Are Statin Medications the Key to Keeping LDL Low and Promoting Cardiovascular Health?

The idea that keep LDL low the key to cardiovascular health has been around for a while now. Perhaps the biggest supporters of this idea are the pharmaceutical drug companies themselves, who have a substantial financial interest in seeing this idea, along with the very popular medications designed to keep LDL alive and well. Of the LDL lowering medications statins continue to lead the way, being the most prescribed drugs in the United States and probably the most widely prescribed worldwide.

But is keeping LDL low with a pill all it takes to achieve heart and artery health? Many believe this not to be the case. In fact if you listen to radio, television, and internet advertisements for Lipitor (the top selling statin medication) and pay close attention near the end, it is always pointed out that when combined with diet and exercise Lipitor has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack.

If your goal is to reduce and keep LDL low statin medications do accomplish this. Nevertheless, critics would suggest that it is the way they go about it that should be enough for a person to take pause.

Statin medications such as Lipitor inhibit the livers ability to produce cholesterol consequently unleashing a potentially serious set of cascading negative events.

The list of side effects includes risk of diabetes, liver disease, rhabdomyolysis (a breakdown in muscle tissue), nausea, and kidney failure.

So the next question is if we accept the premise that keeping LDL low is an essential part of cardiovascular health can we find alternatives that are just as effective but produce few if any side effects?

It is a tough question, perhaps best answered by your doctor as it relates to your unique situation, but for most natural health minded individuals the answer is yes. The downside is that keeping LDL low through natural means requires a great deal of willpower and peserverence.

For instance you will have to start eating healthier by keeping consumption of saturated fat below eight percent of calories. This means driving past your favorite fast food hamburger restaurant, not being seduced by those tasty breakfast pastries or doughnuts, cutting back on the amount of meat consumed, saying no to fried foods, no more full fat dairy products for desert, and eating more fruits and vegetables.

In my opinion the reason prescription medications designed to keep LDL low are so popular is because few people have the willpower to dramatically change their way of living and eating. They know they can't going in, and most doctors eventually come to the realization that old Bob is going to eat his ice cream, pizza, dogs, and burgers no matter what, so he will need a prescription medication to prevent the continued accumulation of more artery clogging plaque.

In summary, both natural and prescription alternative have their advantages. That said, if you have the will to dramatically change the way you eat there is good chance your diet modifications when combined with exercise, and a lowered-cholesterol.com natural cholesterol reduction supplement if needed, can provide a winning recipe for cardiovascular health.

Rob D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of safe and effective high quality alternitive health products and natural living, with over 10 years experience in the field. Learn more about natural remedies and natural health at purchaseremedies.com Purchase Remedies.com