Hi, thank you for your question. There are many classes of medications that are used to treat high cholesterol. The choice of medication will depend on your age, overall health, risk factors and possible side effects.

Some common medications include statins, bile-acid-binding resins, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, fibrates, niacin and omega-3 fatty acid supplements.
Statins are used to block a substance that the liver requires to produce cholesterol and this causes cholesterol to be removed from your blood.

Also, it helps to reabsorb cholesterol from cholesterol deposits on artery walls. Bile-acid-binding resins bind to bile acids, which is needed for digestion. Since bile acids are made of cholesterol, your body has to use the excess cholesterol in your body to make more bile acids. This will eventually reduce your cholesterol level.

Cholesterol absorption inhibitor reduces cholesterol by preventing the absorption of cholesterol from your diet. fibrates help to reduce the production of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, which contains triglycerides in the liver and speeds up the removal of triglycerides. Niacin controls the production of VLDL and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (“bad”) cholesterol. Omega-3 fatty acid supplement helps to decrease triglyceride level.

Other than medications, you can make lifestlye modifications to manage high cholesterol. Firstly, eat a healthy diet. Limit foods high in saturated fats and trans fat, such as full-fat dairy products, red meat, margarine, bakery products and deep-fried food. Consume whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Also, stay physically active and maintain a healthy weight. Do moderate-intensity exercise at least 30 minutes 5 times a week or vigorous aerobic exercise for 20 minutes 3 times a week. Next, quit smoking. Ways to help you quit smoking include using nicotine patch and joining a support group. For non-smokers, avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. Lastly, drink alcohol in moderation.

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