Myths and Facts About Cholesterol Medicines

0 0
  • Question 1/10
    slide image

    Medicine cures high cholesterol.

  • Answer 1/10

    Medicine cures high cholesterol.

    • You answered:
    • Correct Answer:

    Medication can control the problem, but it isn't a cure. You'll need to keep taking your meds so your total cholesterol stays at a healthy level. It will probably go back up if you stop taking them, unless changes in your diet and exercise can keep it down.

  • Question 1/10
    slide image

    You'll have to take a statin if you need drugs to lower your cholesterol.

  • Answer 1/10

    You'll have to take a statin if you need drugs to lower your cholesterol.

    • You answered:
    • Correct Answer:

    There's a good chance you're on a statin if you're taking pills for cholesterol. It's the most common treatment option. Several other kinds of medications can help you, though. Statins stop your liver from making cholesterol. Other drugs keep your body from absorbing it, raise your level of “good” HDL cholesterol, or help your body clear the "bad" kind, LDL. 

  • Question 1/10
    slide image

    Don't want to change your diet? You can just take cholesterol meds.

  • Answer 1/10

    Don't want to change your diet? You can just take cholesterol meds.

    • You answered:
    • Correct Answer:

    Medicine is only one part of bringing down cholesterol. Drugs will work better if you eat plenty of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and other heart-smart foods. It's also a good idea to shed pounds if you're overweight. Aim for at least 30 minutes of heart-pumping exercise, like brisk walking, 5 days a week.

  • Question 1/10
    slide image

    Statins not only improve your cholesterol, they also lower your chances of: 

  • Answer 1/10

    Statins not only improve your cholesterol, they also lower your chances of: 

    • You answered:
    • Correct Answer:

    You help your ticker a lot when you lower the level of "bad" LDL in your blood. Statins cut your risk of a heart attack, stroke, and problems with your arteries. They're the only cholesterol drugs that do that. Sometimes, people who could get heart disease take these meds even if their cholesterol levels are normal.

  • Question 1/10
    slide image

    If you forget your pills, double up the next day.

  • Answer 1/10

    If you forget your pills, double up the next day.

    • You answered:
    • Correct Answer:

    It's best to take your medicine at the same time every day. Don't stop or change the amount without talking to your doctor. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. But if it's close to the time you normally take it, it's OK to skip the dose you forgot. Don't take two doses to make up for what you missed.  

  • Question 1/10
    slide image

    Pregnant women shouldn't take statins.

  • Answer 1/10

    Pregnant women shouldn't take statins.

    • You answered:
    • Correct Answer:

    Stay away from these meds if you're a mom-to-be, you're trying to get pregnant, or you're breastfeeding. Your baby needs cholesterol to develop properly. Since these drugs lower cholesterol levels, they can cause birth defects. The medicine also can pass through breast milk and harm your little one. People with certain liver diseases may also need to pass.

  • Question 1/10
    slide image

    Cholesterol medicine may help you avoid memory loss. 

  • Answer 1/10

    Cholesterol medicine may help you avoid memory loss. 

    • You answered:
    • Correct Answer:

    Some people taking statins said the drugs caused memory problems. But more recent science has debunked those reports and shown that the opposite might be true. Use of statins for a long time might prevent dementia and memory loss, researchers say.

  • Question 1/10
    slide image

    When you're on cholesterol medicine, you may need to limit:

  • Answer 1/10

    When you're on cholesterol medicine, you may need to limit:

    • You answered:
    • Correct Answer:

    Grapefruit and its juice can affect how well some cholesterol meds work or make side effects worse. Pomegranates and their juice can also cause problems with some drugs. Talk to your doctor to find out if you should limit or steer clear of these fruits.

  • Question 1/10
    slide image

    When should you take your pills?

  • Answer 1/10

    When should you take your pills?

    • You answered:
    • Correct Answer:

    Some drugs work better if you take them with food. Others work best if you take them before you go to sleep. Follow the directions on the label and talk to your doctor if you have questions.

  • Question 1/10
    slide image

    Got muscle pain? Your doctor may suggest:

  • Answer 1/10

    Got muscle pain? Your doctor may suggest:

    • You answered:
    • Correct Answer:

    Sore muscles can be a side effect of statins. If yours ache, talk to your doctor. He might lower your medication dose or suggest you take it less often. He might also tell you to take coenzyme Q10 supplements with your medicine. 

  • Your Score:

    Share your score:
    0
    Share your score:
    Your Score:

    You correctly answered out of questions.

    Results:

    Great job! Your knowledge of cholesterol medicine is right on target.

    Results:

    Not bad. You know some important info on cholesterol meds, but you could always learn more.

    Results:

    You could learn more. Study up on cholesterol drugs and try again for a healthier number.

Sources | Reviewed by Nayana Ambardekar, MD on February 02, 2019 Medically Reviewed on February 02, 2019

Reviewed by Nayana Ambardekar, MD on
February 02, 2019

IMAGE PROVIDED BY:

(1)    iStockphoto / Getty

 

SOURCES:

American Heart Association: “Drug Therapy for Cholesterol.”

Cleveland Clinic: “Cholesterol Guide: How to Take Your Medicine,” “Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs,” “Plant Sterols and Stanols,” “Statin Medications and Heart Disease.”

European Society of Cardiology: “Statins Prevent Cataracts.”

Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation: “Cholesterol-Lowering Statins May Ward off Dementia.”

FDA: “Controlling Cholesterol with Statins.”

Harvard Medical School: “FDA Changes Safety Information on Statin Drugs.”

Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Complementary and Alternative Medicines,” “How Statin Drugs Protect the Heart.”

National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute: “High Blood Cholesterol: What You Need to Know,” “How is High Blood Cholesterol Treated?”

The Johns Hopkins Lupus Center: “Cholesterol Medications (Statins).”

UpToDate: “Patient information: High cholesterol treatment options (Beyond the Basics).”

U.S. National Library of Medicine: “Coenzyme Q-10.”

This tool does not provide medical advice.
See additional information.

© 2019 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.