Cholesterol

Treatment of high cholesterol level in Japan

Cholesterol is a type of lipid essential for building of the cell membranes, some hormones and vitamin D in the human body. As cholesterol in a hydrophilic substance, it travels within the whole body via different types of lipoproteins in the blood, including low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). However, the overall cholesterol level or the proportion of LDL may go beyond the normal limit due to multiple reasons, including inherited hypercholesteremia, poor diet, lack of physical activity or smoking. Excess of lipids in the blood vessels, in its turn, may cause clotting and provoke strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases.

Earlier standards of Japanese medicine were suggesting to consider the cholesterol level too high, if its overall amount exceeded 220 mg/dl. However, the current standards suppose that the proportion of lipoproteins is more important than the overall amount. LDL more than 140 mg/dl or HDL lower than 40 mg/dl are diagnosed as hypercholesteremia and considered dangerous. Japan Atherosclerosis Society suggests that 30 million of Japanese people, or every 1 in 4 people in the country, suffer from hypercholesteremia (動脈硬化性疾患予防ガイドライン, 2007).

First of all, Japanese doctors recommend to maintain a healthier lifestyle for reducing the high cholesterol level. This includes losing excessive weight, quitting smoking, reducing the amount of alcohol taken, regularly exercising and taking a healthy diet. In cases of severe or familial hypercholesteremia, doctor in charge should prescribe an adequate medical treatment, considering patient’s age, weight and symptoms.

Best medicines for high cholesterol from Japan

There is a wide range of medicines used for decreasing of the cholesterol level in Japan.

• Nattokinase and Anti-Cholesterol with DHA and EPA are safe and quite effective natural remedies for a decreasing a slightly high cholesterol level,
• Juvela N and Bezatol tablets reduce the production of lipids in the liver,
• Zetia tablets block the absorption of cholesterol from the small intestine,
• Statins (Simvastatin, Rosuvastatin, Pravastatin, Atorvastatin and others) inhibit a certain enzyme and, by this, decrease the blood level of LDL and increasing the production of HDL.

Please always check the contraindications and precautions, be sure to discuss all unclear questions with your doctor.