About Cholesterol Reducing Drugs

There area a number of cholesterol reducing drugs on the market called the Statins. They are a fairly new category of drug, and there have already been a number of reports that they may be responsible for some pretty serious side effects. This is despite the fact that to begin with the medical profession was near ecstatic that at last an agent had been found that lowered cholesterol and lowered the odds of a heart attack.

It's been found that the situation is not quite as straightforward as all that. The drugs, which include Lipitor, Baycol, Zocor, Pravachol, Lescol and Mevacor, have almost all been implicated in deaths, and in serious cases of liver damage. It has also been discovered that long term use of cholesterol reducing drugs may be responsible for wasting of muscles. This is very serious when you consider the heart is a muscle.

Statins--A Last Resort

Now, it seems prudent to save the use of cholesterol reducing drugs for when you've tried all the natural methods of reducing cholesterol. Let me tell you that some of these natural methods are very effective, and you can use them safe in the knowledge that you won't be doing yourself harm. In addition to dietary and lifestyle changes, there are a number of cholesterol-lowering supplements that you might like to try.

Another advantage that natural methods have over the cholesterol reducing drugs is cost. The Statins are notoriously expensive, and quite simply many Americans can't afford them if they don't have good insurance. The natural alternatives are often a fraction of the price, which will leave your pocket healthy too!