2 Sources of Cholesterol
With 2 sources of cholesterol to deal with, it’s no wonder that so many adults have high cholesterol. Most folks aren’t even sure where cholesterol comes from.
Cholesterol from the foods you eat.
Cholesterol from food is hard to get away from, even though you may be watching your diet. All foods of animal origin contain cholesterol, including eggs, red meat, and shrimp. Generally, foods that are high in saturated fats or trans fats should also be limited. These include foods you may not even think of, such as:
- Grilled-cheese sandwich
- Margarine
- Potato with butter
- Chicken pot pie
As you eat, cholesterol from food is absorbed by your digestive tract. It then makes its way into your liver and can circulate through your body in your bloodstream. That’s one source. There’s also a little-known second source of cholesterol—your body.
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Cholesterol produced by your body, based on family history.
Like many people, you may not know that your body produces cholesterol naturally, based on family history—despite the fact that it’s where more of your total cholesterol comes from. Your liver makes cholesterol, as do other individual cells throughout your body. Once cholesterol is produced, it can make its way into your bloodstream.
What does this process mean to you? Take the cholesterol your body makes and add it to the cholesterol you get from food. Now you can see how easily cholesterol can build up in your bloodstream and how your overall cholesterol level can increase.
The good news is, treating both sources can significantly lower your cholesterol. When diet and exercise aren’t enough, adding VYTORIN can help.
Important Risk Information About VYTORIN:
VYTORIN is a prescription tablet and isn’t right for everyone, including women who are nursing or pregnant or who may become pregnant, and anyone with liver problems.
Unexplained muscle pain or weakness could be a sign of a rare but serious side effect and should be reported to your doctor right away. VYTORIN may interact with other medicines or certain foods, increasing your risk of getting this serious side effect. So, tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking.
Your doctor may do simple blood tests before and during treatment with VYTORIN to check for liver problems. Side effects included headache, muscle pain, and diarrhea.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
VYTORIN contains two cholesterol medicines, Zetia (ezetimibe) and Zocor (simvastatin), in a single tablet. VYTORIN has not been shown to reduce heart attacks or strokes more than Zocor alone.
Please read the Patient Product Information and discuss it with your doctor. Also available is the physician Prescribing Information.
