Cholesterol – the silent and deadly health threat
In the past generations a sparse selection of patients may have known their cholesterol ratings only at the time of a cardiac event since there are no symptoms to indicate to you when your cholesterol level is high. Despite that there may have been a privileged few who have afforded such tests, they may have not have been equiped with the necessary health tips to maintain the recommended cholesterol level.
Today, with the provision of better health care services where cholesterol testing is affordable and readily available, more persons are encouraged to check their cholesterol early. The following groups should consider knowing their cholesterol result:
•    Those persons with high risk factors for heart disease (a hypertensive, diabetic or a smoker whose diet include foods with high cholesterol and who do not exercise regularly or maybe overweight)
•    If there is a family history of early coronary heart disease
•    Men between ages 35 to 65
•    Women between 45 and 65
There are two kinds of cholesterol; the good cholesterol  or HDL (high density lipoprotein) and the bad cholesterol or LDL (low density lipoprotein). Also the aim of treatment is to lower the fats called triglycerides along with the bad cholesterol or the LDL and increase the HDL. Exercise usually increases the good cholesterol or HDL.
Though you can do a cholesterol test randomly even after just having a snack, a lipoprotein analysis test is more comprehensive. You should be properly advised to observe a 12 hour fast prior to this test so that you can get an accurate result.
Apart from exercise the non medicative ways to address cholesterol are appropriate foods and supplements. Some of the foods that are recommended for lowering  good cholesterol are oats, soy, fish and nuts. Recent studies have shown that omega 3 fish oils, flaxseed and niacin are some of the supplements which can be used to lower cholesterol.
Details on atorvastatin or Lipitor, one of the cholesterol lowering medications also called statins will be explained below so that you can fully understand your medication. Some other statins are Crestor (brand name for louvastatin) and Zocor (brand name for simvastatin).
When do you use a statin?
This treatment is introduced when the non medicative measures do not provide the anticipated cholesterol result. It must be noted however that it will take about four (4) weeks before before the full effect is seen with Lipitor. Your aim is to have a cholesterol level below 200. Also you are not really recommended to recheck your cholesterol rating too early. There will not be any dramatic change before 3 months. Hence depending on your initial cholesterol level whether borderline or high, your doctor will advise you on the best treatment approach.
However it is imporant to note that once you start statins you should not come off these types of meds; you can only reduce the dosage and or frequency of taking these pills (for example from 20 milligram daily to 10 milligram daily and then every other day). The dosage form in which it is available is oral tablets in presenting strengths 10, 20, 40 and 80 milligram.
It is also recommended that you take your pills at around the same time everyday.
Like with all drugs, while using these statins you may or may not experience side effects. However some side effects associated with Lipitor or atorvastatin are mild and include pain in the extremities, diarrhea and urinary tract infections which have few incidences.
A big “no no” is the use of grapefruit or grapefruit juice with these types of meds. This can interact causing an increase of more of the drug than that required in the blood. Another cautionary advise is to avoid simultaneous use of other drugs such as bile acid reducing drugs.
With all this information at hand, you are in a position to know what to anticipate and hence prevent any further complications either from improper use of statins or simply not having your cholesterol checked at all. So now that you are equiped with a little more knowledge you don’t have to put yourself at risk of having a stroke or a heart attack due to this silent and deadly health threat. Take action now.
For further advice consult the pharmacist at Medicine Express PHARMACY located at 223 Camp Street, between Lamaha and New Market Streets. If you have any queries, comments or further information on the above topic kindly forward them to medicine.express@gmail.com or send them to 223 Camp Street, N/burg. Tel #225-5142.