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Researchers make discovery that could lead to more effective cholesterol treatments

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

A team of scientists has discovered a possible method for preventing the hardened arteries associated with high cholesterol levels. They believe their finding could lead to the development of new drugs to prevent atherosclerosis, which could come as welcome news to individuals who have received unhealthy cholesterol test results.

Atherosclerosis is characterized by a stiffening of the arteries caused by inflammation related to high cholesterol levels. This makes the blood vessels less able to manage blood pressure and respond to momentary cardiovascular needs.

The findings from the Cornell University researchers indicate that it may be possible to dull blood vessels' inflammatory response. This may preserve their elasticity and reduce a person's risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke by maintaining the ability of arteries to respond to the body's changing needs.

The researchers said that medications based on their findings would represent a major advancement over currently available cholesterol lower statins, because these medicaitons have side effects and work best on people who already have atherosclerosis. However, their findings could lead to the development of more effective preventative approaches.