All About Cholesterol And Its Treatment

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat like substance that the body needs to function normally. Cholesterol is naturally present in cell walls or membranes everywhere in the body, including the brain, nerves, muscles, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. Having an excessively high level of lipids in your blood (hyperlipidemia) can have a serious effect on your health as it increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

When there is too much cholesterol (a fat-like substance) in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries. Over time, this buildup causes "hardening of the arteries" so that arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart is slowed down or blocked. The blood carries oxygen to the heart, and if enough blood and oxygen cannot reach your heart, you may suffer chest pain. If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely cut off by a blockage, the result is a heart attack

The two main lipoproteins are LDL and HDL

- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL is the main cholesterol transporter and carries cholesterol from your liver to the cells that need it. If there is too much cholesterol for the cells to use, this can cause a harmful build-up in your blood. Too much LDL cholesterol in the blood can cause cholesterol to build up in the artery walls, leading to disease of the arteries.
-High-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL carries cholesterol away from the cells and back to the liver, where it is either broken down or passed from the body as a waste product. For this reason, it is referred to as 'good cholesterol', and higher levels are better.
Uses of Cholesterol in the body

1) make up the structure of the membrane (outer layer) of every cell in the body,
2) insulate nerve fibers,
3) make hormones, such as sex hormones and steroid hormones, and
4) make bile acids, which are needed for the digestion and absorption of fats.

Zetia is used to treat high cholesterol levels. It acts by decreasing cholesterol absorption in the intestine. Zetia localises itself in the small intestine where it prevents the absorption of cholesterol from the diet. The main ingredient of this medicine is Ezetimibe. It is available in the form of tablets. Zetia is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of high Cholesterol.

Precaution before taking Zetia

1) Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to it or to its ingredient.
2) It should be cautiously in patients suffering from renal or hepatic impairment and in elderly patients.
3) It should not be given to children below the age of 10 years.
4) Hepatic and lipid profiles must be monitored of the patients taking Zetia medication.
5) Zetia may also cause kidney to fail. Hence patient should be cautious about symptoms like pain in the muscles, weakness in muscles, Change in the color of urine.

Please note that if you are pregnant and breastfeeding mother you should consult your doctor before taking zetia medicine as use of this medicine may cause harm to unbo
baby or nursed child.
Take this medicine as prescribed by the doctor. Do not increase or decrease the dose of the medicine as it may lead to serious side effect. Take this medicine with full glass of water with or without food. Try to take medicine at the same time each day. Keep all medicine away from the reach of the children and pet.