Everything you need to know about blood cholesterol and its treatment

Alongside cancer, the most common cause of death in Israel is cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, with proper medication, cholesterol can be reduced and the risk of death from cardiovascular disease can be significantly reduced. We have gathered the information on the treatments that are important to know

One of the most significant threats to our health. Atherosclerosis (illustration: ShutterStock)

Cholesterol: neuroimaging of Planck accumulation in artery. (Photo: ShutterStock)

Atherosclerosis, the accumulation of fatty plaque in the blood vessels, is considered one of the most significant health threats to us all in recent decades. "Atherosclerosis and its complications are heart attack and brain injury, are the silent killer," explains Dr. Yehuda Kamri, senior physician and researcher at the Lipid Center at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer and secretary of the Israeli Association of Atherosclerosis, "One of the major risk factors for atherosclerosis is high concentration of particles Blood LDL cholesterol. "

There are several treatments for reducing LDL cholesterol concentrations in the blood and the most common drugs are from the statin family, which Dr. Camry said has revolutionized the prevention of heart attacks and brain events: "These drugs have been in use for more than 20 years, we have a long and solid experience Solid information from high quality studies that have proven effective. This is a life-saving treatment because statins have been shown to reduce about 20 percent in cardiovascular death and a 10 percent reduction in overall mortality. "

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It is important to remember that cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in Israel alongside cancer, and statins are a vital part of reducing the morbidity and mortality from the disease. However, as with any drug treatment, statins may also cause side effects in some patients.

Beware of the familiar myths

"One of the possible side effects of statin therapy is a slight increase in liver function," explains Dr. Camry. "It is important to know that this mild increase is usually clinically meaningless and not dangerous, and, moreover, for those with fatty liver, in the long run, statin therapy may actually improve. The liver health as a result of reduced liver cholesterol production. "

Statins have recently been reported to cause some blood sugar levels. But here, too, Dr. Camry reassures, saying that "in many studies, the benefit of reducing the risk of heart attacks and brain events by balancing blood cholesterol has been found in dozens of counts from the slight increase in blood sugar."

Does not increase the risk of dementia. Statins (Photo: ShutterStock)

Statins (Photo: ShutterStock)

Further concerns have prompted several reports of memory loss when taking statins. Dr. Kamri emphasizes that "such a relationship has not been proven, and even if there is - it is a passing decline with discontinuation of treatment and not an increased risk of dementia. On the contrary - in many studies it has been found that statins have not increased the risk of dementia. "

The most common side effect

So far, we have been dealing with less common side effects of common treatment, but there is also a more common phenomenon that is important to recognize: "About 10 percent of statin patients are likely to suffer some muscle pain. In most cases, this is a pain that goes away with treatment and does not cause long-term damage. Muscle is extremely rare, and happens mainly when statins are given to patients who are receiving their drug interactions with statins, "Dr. Camry noted.

If you suffer from muscle pain following treatment with the statin drug, the pain management physician must be updated or a specialist in the torch in one of the hospitals should be co-opted to continue treatment. In some cases, statins may be combined with other cholesterol-lowering drugs that will reduce the statin dose, often reducing muscle pain.

Additional Cholesterol Treatment Medications

There are patients whose blood cholesterol levels are so high and statins alone are not enough to bring it to the desired value. Also, patients who develop significant side effects may or may not want to receive the treatment. For these cases - alternatives exist. If cholesterol levels do not decrease enough, treatment can be combined with another family medicine that lowers cholesterol absorption from the gut into the bloodstream. This medicine is given together with statins.

"There is now a new family of drugs that help lower blood cholesterol levels given once every two weeks and inhibit PCSK9 protein activity. This protein destroys the receptor for LDL-cholesterol particles in the liver cells, whose job is to turn blood cholesterol into this vital organ," Dr. "Delay in PCSK9 protein increases the number of LDL receptors and increases the blood cholesterol clearance to the liver and decreases blood cholesterol levels." Suffer statins because Side effects The drug is injected independently with the aid of an auto-injector, and before use it is important to undergo training on how to use, sometimes a local reaction may develop in the injection area that includes swelling, redness or local pain.

For complete information and the most effective treatment adjustment, we recommend contacting your treating physician.