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Medicine To Lower Cholesterol And Triglycerides

Eating Reishi Mushroom Can Help

Lowering Triglycerides – Mayo Clinic

Reishi mushroom is beneficial to the cardiovascular system due to its high content of heart-saving substances including sterols, ganoderic acids, coumarin, mannitol, and polysaccharides.

According to a 2016 study published in PLOS One, reishi mushrooms, scientifically known as Ganoderma lucidum and originating in Mexico, were found to contain bioactive compounds that exhibit hypocholesterolemic properties and prebiotic effects.

The ganoderic acids in Reishi mushroom help lower triglyceride levels, remove excess cholesterol from the blood, lower blood pressure, reduce platelet stickiness, and even help correct arrhythmias.

For lowering triglycerides, you can take reishi mushroom extract. The appropriate dose depends on factors such as age and current health conditions, so consult your doctor first.

Note:

What Foods Should I Eat What Foods Should I Avoid

Maintaining a healthy diet can help lower your cholesterol. Recommended foods include fruits and vegetables whole grain foods fat-free, 1%, or low-fat milk products poultry without skin and lean meats fatty fish such as salmon, trout, albacore tuna, and sardines and unsalted nuts, seeds, and legumes.

A diet high in cholesterol, saturated fats, and trans fats should be avoided. This includes high-sodium foods sweetened or sugary beverages red, fatty, or processed meats full-fat dairy products baked goods with saturated and trans fats solid fats or fried foods and hydrogenated and saturated oils.

Mechanism Accounting For The Omega

While not the primary mechanism for the decrease in plasma TGs, studies have shown that omega-3-fatty acids may increase the clearance of TG rich lipoproteins . Post heparin lipoprotein lipase activity is not increased by omega-3-fatty acid administration but the lipolytic activity of non-stimulated plasma is enhanced . Additionally, apolipoprotein C-III levels are decreased with omega-3-fatty acid administration which could also contribute to an increase in the clearance of TG rich lipoproteins .

The increase in LDL-C levels that occurs in patients with marked hypertriglyceridemia treated with omega-3-fatty acids is thought to be due to the enhanced conversion of VLDL to LDL .

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How Your Healthcare Provider Can Help

Your healthcare provider can help you get your triglyceride levels under control by ruling out possible causes like medications, thyroid issues, unmanaged diabetes and liver or kidney disease. They can then formulate an effective management plan with you. This might include medication and lifestyle changes like losing weight and eating smaller portions.

As mentioned before, a healthy, fiber-rich diet can help in the matter. Exercising regularly can also play a huge part in managing triglyceride levels. By cleaning up your existing routine, you could see changes in your triglyceride levels within a few months.

This article was adapted from Cleveland Clinic Heart Advisor.

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You Can Begin Lowering Cholesterol Naturally Today

Many of the same lifestyle changes and medications can lower both ...

Sound like a lot to take on? Dont be intimidated. Bringing down your high cholesterol doesnt have to mean changing your life completely. Rather, start with changing your mindset. Instead of thinking of it as moving away from things, youre moving toward new habits that will help you create a healthier and more enjoyable future.

Now is always the right time to start taking care of your heart health. If you need a little support, lean on friends and family. And dont forget that your doctor is always there for you with advice, motivation and encouragement so you can reach your goals and live healthier.

Dont delay getting the heart care and answers you need

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Effect On Evinacumab On Lipid And Lipoprotein Levels

HOMOZYGOUS FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial randomly treated patients with Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia with an intravenous infusion of evinacumab 15 mg/Kg every 4 weeks or placebo . The individuals in this trial were on lipid lowering therapy and the mean baseline LDL-C level was approximately 250-260mg/dL. After 24 weeks of treatment patients in the evinacumab group had a 47% reduction in LDL-C levels vs. a 1.9% increase in the placebo group . This decrease in LDL-C levels was observed after 2 weeks of therapy and was observed regardless of concomitant use of other lipid lowering drugs or apheresis. Notably, in individuals with null-null LDL receptor variants evinacumab resulted in a 43% decrease in LDL-C levels indicating that evinacumab therapy was effective in the absence of functional LDL receptors. As expected, total cholesterol, non-HDL-C cholesterol, and apo B levels were also decreased. Moreover, triglyceride levels decreased 55% and HDL-C levels decreased 30% with evinacumab administration while Lp levels were unchanged.

How Can I Lower My Cholesterol With Medicines

As well as making lifestyle changes, some people will need to take cholesterol-lowering medicines to reduce their risk of heart and blood vessel disease, known as cardiovascular disease. The medicines most commonly used are called statins.

Your doctor will consider all your risk factors for cardiovascular disease before suggesting medication not just your cholesterol and lipid results. If youve already had a heart attack or stroke, taking statins can substantially lower your risk of having another one.

Statins work by slowing the amount of cholesterol made in your liver. In response, your liver uses the cholesterol already in your blood to make up for the deficit. This lowers the level of LDL cholesterol in your blood.

If statins alone do not lower your cholesterol enough, you may need additional medicines.

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Who Should Use Fibrates

Your healthcare provider may prescribe fibrates to reduce your triglycerides and/or raise your HDL cholesterol levels. Although triglycerides are associated with cardiovascular disease, it has not been consistently established that taking fibrates reduces the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Lowering triglycerides using fibrate medications is a key step in reducing the risk for pancreatitis.

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Simple Ways To Lower Your Triglyceride Levels

High Cholesterol – Do I Need To Take Medication?

Cholesterol has a pretty bad reputation when it comes to heart health, but there’s another substance that can also cause heart problems in excess: triglycerides. According to the Mayo Clinic, triglycerides are a kind of blood fat. Unlike cholesterol which is used to build cell membranes and produce certain hormones, triglycerides act as a form of energy reservoir. After eating, any calories that are not used immediately are converted into triglycerides and kept inside your cells until needed. Hormones trigger their release into the bloodstream, usually in between meals. Eating too many calories, especially from carbohydrates, is the primary cause of elevated triglycerides . Additionally, certain medications may raise triglycerides as a side effect.

Monitoring your triglycerides is important, as high levels can signal several health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and hypothyroidism. Metabolic syndrome is of particular concern because it greatly increases your risk of developing heart disease, per WebMD. Other hallmarks of the condition include high blood sugar, elevated blood pressure, overabundance of belly fat, and high “bad” cholesterol . Along with high sugar/carb foods, too much saturated fat in the diet from meat, butter, and whole milk dairy may also contribute to high triglycerides.

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What Are Normal Cholesterol Numbers

Everyone aged 20 years and older should have his or her cholesterol levels checked at least once every 5 years. The blood test should be taken after fasting for 9 to 12 hours.

You should aim for a total cholesterol level of < 200 mg/dL. Levels of 240 mg/dL or above are considered high. For LDL, lower levels are better, and the goal should be below 130 mg/dL, with < 100 mg/dL being optimal. For HDL, higher numbers are better. An HDL level < 40 mg/dL is a major risk factor for developing heart disease. You want to aim for levels of 60 mg/dL or better to help lower this risk.

Effect On Inclisiran On Lipid And Lipoprotein Levels

HETEROZYGOUS FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

The effect of inclisiran on LDL-C levels was determined in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia who were randomized to receive subcutaneous injections of inclisiran 284mg or placebo on days 1, 90, 270, and 450 . The mean baseline LDL-C level was 153±54mg/dl and 90% of the patients were receiving statins with most on high intensity statins . At day 510 LDL-C levels were reduced by 47.9% compared to placebo . The reduction in LDL-C was similar in all genotypes of familial hypercholesterolemia. Total cholesterol was reduced by 33%, non-HDL-C by 44%, Lp by 17.2%, and triglycerides by 12%. HDL-C and hsCRP were not markedly altered.

HOMOZYGOUS FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

A small study reported that inclisiran treatment lowered LDL-C levels in 3 of 4 patients with homozygous familiar hypercholesterolemia but less than that seen in individuals with fully functioning LDL receptors .

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Effect Of Low Dose Omega

Initial studies of the effect of fish oil administration on cardiovascular outcomes were favorable, demonstrating a reduction in events including all-cause mortality. However, more recent studies have failed to confirm these favorable results. In these more recent studies the use of other drugs, such as statins, that reduce cardiovascular disease were more intensively utilized. The outcomes studies that will be described below were carried out with doses of EPA and DHA that are lower than the doses used to lower plasma TGs. We will limit our discussion to the administration of fish oil as a drug and not discuss diet studies, such as DART, which had patients increase fatty fish intake .

The above results indicate that low dose fish oil do not significantly and consistently reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Lifestyle Therapy: The First Step

Triglyceride &  Cholesterol Pro

With so many people in need and so many medications available, it’s understandable that both doctors and their patients are tempted to rely on medications to improve unhealthy cholesterol levels. That’s a mistake. Instead, lifestyle therapy is the place to start. That means avoiding tobacco in all its forms. It also means choosing foods low in saturated fat, trans-fatty acids, and cholesterol while favoring foods that provide heart-healthy omega-3 and monounsaturated fats and large amounts of dietary fiber. It also requires regular exercise, which can be as simple as walking at a moderate pace for at least 30 minutes nearly every day. And the combination of a good diet and regular exercise should help men achieve another important goal, weight control.

Lifestyle therapy can improve cholesterol levels, and certain foods can provide extra help . But even with clean living, many people need medication to achieve optimal cholesterol levels, particularly when they have to reduce their LDL levels to 100 mg/dL or less. It’s important to keep up a good diet and exercise program even if you take medication. And if you can’t take a statin, here is a rundown of other medications that can help Table 3 summarizes their effects on blood lipids and compares them to the statins.

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What Causes High Cholesterol And Why Is It Harmful

People with high cholesterol or triglycerides have abnormally high levels of fats in their blood. Cholesterol is produced in the liver and is used by cells throughout the body. Its found in fatty foods such as eggs, red meat and cheese. Triglycerides are the result of extra calories stored in the body when not used for energy. Theyre produced by the liver but also come from some foods including red meat, dairy, refined carbohydrates or sugars and alcohol.

Low-density lipoprotein is known as the bad cholesterol because it can result in a buildup of plaque known as atherosclerosis, which leads to blockages in your blood vessels and increases your risk for heart disease or stroke.

In general, LDL below 100 milligrams/deciliter is considered good. However, recent studies show that LDL levels below 30-50 mg/dL are even more effective in preventing heart disease. Triglyceride levels less than 150 mg/dL are considered good, although less than 100 is ideal.

Effect Of Fibrates On Cardiovascular Outcomes

There have been a number of studies that have examined the effect of a variety of different fibrates on cardiovascular disease. We will describe the major studies below.

A separate meta-analysis has focused on the effect of fibrates on cardiovascular disease in patients with pre-existing disease . It included 13 trials involving a total of 16,112 participants. For the primary composite outcome of non-fatal stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and vascular death, fibrate therapy significantly decreased risk by 12% 0.88, 95% 0.83 to 0.94). Fibrates were effective for preventing myocardial infarction . Fibrates were not effective in lowering all-cause mortality , death from vascular causes , or stroke events . Since clofibrate has been discontinued due to safety concerns, the data were reanalyzed excluding clofibrate trials. Without clofibrate, fibrates no longer significantly reduced the primary outcome but were still effective in preventing myocardial infarctions . Subgroup analyses showed the benefit of fibrates on the primary composite outcome to be consistent irrespective of age, gender, and diabetes mellitus.

SUMMARY OF OUTCOME STUDIES

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Different Types Of Lipids

Your cholesterol test results will usually show total cholesterol, which is made up of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and also triglycerides.

LDL cholesterol is the so-called bad cholesterol. The level of LDL in a persons blood can help predict their risk of having coronary heart disease.

HDL is often called the good cholesterol as it may be beneficial in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease.

Triglycerides are another type of blood fat. High levels of triglycerides are also considered to be important predictors of future coronary problems, and very high levels of triglycerides may cause inflammation of the pancreas .

High Triglyceride Risk Factors

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If you’re keeping an eye on your triglyceride levels, it’s helpful to know some of the common risk factors for hypertriglyceridemia.

Although food is the primary source of triglycerides, the liver also makes triglycerides, which may explain variation between people who eat a similar diet but have different triglyceride levels . Like cholesterol, genes can also play a factor in this, such as in the inherited condition known as familial hypertriglyceridemia that makes you more prone to having heightened triglyceride levels, according to WebMD.

Some of the high-risk groups that may want to pay particular attention to their triglyceride levels include adults with a history of heart attack or stroke, adults with diabetes, and anyone at risk for heart attack or stroke due to high cholesterol or other risk factors such as family history .

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Weight Loss Can Lower Triglycerides And Ldl Cholesterol

It doesnt take dramatic weight loss to lower LDL and triglyceride levels. Just 5 to 10 pounds can make a difference, says Jerry Blaine, M.D., who specialized in cholesterol management, lipid disorders, hypertension, and preventive medicine, including at the Lipid Clinic at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts, before retiring in 2013.

The same applies to triglycerides. The more calories you eat and dont burn off, the more you store, which can lead to higher-than-normal triglyceride levels.

Additionally, there are other trim-down steps you can take to lower your LDL cholesterol and triglycerides:

Set a goal to lose 5-10 percent of your total body weight. For example, a 200-pound adult would aim to lose 10-20 pounds. Once the weight is off, keep up your healthy lifestyle to maintain your new weight.

Cut 200-500 calories a day from the number of calories it takes to maintain your weight. Reducing caloric intake will lower both LDL and triglycerides.

Effect Of Statin Therapy On Clinical Outcomes

A large number of studies using a variety of statins in diverse patient populations have shown that statin therapy reduces atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The Cholesterol Treatment Trialists have published meta-analyses derived from individual subject data. Their first publication included data from 14 trials with over 90,000 subjects . There was a 12% reduction in all-cause mortality in the statin treated subjects, which was mainly due to a 19% reduction in coronary heart disease deaths. Non-vascular causes of death were similar in the statin and placebo groups indicating that statin therapy and lowering LDL-C did not increase the risk of death from other causes such as cancer, respiratory disease, etc. Of particular note there was a 23% decrease in major coronary events per 1 mmol/L reduction in LDL-C. Decreases in other vascular outcomes including non-fatal MI, coronary heart disease death, vascular surgery, and stroke were also reduced by 20-25% per 1 mmol/L reduction in LDL-C. Additionally, analysis of these studies demonstrated that the greater the reduction in absolute LDL-C levels the greater the decrease in cardiovascular events. For example, while a 40mg/dl decrease in LDL-C will reduce coronary events by approximately 20%, an 80mg/dl decrease in LDL-C will reduce events by approximately 40%. These results support aggressive lipid lowering with statin therapy.

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Lose Weight If Overweight

Eating more calories than you burn is the primary cause of high triglycerides, per Medical News Today. This is because excessive energy intake is converted into excessive triglycerides — making obesity and being overweight a risk factor for high triglycerides.

Eating fewer calories than you burn, on the other hand, forces the body to burn through the excess triglycerides for energy, resulting in a reduction in blood triglycerides. This explains why even a modest 5-10% weight loss can reduce triglyceride levels as much as 20%, and also explains the direct correlation between pounds lost and reduction in triglyceride levels.

The National Lipid Association recommends focusing on smaller portions of calorie-dense foods and larger portions of low-calorie yet filling foods like vegetables and lean meats to help with weight loss and reduce triglycerides. Other tips that can help weight loss include limiting starchy foods, getting 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week, limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption, and limiting one’s intake of sugary foods.

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