high cholesterol is a chronic condition that affects many Canadians. While it cannot be completely fixed, it can be effectively managed through various strategies, including lifestyle changes and medications. Medications play a crucial role in lowering cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of related health complications.

It is true that some individuals may stop taking their cholesterol-lowering medications within a year or two of starting. Adherence to medication regimens can be challenging for a variety of reasons, including side effects, forgetfulness, financial constraints, or a belief that the medications are no longer necessary. However, it's important to note that maintaining consistent medication use over the long term provides greater benefits.

Cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins, work by reducing the production or absorption of cholesterol in the body. These medications have been extensively studied and shown to be effective in lowering cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of cardiovascular events. Long-term use of these medications has been associated with significant improvements in health outcomes, including a decreased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular complications.

It's crucial for individuals with high cholesterol to have regular discussions with their healthcare providers to understand the importance of medication adherence and the potential risks of stopping treatment prematurely. Healthcare professionals can provide guidance on managing side effects, adjusting dosages if necessary, and addressing any concerns or misconceptions about the medications.

In addition to medication, lifestyle modifications such as adopting a heart-healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding tobacco use are also essential for managing cholesterol levels. These lifestyle changes, combined with medication when prescribed, can help individuals achieve better long-term health outcomes and reduce the risk of complications associated with high cholesterol.

And those people who stop their medications early lose the benefit of that therapy. It’s really important when you are prescribed a new medication to talk to your doctor and ask how long do you expect me to take this?

It’s really important that you talk to your pharmacist and say how long do you expect me to take this? And put yourself in a position not to run out of your medications. Work with your pharmacist to ensure that refills are there. Work with your pharmacist to make it easy to take those medications if you face any challenges.

Taking medications over the long term will reduce heart attacks and strokes. If you want more information on cholesterol and the effect of medications and the importance of adherence, talk to your pharmacist – they can help. Local Physiotherapist.

cholesterol is an important component of our biology. It is a waxy substance found in every cell of our body and is involved in several vital functions. Here are some key points about cholesterol:

1. Structural role: Cholesterol helps in stabilizing cell membranes, making them less fluid and more rigid. This allows cells to maintain their integrity and function properly.

2. Hormone synthesis: Cholesterol serves as a precursor for the synthesis of various hormones, including cortisol, aldosterone, progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone. These hormones play crucial roles in numerous physiological processes.

3. Bile production: Cholesterol is used by the liver to produce bile acids, which aid in the digestion and absorption of dietary fats.

4. Vitamin D synthesis: Cholesterol is a precursor for the synthesis of vitamin D, which is essential for maintaining bone health and performing various other functions in the body.

However, it's important to understand the distinction between "good" and "bad" cholesterol. Cholesterol itself is the same molecule, but it is transported in the blood by different types of lipoproteins: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

HDL cholesterol is often referred to as "good" cholesterol because it carries cholesterol away from the arteries to the liver for elimination, reducing the risk of plaque formation.

LDL cholesterol, on the other hand, is often called "bad" cholesterol because high levels of LDL can lead to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

It's crucial to maintain a balance between HDL and LDL cholesterol levels. High levels of LDL and low levels of HDL cholesterol are generally associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

To maintain healthy cholesterol levels, it's recommended to adopt a balanced diet, engage in regular physical activity, avoid smoking, and manage weight. In some cases, medication may also be prescribed by healthcare professionals to manage cholesterol levels effectively.

While there are a number of risk factors for heart disease, we know that the most potent risk factor is in fact smoking. However, high cholesterol – because it’s so much more common in a population in general than smoking – is actually the most important risk factor for heart disease at a population level.

Now, that’s good and that’s bad. It’s bad because it’s so common, but it’s good because it is manageable; it is preventable. Through living a healthy lifestyle, eating a healthy diet, low-fat diet, avoiding smoking, exercising and avoiding obesity, we can keep our LDL cholesterol levels low right from childhood all the way into adulthood.

And genetic experiments that have looked at this have clearly supported the idea that if LDL cholesterol is kept low from childhood into adulthood, the risk of heart disease is dramatically reduced.

Sometimes healthy living alone is not enough to control LDL cholesterol, and we need to turn to drug therapy. The statin drugs are an absolute cornerstone in treating not only LDL cholesterol, but in reducing lifetime risk of heart attack, of stroke, and of death due to heart disease.

While statin drugs have been a boon in the fight against heart disease, there are some people who can’t tolerate them due to the side effects, and sometimes the statins just aren’t powerful enough to get the LDL cholesterol under control.

While we do have several other options, we are particularly excited about new drugs and development that we hope to have available to us within a short period of time that will likely further help us in this battle against heart disease.

If you are concerned about your cholesterol level or if you want to learn more, then you absolutely need to consult with your family physician who can assess not only your cholesterol levels, but your risk for developing heart disease and your need for any treatment.