How Effective are Drugs in Fighting Cholesterol?

QUESTION: I have never been much good with diets, and my my attempt to lower
my cholesterol is going nowhere. Aren't there medications that can do this
for me? If they are effective, can you please tell me why my doctor keeps
stressing the diet? I need help. Please?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANSWER: Yes, there are drugs that can reduce cholesterol levels in the blood,
but they do not replace a low cholesterol diet and exercise as the main tools
in fighting cholesterol. These changes in your life style can produce long
lasting effects that may improve many aspects of your health.
As you know, people with high blood levels of cholesterol run a greater
risk of arteriosclerosis, where layers of cholesterol build up and clog blood
vessels, leading to heart attacks and strokes. There are several types of
cholesterol, including low density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density
lipoproteins (HDL), and triglycerides. High levels of LDL and triglycerides
are bad, while high levels of HDL appear to have a protective effect that
prevents arteriosclerosis.
Cholesterol-lowering medications all lower the levels of LDL, but they do
have side effects. Some cause gastrointestinal problems such as constipation,
nausea and abdominal pain, while others cause itching and skin rashes. The
cost of these drugs must also be considered, since they will be taken over a
long period of time.
These drawbacks are why most physicians will not prescribe
cholesterol-lowering drugs until the patient has tried lowering LDL levels
through diet and exercise for at least a few months. Establishing a healthy
life style is as important to your overall outcome as just reducing those high
levels. However, for patients at risk of a heart attack, who cannot lower
cholesterol on their own, cholesterol lowering medications can be life savers.