Updated Cholesterol Guidelines To Promote Heart Health: What You Must Know

Dec 13, 2018

The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have released new guidelines on how to manage cholesterol in order to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The new guidelines were published in the scientific journals Circulation and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Twenty-four experts in health and science representing twelve organizations, including the American Heart Association, collaborated on the guidelines, which are tailored to different groups based on their age and risk factors. The writers emphasize that controlling your cholesterol levels is a life-long task.

Cholesterol is a kind of fat found in various cells, including blood cells, and it is bundled in lipoproteins. Human beings do need some cholesterol, since it helps different organs do their jobs, and the body uses it to make Vitamin D, digestive fluids, and hormones. However, too much cholesterol can harm your cardiovascular system.

There are two types of cholesterol. HDL or High-Density Lipoprotein is the “good” cholesterol that you want. It clears the arteries of excess cholesterol and sends it to the liver to be excreted. LDL or Low-Density Lipoprotein is the “bad” cholesterol that can harm your health. It accumulates within the arteries and eventually forms plaque that can block the flow of blood to different organs, including the heart. LDL cholesterol can cause strokes and heart attacks. LDL levels are affected by genetics, liver function, and diet.

The new guidelines recommend doing whatever you can to keep your LDL cholesterol levels in check: in general, less than 100mg/dL; for those with risk factors, less than 70mg/dL.

Yes. Your doctor may recommend any of the three following tests:

• Coronary artery calcium score
• Non-fasting blood test for measuring LDL cholesterol
• Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) Risk Estimator

The coronary artery calcium score is a type of screening test in which a radiologist takes a computed tomography (CT) scan of your heart and surrounding arteries. A high calcium score indicates significant hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and therefore an increased chance of heart attack. The scan’s results enable the doctor to estimate the risk of a heart attack or stroke within the next five or ten years.

The ASCVD Risk Estimator uses an equation to calculate the risk of your having a heart attack within the next ten years. Depending on the results of the tests, your doctor may prescribe a statin.

Statins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol. They are very effective and are thus among the most commonly used drugs. Simvastatin (Zocor) and Atorvastatin (Lipitor) are examples of statins. By reducing your cholesterol levels, statins can prevent you from having a stroke or heart attack.

Statins can cause side effects in about one in 500 to one in 1,000 patients, which is considered very low. The most common side effect is aching muscles. Increasing dosage does not increase the risk or severity of any side effects.

People taking statins do need to talk to their doctor if they develop a bacterial or fungal infection since there is a risk of drug interactions with antibiotics or antifungal medications. As statins are not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing, these women should talk to their doctor before taking a statin.

The non-medical ways of lowering cholesterol levels include the old standbys: exercise and healthy diet. If you smoke, quit. Diet is particularly effective in reducing the risk of heart attacks, even in people who have already had one. Mediterranean and vegetarian diets are especially useful in lowering cholesterol, but you need to find something that works for you. For example, most people find it easier to stick to a diet if it is relatively simple and not overly restrictive.

Speak with your doctor before making any major lifestyle or dietary changes, especially if you have a history of heart problems.

Talk to your doctor about checking your LDL levels and about what you can do to lower your LDL and/or keep it low. Preventing heart problems is much easier than treating them. Make necessary lifestyle modifications like quitting smoking or improving your diet to reduce your LDL levels further.

Have you read about the new guidelines for cholesterol management? Please tell us what you think in the comments box below. And make sure to pass this along to anybody who should read the new guidelines.

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!