Medication guidelines and special treatments for patients with hyperlipidemia

9. Is oatmeal also considered a lipid-lowering drug?

Nowadays, people often self-medicate with substances that supposedly lower cholesterol, coupled with advertisements in magazines and on television.

There are many brands of lipid-lowering drugs advertised, such as oatmeal, silkworm pupa oil, and sodium alginate diester.

There is very little basic and clinical research data available on the drug, and the results are inconsistent, making its safety and actual efficacy uncertain.

Further verification is needed; it cannot yet be considered a formal lipid-lowering drug, but can only be used as a treatment for lipid-lowering disorders.

Adjunctive therapy.

10. If blood lipids return to normal, is it necessary to continue taking medication or reduce the dosage of lipid-lowering drugs?

Whether to continue medication once blood lipids return to normal depends on the specific circumstances.

If the condition is mild, it can be controlled with non-drug treatments such as diet therapy, weight loss, and physical exercise.

For patients with secondary hyperlipidemia, such as those with diabetes, long-term medication may not be necessary.

For those whose diabetes is well controlled and whose blood lipids have returned to normal, they can be observed for a period of time without taking medication.

If a patient has coronary heart disease or multiple risk factors for coronary heart disease, they should continue taking medication even after their blood lipids have normalized.

You need to take the medication, otherwise the condition will relapse after you stop taking it.

Even after blood lipid levels return to normal, patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia still need to continue taking medication.

Medication. When blood lipids drop to near the target level, the dosage can be appropriately reduced to minimize the side effects of long-term medication.

side effect.

11. How often should blood lipid levels be checked while taking lipid-lowering medication?

Lipid-lowering drugs generally need to be taken long-term, some even for life. Different individuals may respond differently to the same drug.

The therapeutic effects and side effects of these drugs vary considerably.

Generally, blood lipids should be checked 1-3 months after starting medication. For those who take medication regularly, a follow-up check can be performed 3-6 months later.

Have your blood lipids checked; adjust the dosage or change medication as needed based on your blood lipid levels.

12. What precautions should be taken when taking lipid-lowering drugs long-term?

While taking lipid-lowering drugs, it is important to adhere to dietary adjustments and pay attention to lifestyle improvements, including abstaining from certain foods.

Smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, and participating in physical exercise are recommended. Regular follow-up visits and blood lipid tests are necessary, with bile duct tests every 3-6 months.

Cholesterols, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were measured once, and adjusted according to blood lipid levels.

Adjust the dosage or change the type of medication. Pay attention to side effects, and regularly monitor safety indicators.

If any abnormalities are observed, consult a doctor to determine whether to reduce the dosage or discontinue the medication.

13. Is there a treatment course for dyslipidemia?

Primary hyperlipidemia has complex causes and is difficult to treat; however, some cases can be managed by adjusting dietary habits.

Some people improve their condition through lifestyle changes, while others require medication.

Since dyslipidemia is essentially a disorder of lipid metabolism, there is currently no ideal cure.

Even if some medications are effective, blood lipid levels quickly return to pre-medication levels after discontinuation, therefore many patients...

Lifelong medication is required. Therefore, treating dyslipidemia is a long-term process, with no fixed treatment duration.

In particular, dietary therapy and lifestyle therapy should be integrated throughout the treatment of dyslipidemia.

14. How to treat extremely high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol?

Extremely high LDL cholesterol is defined as LDL cholesterol ≥ 4.92 mmol/L.

A level of 1 liter per liter should not be taken lightly. Medication should be administered concurrently with dietary and lifestyle modifications.

Treatment. Drug therapy may include statins or combination therapy, such as statins + bile acid sequestrants or...

Statins + bile acid sequestrants + niacin.

15. How to treat patients with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol?

Smoking can lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the blood; if you smoke, you should quit immediately. Obesity.

Obese individuals often experience a decrease in plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, therefore, they should seek treatment through various methods.

Maintaining an ideal weight. Physical exercise can help with weight loss, especially endurance exercises (such as running, cycling, and swimming).

(etc.) is the most economical and effective way to increase plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Dietary adjustments can...

Consume poultry and livestock meat, fish (including river and sea fish), soybean oil, corn oil, etc. in moderation; avoid a completely vegetarian diet.

Pay attention to carbohydrate intake. Even after the above treatment, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels remain low.

Those who need medication should undergo treatment, especially those who already have coronary heart disease.

Commonly used clinical drugs include niacin, which is effective in regulating plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels under various conditions.

Gemfibrozil (Norhexine) has an increasing effect on both levels; the higher the original plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, the better.

The lower the level, the more significant the increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol after treatment; statins, when used alone, raise high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Protein cholesterol levels were not significantly elevated, but when used in combination with niacin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased significantly; bile acid chelation...

Agents, including cholestyramine and choleretics, can lower plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

While alcohol levels decrease, plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increase.

16. How is familial hypercholesterolemia treated?

Adherence to dietary therapy, physical exercise, and weight loss is generally sufficient, but it is often difficult to completely control the condition. Medication may also be used.

During treatment, it is sometimes difficult for a single drug to lower plasma cholesterol, and combination therapy is often necessary.

Options include: statins + bile acid sequestrants, such as simvastatin plus cholestyramine; niacin + bile acid sequestrants.

Combination therapies, such as niacin plus cholestyramine, or acilimib plus cholestyramine. High blood pressure that is difficult to control with medication.

For patients with hypercholesterolemia, surgery is an effective way to lower cholesterol, but it can be painful.

It is bitter and has some side effects, which patients generally find difficult to accept. Plasma purification therapy is highly effective, but each treatment...

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments have short-lasting effects, require repeated treatments, are expensive, and are prone to causing infections. Gene therapy, on the other hand, offers advantages in terms of efficacy, safety, and longevity.

Theoretically, it is the best treatment, but it is still in the experimental stage.

17. How is familial hypertriglyceridemia treated?

First, the underlying cause should be identified, including whether there is excessive eating, excessive drinking, liver or kidney disease, etc.

Diabetes, etc. Strictly control diet, abstain from alcohol, and actively treat diabetes, liver and kidney diseases.

Lipid-lowering drugs can be used for treatment, with fibrates being the first choice, followed by niacin, acipimox, and niacin creatine.

Alcohol esters. If these methods are ineffective, plasma purification therapy can be used.

18. What precautions should be taken when using combination therapy?

Lipid-lowering drugs of the same class should not be used in combination, such as statins or fibrates.

Suitable for use. Because some lipid-lowering drugs are expensive, and the treatment of hyperlipidemia is a long-term process.

The procedure should be considered in light of whether the patient's financial situation allows it. Most importantly, one should be wary of the potential side effects of combined medication.

Increased toxic side effects of the drug, primarily affecting liver function and muscle disease, should be noted when used in combination with other medications.

Observe carefully to detect and treat problems promptly. When using statins in combination with other medications, the dosage should be low.

Safety indicators should be tested regularly, and liver and kidney function should be monitored frequently.

10. Specific treatment for hyperlipidemia

1. Lipid-lowering therapy reduces the incidence of stroke.

Epidemiological surveys have found a close correlation between plasma cholesterol levels and the occurrence of ischemic stroke.

Closed. Pravastatin, a cholesterol-lowering drug, is used to treat patients with existing coronary heart disease or myocardial infarction.

Patients (whose cholesterol levels were not elevated or only slightly elevated) showed that the use of pravastatin was effective.

After treatment, the risk of stroke decreased by 31% and 20%, respectively.

Lipid-lowering therapy (statins) can reduce the risk of stroke in the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease.

The effects of lipid-lowering therapy are well-established, but its effectiveness in preventing stroke in individuals without coronary heart disease remains unclear.

The score is determined.