Elevated cholesterol levels are a risk of cardiovascular disease. The prevention and good habits are very important to keep cholesterol in check, but you can not forget the need for pharmacology. Has recently been approved for a new drug that helps lower cholesterol levels. The dr. Esteban Lopez de Sa, Secretary General of the SEC and National Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology, brings us closer to understanding why we must control cholesterol levels while also presents this new drug that I highlighted.
Cholesterol is a substance the body uses to protect tissues and which comes from two distinct sources. On one hand it generates the liver itself, and on the other, we can generate ourselves with the consumption of certain foods. The need to control cholesterol depends on the overall risk that the person has. If there are factors that do not anticipate that cholesterol may have a negative impact, one need not be so strict on levels. However, persons who have suffered a stroke or a heart attack, for example, are more prone that your cholesterol is within the arteries and, consequently, generate a problem. Each person must have some specific recommendations.
The consequences of having high cholesterol are always negative for cardiovascular health. It increases the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure … The risk is continuous, and increases with cholesterol levels. At higher levels, higher risk. Furthermore, if the person suffers from obesity, are diabetic or have genetic background, diagnosis can be reached much more complicated.
The strategies used to control hypercholesterolemia mainly go by the medication. It is true that a good diet, exercise performance and avoiding obesity are key factors. But not sufficient. Therefore have developed a group of drugs that help control this problem. Of all the elements tested, which has proved more effective in reducing complications are the statins. There are many drugs that lower the cholesterol levels but most side effects, as is the case with some pills that increase vascular disease mortality. Because of this the effectiveness of the remedy is limited. At present, statins are the only ones to get this dual task: to lower cholesterol will not be harmful in other body part.
Has recently been approved for use in Spain of a specific drug for hypercholesterolemia, rosuvastatin, with significant reductions in LDL cholesterol since starting doses and also offered significant increases in HDL cholesterol. This new statin is the most powerful that exists to combat cholesterol. Not only that, but get a regression on underlying atherosclerotic disease in these patients. Rosuvastatin may greatly benefit patients with difficult to control cholesterol, which have had a cardiovascular problem and people at high risk despite not having undergone any previous coronary disease.
The effectiveness of treatments to reduce cholesterol relies heavily on the patient record. The medication should continue taking, and not fall into the mistake of leaving after an analysis has shown improved cholesterol levels. For patients at high risk, it is also true that it costs more to achieve this goal. Over 80% fail to achieve the figures recommended. However, the effort by the physician and patient must be constant.