Are cholesterol pills necessary?
How it’s treated: Most people with high LDL cholesterol not caused by genetics don’t treat it with medications at first. Instead, you can try eating a heart-healthy diet, getting more exercise, quitting smoking, and losing weight if you’re overweight. If those steps don’t work, you may need medication.
What are the side effects of cholesterol lowering pills?
- Diarrhea.
- Constipation.
- Nausea.
- Stomach cramps.
- Muscle soreness, pain, or weakness.
- Vomiting.
- Headache.
- Dizziness.
Why do doctors prescribe cholesterol medicine?
Statins decrease your risk of having a stroke or heart attack because they cut down the amount of bad cholesterol in your blood. That cholesterol can make your arteries narrow (atherosclerosis), making it hard for your blood to circulate and putting you at risk for a heart attack or stroke.
When should you start taking cholesterol medicine?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends low- to moderate-dose statins in adults ages 40 to 75 who have one or more risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease and at least a 1 in 10 chance of having a cardiosvascular disease event in the next 10 years.
What are the warning signs of high cholesterol?
- Nausea.
- Numbness.
- Slurred speech.
- Extreme fatigue.
- Chest pain or angina.
- Shortness of breath.
- Numbness or coldness in extremities.
- High blood pressure.
Can you get off statins Once you start?
It’s possible for some people to stop taking statins safely, but it can be especially risky for others. For instance, if you have a history of heart attack or stroke, it’s not recommended that you stop taking these drugs. This is because you’re more likely to have another such problem when you discontinue statins.
What reduces cholesterol quickly?
- Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans. …
- Be mindful of fat intake. …
- Eat more plant sources of protein. …
- Eat fewer refined grains, such as white flour. …
- Get moving.
How can I lower my cholesterol without medication?
- Eat heart-healthy foods. A few changes in your diet can reduce cholesterol and improve your heart health: …
- Exercise on most days of the week and increase your physical activity. Exercise can improve cholesterol. …
- Quit smoking. …
- Lose weight. …
- Drink alcohol only in moderation.
How long does it take to lower cholesterol without medication?
Nieca Goldberg, medical director of the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health at the NYU Langone Medical Center, says it can take between three to six months to see lower LDL numbers through just diet and exercise, noting that it takes longer to see changes in women than men.
Do statins cause weight gain?
As with many medications, statins may cause side effects, including digestive problems, muscle pain and weakness, and cognitive dysfunction. Another side effect that’s been linked to statins is weight gain.
What are the worst foods for high cholesterol?
- Full-fat dairy. Whole milk, butter and full-fat yogurt and cheese are high in saturated fat. …
- Red meat. Steak, beef roast, ribs, pork chops and ground beef tend to have high saturated fat and cholesterol content. …
- Processed meat. …
- Fried foods. …
- Baked goods and sweets. …
- Eggs. …
- Shellfish. …
- Lean meat.
How long can you take cholesterol medicine?
Check with your doctor whether there’s a particular time of day you should take your statin. You usually have to continue taking statins for life because if you stop taking them, your cholesterol will return to a high level within a few weeks. If you forget to take your dose, do not take an extra one to make up for it.
What is the safest cholesterol medicine?
Still, all in all, the statins are the safest and best tolerated of all cholesterol-lowering medications. Although most patients respond well to statin therapy, some don’t.
Why do doctors push statins?
Statins are the go-to treatment option for lowering cholesterol levels and risk of cardiovascular complications, like heart attack and stroke. Statins work by slowing down cholesterol production and enabling the liver to remove low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or bad cholesterol, from the bloodstream.
Is taking statins worth the risk?
Research has shown that statins are highly effective in reducing the risk of fatal heart attack and stroke.