THREE TESTS THAT DETERMINE THE NEED FOR CHOLESTEROL LOWERING MEDICATION

Every year more than 800,000 Americans suffer their first heart attack and many of these people have average cholesterol levels.

The thinking today is ldl cholesterol should be no higher than 100 and in those with known cardiovascular problems it should be even lower 70 or 50.

When is there a need for for drug therapy?

When diet and exercise alone has not lowered your ldl(bad cholesterol) and your numbers are still elevated (160 or above). and you have the following risk factors, smoke,have high blood pressure,diabetes and/or family history of heart attack or stroke,and in some cases even if you do not have the above risk factors.

If you carry the genetic form of cholesterol lipoprotein a ( Normal levels are 20 or lower.)

If you have an elevated homocystine, this test is not as known as it should be, and few doctors's test for this risk factor. Have it checked and the levels should be 10 or less.

CT Scan of the heart, this will give the amount of plaque that has accumulated on the arteries and may predict future heart attacks.

The three factors listed above( when elevated )is when medication should begin, and the sooner the better. These factors are not known by primary care physicians. Remember to be an advocate for your own health and be assertive when seeking testing. It is better to err on the side of doing too much rather than not enough when it comes to your health.

Taking the above approach gives one a sense of well being in that you are doing all you can to live a healthy lifestyle.

TIP OF THE DAY Any form of alcohol raises HDL and reduces clotting(if consumed in moderation) no more than 2 glasses a day. Red wine contains resveratrol ( powerful antioxidant that guards cholesterol formation.) Oxidation ( think of how an apple, after peeled, turns brown this is oxidation.

Stay healthy