided doses. In order not to develop fatty degeneration of the liver, it should simultaneously take methionine. In addition to increasing the level of hepatic transaminases, there may be side effects such as headache, short-term face and upper body, nausea, lowering blood pressure, increasing the level of uric acid in the blood.

Treatment of high-density LDL cholesterol suggests the use of drugs that bind bile acids in the intestines, as a result of which the liver begins to use the accumulated cholesterol for their production. These drugs belong to the group of bile acid sequestrants. Cholestyramine (other trade names - Kolestyramin, Questran, Cholestan) in the form of powder for internal use is usually prescribed 4 g (one teaspoon) twice a day, the maximum daily dose is 16 g. The intake of this agent for cholesterol reduction may be accompanied by dyspeptic symptoms.

Medicines of the statin group - Atorvastatin (Lipitor), Fluvastatin (Lescol), Pravastatin (Lipostat), Rosuvastatin (Crestor), Simvastatin (Zocor) - work on lowering LDL due to their ability to reduce the production of cholesterol in the liver.

For example, Rosuvastatin (tablets of 5, 10 and 20 mg) appoint 5-10 mg per day (in one session). Contraindications for statin use are active forms of liver pathologies, kidney dysfunction. The use of lipid-lowering drugs in this group requires constant monitoring of the liver.

Side effects of statins include periodic and persistent pain (head, muscle, epigastric); problems with the intestines; insomnia and general malaise; various reactions of an allergic nature. In addition, in the summer of 2014, Italian researchers published in the journal Diabetes Care the results of a study on the risk of developing diabetes associated with the use of statins. And at the end of 2014 a group of Canadian researchers from the University of British Columbia reported that, as it turned out, the use of statins increases the risk of developing cataracts by almost 27%. Nevertheless, in both cases, the authors of the studies concluded that the benefits of these drugs for the heart and the vascular system far outweigh the risks. However, the debate regarding the commensurability of the benefits and side effects of these drugs continues.

To reduce absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine - as a second-line therapy for those who are not helped or contraindicated statins - the drug Ezetimib (Ezetrol) is prescribed in tablets of 10 mg. The recommended dose is 10 mg once a day. The undesirable effects of this drug can be expressed by headache, nausea, bowel disturbances (diarrhea, constipation, flatulence), pain in the abdominal cavity. With serious liver disease and during pregnancy, Ezetimibe is contraindicated.

Treatment of high cholesterol by alternative means

The simplest thing that can be treated with increased cholesterol by alternative means is green tea, rich in catechins - epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin (EC) and gallocatechin (GK).

Being derivatives of gallic acid - a powerful antioxidant, these substances, first, reduce the concentration in the blood of malonic dialdehyde (a product of lipid peroxidation), malonovirus-modified LDL, triglycerides and total cholesterol. Secondly, the process of accumulation of fat by the liver is restrained. Third, green tea catechins are strong inhibitors of the squalene epoxidase enzyme, with the participation of which from the acetate-CoA-transferase protein and squalene, cholesterol is synthesized. So regular use of green tea (only not packaged, but prepared from classical tea leaves) will help with increased cholesterol.

Due to the high content of niacin mentioned above, the broths of chamomile, the burdock root, the fennel seed, the medicinal herb, the horsetail, the mullein of the high, the leaves of the nettle, the dandelion, the garden raspberry, the leaves and the flowers of the peppermint can help with hypercholesterolemia. And red clover, as well as rose hips (rich in vitamin C).

But ivan-tea (kaprej narrow-leaved) helps to reduce absorption in the intestine of exogenous (coming with food) cholesterol, since this plant contains plant sterol beta-sitosterol. The grass of the kipreya (dry, chopped) should be brewed like tea and at least one glass a day for three weeks. After a 7-day break, you can repeat the course.

Also phytosterols, which lower LDL-C, are found in sea-buckthorn and corn oil, which alternative healers recommend using one teaspoonful or a dessert spoon per day.

Treatment of high cholesterol by diet

The treatment of high cholesterol by diet, in fact, means a healthy diet. For cereals and cereals, vegetables and fruits should account for 70% of the diet; the remaining third of calories can come from meat dairy products.

Yes, this way to reduce high cholesterol is long enough, but the only correct: the less cholesterol in the food, the lower its content in the blood. Beef and lamb fat and all fatty meat are completely excluded. It is necessary to limit as much as possible the use of such products as whole milk, cream, sour cream and butter. Within a week, it's not worth eating more than three chicken eggs.

In addition, it is necessary to include in the diet:

• essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6) that contain oily and semi-greasy sea fish, fish oil, flax seeds and flaxseed oil, sunflower seed oil and sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds;
• cellulose (bread with bran, whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, spicy-flavored greens);
• pectin substances (which are many in apples, quince, pears, plums, citrus, pumpkin, beetroot, carrot, eggplant, sweet pepper);
• vitamin PP (in sufficient quantity it is available in beef liver, hard cheeses, eggs, baker's yeast, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, dates).

It is more useful to eat 4-5 times a day in smaller portions, to consume 1.5-1.8 liters of water per day (not mineral).

The combination of all methods should make the treatment of increased cholesterol more effective, so that fat does not stay in the blood for too long and does not settle in the blood vessels.