Taking Cholesterol Pills Without Consulting Your Doctor Is Dumb
High cholesterol or LDL is directly associated with risks of a heart attack. Every heart patient knows the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle to reduce the cholesterol levels in their body. After improving their diet and engaging in regular physical activities, many people can successfully control their cholesterol levels and minimize risks associated with a future heart attack.
However, sometimes a healthy lifestyle alone cannot fully counter the damage wreaked by high cholesterol levels. For such patients, various cholesterol lowering medications are prescribed. Cholesterol-lowering drugs like Statins work by blocking the cholesterol making substance in your body. They also provide a range of other benefits.
However, as with everything you need to take certain precautions before administering these drugs to yourself.
What Are Some Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs and When Do You Need Them?
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Some medications that your doctor may prescribe you to help you manage your cholesterol levels are:
Statins that minimize your body’s cholesterol production and eliminate cholesterol buildup in your blood vessels.
Cholesterol absorption inhibitors along with a Statin lowers the quantity of cholesterol synthesized by the intestines by your body.
Resins work by binding to bile to not let the body use it during the digestion process. It prompts your liver to make more and thus use up more cholesterol.
Fibrates reduce the number of fats or triglycerides in the body. They also boost your good cholesterol.
PCSK9 inhibitors medicines work by blocking PCSK9 protein and thus enables your liver to eliminate LDL cholesterol.
For those wondering at what cholesterol levels is medication required, the answer depends on the existing levels of your cholesterol. If your cholesterol levels are above 190 mg/dl, you will be prescribed one of them.
Why Should You Never Take Cholesterol Lowering Medications Without Prescription?
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Your doctor is the best source of information on any medication you take to improve your heart health. You must never take these drugs without their expert advice. You will save yourself from experiencing numerous side-effects of these medications if you take them after a proper discussion with your pharmacist or healthcare professional.
Some possible side-effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs that you may experience include:
Upset stomach
Vomiting
Nausea
Bloating
Excessive gas
Dizziness
Exhaustion
Muscle aches
Sleep disturbances
Keep in mind that these medications can interact with the food items that you consume and other medicines. This can also cause you to experience several undesirable effects. That is why it is of utmost importance that you consult your doctor about all the possible interactions of this medication with that of others.
These kind of drug-to-drug interactions can prove fatal. You should discuss every other drug or supplement with your doctor that you’re taking whether its over-the-counter drug, supplements, etc. Additionally, a thorough consultation with your doctor will also reveal which kinds of food items or beverages you need to avoid when consuming cholesterol lowering medications.
What happens if you don’t take your cholesterol medication?
If you don’t take cholesterol-lowering medications, the cholesterol levels increase in the blood, resulting in your arteries clogging. It may put you at a greater risk of heart attack. It is advisable not to discontinue cholesterol-lowering drugs without the prescription of your doctor.
What Reduces Cholesterol Quickly?
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You might wish that there existed natural cholesterol medicine to help you keep your heart health intact. Well, you can manage your cholesterol levels naturally by doing the following:
Eat a healthy low-fat, predominantly vegetarian diet.
Engage in regular physical exercise daily.
Keep your consumption of refined grains like white flour to a minimum.
By now, you must have realized how excessive amounts of cholesterol can make you prone to a host of heart diseases. If you’re someone who uses medications to treat it, it’s important for you to have a doctor’s prescription so that you reap the most benefits out of it.