Lowering high cholesterol
What are the dangers of high cholesterol?
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Cholesterol is naturally created by your body and through the food you eat. Your body
needs cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D and to help you digest food. But too much
cholesterol in your blood can build up on the walls of your arteries. This can lead to heart
disease and stroke – two of the leading causes of death in the United States.1
What if I have high cholesterol?
Your doctor may check your cholesterol with a blood test. That blood test typically measures
LDL cholesterol (bad), HDL cholesterol (good) and triglycerides (a type of fat in the
blood). Your doctor can tell you if you are at risk of developing health complications due
to high cholesterol. Together, you and your doctor can create a plan for managing your
cholesterol levels. Lifestyle changes and medication are the two main ways you can manage
your cholesterol.
Lifestyle refers to your diet, your body weight, physical activity and exposure to tobacco
smoke. All of these can have a powerful impact on your cholesterol levels.2
Here are four simple steps you can take to help maintain a normal cholesterol level:
1. Cut down saturated fats in the food you eat, that can increase blood cholesterol.1
2. Lose weight: Losing even 5 or 10 pounds can help lower your cholesterol level.1
3. Exercise regularly: Try to be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day.1
Exercise can help raise your HDL (good) cholesterol level.
4. Don’t smoke: People with high cholesterol who smoke face increased risk of
heart disease.3
Medication
A healthy lifestyle is your first line of defense against high cholesterol. But if you’ve
made these lifestyle changes and your cholesterol levels remain high, your doctor may
recommend medication.4
Your doctor may choose a medication, or combination of medications, depending on
your individual risk factors – your age and your current health status. Here are some
common choices:4
(Continued on reverse side)
Category
How they work
Drug names: Brand (generic
equivalent/alternative)
Statins
Statins block a substance your liver
needs to make cholesterol and may also
help your body reabsorb cholesterol from
your artery walls.
• Lipitor® (atorvastatin)
• Lescol®, Lescol XL® (fluvastatin)
• Mevacor®, Altoprev® (lovastatin)
• Pravachol® (pravastatin)
• Crestor® (rosuvastatin)
• Zocor® (simvastatin)
• Livalo® (pitavastatin)
Bile-acid-binding
resins
Your liver uses cholesterol to make bile
acids for digestion. These medications
bind to bile acids, which prompts your
liver to use more cholesterol, indirectly
reducing the level of cholesterol in
your blood.
• Prevalite® (cholestyramine)
• Questran® (cholestyramine)
• Welchol™ (colesevelam)
• Colestid® (colestipol)
Fibrates
Reduces triglyceride levels in your blood
which can lead to lower LDL (bad) and
higher HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
• Lopid® (gemfibrozil)
• Lipofen®, Antara®, Triglide®,
Lofibra® (fenofibrate)
• Fibricor® (fenofibric acid)
Niacin
Decreases your liver’s ability to produce
LDL (bad) cholesterol which also leads
to lower triglycerides and higher HDL
(good) cholesterol.
• N
iaspan®
(niacin extended-release)
Cholesterol absorption
inhibitors
These medications reduce blood
cholesterol by limiting the absorption of
dietary cholesterol.
• Zetia® (ezetimibe)
Combination
cholesterol lowering
medications
These medications combine 2 of
the medications above for additional
cholesterol lowering.
• V
ytorin™ (ezetimibe-simvastatin)
• A
dvicor® (niacin
extended-release-lovastatin)
The effectiveness of medications to treat high cholesterol can vary from person to person. Common side
effects include muscle pain, upset stomach, constipation or diarrhea. Liver tests may be needed to monitor
the medication’s effect on your liver.
High cholesterol can be a serious medical concern. But understanding this common health condition and
how you can take control of your cholesterol levels is the first step toward reducing your risk for heart
disease and stroke. If you are concerned about high cholesterol, be sure to talk to your doctor to determine
what’s best for you.
1. N
ational Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. Know the
Facts About High Cholesterol. February 4, 2011.
2. American Heart Association. Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol. August 31, 2011.
3. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. How Does Smoking Affect the Heart and Blood Vessels? March 01, 2010.
4. Mayo Clinic. High cholesterol: Treatments and drugs. June 1, 2011
We have included generic names and major trade names to help you identify the medications your doctor may discuss with you.
UnitedHealthcare Pharmacy is not recommending or endorsing any specific products. Remember that your healthcare provider and
pharmacist are your best sources of information. It’s important to discuss all of the drugs you take with your doctor and understand
their desired effects and possible side effects. Never stop taking a medication and never change your dose or frequency without first
consulting your doctor.
M50571 12/11 © 2011 United HealthCare Services, Inc.