Controlling Cholesterol Counts Video Transcript

Webcast Transcript

But don't let that fool you because in clinical practice we see some patients have huge reductions.

ANNOUNCER: A second way to manage cholesterol is through the use of cholesterol lowering drugs, the most common of which are statins.

LORI MOSCA, MD: The primary drugs to treat cholesterol are the statin drugs, which lower the levels of the LDL or the bad cholesterol. It prevents the body from making cholesterol. And so that is a really effective way to keep your numbers down. There are also what we call cholesterol absorption inhibitors.

ANNOUNCER: Cholesterol absorption inhibitors are made up of two classes of drugs: Bile acid sequestrants and a newer drug called ezetimibe. Both primarily lower LDL levels by preventing the absorption of cholesterol in the gut.

LORI MOSCA, MD: Now the statin drugs and some of the other drugs that prevent the absorption of cholesterol are very effective in terms of the LDL or bad cholesterol. But we have to keep in mind that the development of heart disease is related not only to high levels of the bad cholesterol, but also related to low levels of the good cholesterol.

We have classes of drugs that work primarily on improving the levels of the good cholesterol HDL and lowering the levels of the triglycerides. And these classes of drugs are called niacin and fibrate therapy.

ANNOUNCER: But drug therapy is not for everyone. And many people can control their cholesterol by changing their lifestyle. Increasing physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight and quitting smoking are all changes that can help someone lead a heart-healthy lifestyle. And physicians agree that a heart-healthy lifestyle benefits everyone.

LORI MOSCA, MD: Regardless of what your risk level is, whether it's high, intermediate or low risk, everybody should be engaging in a heart-healthy lifestyle. Experts recommend that as the primary method to prevent heart disease.

And the way to make sure that you're going to be here tomorrow is to find the time today, to take the action, to live a heart-healthy life.

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