Almost 2 out of 5 adults people in the United States have high cholesterol, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. This is dangerous for women and those assigned female at birth (AFAB), as heart disease is the leading cause of death.
Many people with high cholesterol don’t know it because they don’t have any symptoms. Fortunately, a simple blood test can check your cholesterol levels. And if it’s high, there are steps you can take to lower it, like taking cholesterol medication.
What are cholesterol medications?
Total cholesterol is made up of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), often called “good” cholesterol; low-density lipoproteins (LDL), often called “bad” cholesterol; and triglycerides.
You want your HDL levels to be high and your LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels to be low (below 200 mg/dL).
Cholesterol medications are different types of medications that can help lower LDL and triglyceride levels, which can also help lower your total cholesterol levels. In some cases, medications can also increase HDL. HDL helps absorb LDL so that it can be passed out of the body.
People whose LDL levels are low enough and maintain them at that level have a 44% less risk to have a heart attack or stroke.
THE most common medications to treat high cholesterol are:
- Statins: Slow your liver’s production of cholesterol while increasing your HDL levels.
- Cholesterol absorption inhibitors: prevent your gut from absorbing cholesterol from your food.
Other medications either bind cholesterol, making it easier for your body to eliminate it, or limit or prevent your liver from producing it in the first place. These include:
- Bile acid sequestrants
- PCSK9 inhibitors
- Adenosine triphosphate-citrate lyase (ACL) inhibitors
People with high cholesterol levels due to a genetic condition called heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia you may need to take a combination of medications.
Who is a good candidate for a cholesterol-lowering medication?
You should talk to your healthcare professional about cholesterol medications if you to have:
- LDL levels of 190 mg/dL or higher
- High risk of heart disease
- A history of heart attack or stroke
- Diabetes and LDL levels of 70 mg/dL or higher
How long does it take to lower cholesterol with medication?
Cholesterol-lowering medications should be taken at about the same time every day unless your healthcare professional tells you otherwise. You should also follow the instructions for your type of medication. For example, some should be taken on an empty stomach and others with food. Some statins come with a warning not to take an antacid at least two hours before taking the medication.
If you take your cholesterol medications as you are supposed to, it may take about four weeks for your cholesterol levels to drop. Since there are no symptoms of high cholesterol, you will not feel if your levels have dropped. You will need a follow-up blood test to check. If this does not work or if the drop is not enough, your healthcare professional may prescribe a higher dose or a different medicine.
It may take some trial and error to find the right medication, and not all medications work the same for everyone.
Risks of cholesterol medications
As with all medications, taking cholesterol-lowering medications carries certain risks. For example, they may interact with other medications you are already taking. They can also affect your liver, but this is rare. Regular blood tests while you are taking these medications will help monitor this and alert your healthcare professional if there are signs that your liver may be developing problems.
Other possible Side effects Cholesterol medications include:
- Muscle and/or joint pain
- Increased blood sugar level
- Memory loss or confusion
- Nausea
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Headache
- Stomach ache
- Bloating and/or gas
High cholesterol levels in women
Men and women often have different symptoms when having a heart attack. For example, men usually feel pain and pressure in their chest. Women often have more subtle behaviors symptomssuch as nausea or shortness of breath.
Read: Symptoms of Heart Attacks in Women >>
Because women often do not have typical symptoms of a heart attack, medical professionals may overlook or ignore what is happening. So it’s important to understand your heart health and your risk of heart attack. Part of this is knowing your cholesterol levels, taking your medications as prescribed by your doctor, and following up to make sure the medication is working.
Read: Why don’t women get the same treatment as men for heart disease? >>
Race and ethnicity can also play a role in cholesterol levels. For example, while White person have higher LDL levels than people of other races, people of South Asian descent tend to have lower HDL levels than the general US population. A lower HDL level means less LDL is removed from the blood, putting them at higher risk of heart disease.
Other reasons for high cholesterol
With some chronic illnesses, people with lower socioeconomic status and education levels are at higher risk. But for high cholesterol, research shows that these are often people with higher incomes and a higher level of education. But no matter where you live, your income or your level of education, choice of life can affect cholesterol levels.
You can take some steps to help your body regulate LDL levels. These include:
- Eat a healthy diet, low in saturated and trans fats
- Lose weight if you are overweight or obese
- Stop smoking
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Exercise to help raise HDL, which can help lower LDL
Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Professional About High Cholesterol Medications
If you are concerned about your cholesterol levels and your treatment, here are some questions you may want to ask your healthcare professional:
- Which cholesterol medication should I start with?
- What side effects should I watch for?
- What is my LDL goal after starting the medication?
- How often should I have blood tests to check my cholesterol levels?
- What’s the next step if the medicine doesn’t work?
- Should I have genetic testing to determine if I have a cholesterol disorder?
- Should my family/children be tested?
This educational resource was created with the support of Amgen, a member of the HealthyWomen Corporate Advisory Council.
From the articles on your site
Related articles on the web