Regular exercise, a healthy diet and weight and lowering alcohol consumption can reduce the risk of heart disease because of the favorable effects these have on lipoproteins and associated cholesterols, according to a new study published in eLife.
Until now, no studies have compared side-by-side lipid-lowering effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs and healthy lifestyles.
A healthy lifestyle has long been linked to a lower risk of heart disease. The new study provides detailed information on how healthy lifestyles improve cholesterol and suggests that combining cholesterol-lowering drugs and a healthy lifestyle can benefit heart health.
"Lifestyle interventions and lipid-lowering medications may affect different components of the lipid profile, suggesting they are not redundant strategies but could be combined for improved benefits," according to joint senior author Jun Lv, a professor at the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at the School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
Individuals who need to use medications like statins to lower cholesterol generally notice a quick drop in levels. These drugs may work in a matter of weeks and generally work to a greater degree than lifestyle changes.
However, because diet affects the level of cholesterol in the body, health professionals recommend people make dietary and lifestyle changes in addition to medications.
Simple changes in diet and lifestyle can help decrease cholesterol. These changes largely depend on how strictly a person adheres to his or her diet - as well as other variables such as exercise and weight loss.
The American Heart Association says statins are the only form of cholesterol-lowering drug that studies have directly linked to a decrease in the risk of heart attacks or strokes.
That said, statins may have certain side effects that could be greater at higher doses. Other drugs may be needed depending on an individual's risk factors.
These include PCSK9 inhibitors, resins, fibrates and cholesterol absorption inhibitors. Supplements such as niacin and omega-3 fatty acids also help.
Researchers observed cholesterol-lowering medications and healthier choices help individuals gain the greatest cardiovascular benefit from the complementary benefits of medications and healthy behavior.
