Older persons who have heart disease-related concerns might be interested to know that raising levels of good cholesterol can help arteries function well.
An article that was recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology says that a drug that raises levels of good cholesterol can be combined with one that lowers levels of bad cholesterol and can prevent arteries from becoming clogged.
"This is the first clear evidence that a therapy to raise levels of good cholesterol when taken alongside statins can have a beneficial effect," said Dr Robin Choudhury from Oxford University.
"Using MRI scans, we have shown a reduction in the size of artery walls in patients after a year of treatment with nicotinic acid."
Some scientists believe that good cholesterol, which is sometimes referred to as high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, can remove low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is the proper term for bad cholesterol.
Nicotinic acid raises levels of HDL cholesterol and statins are drugs that lower LDL cholesterol.
More people die of heart disease than of any other cause, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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