Cholesterol is a natural and important part of our body. It helps build cell walls and makes hormones that we need to stay healthy. But when we have too much of the wrong kind—especially something called LDL, or “bad” cholesterol—it can cause serious health problems.
LDL cholesterol can stick to the walls of our arteries, making them narrower and harder. This can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Our bodies use hormones to help control how fats and proteins move through the blood, keeping everything in balance. But sometimes, this balance is lost, and cholesterol levels get too high. When that happens, we need ways to bring it back under control.
For many years, doctors have prescribed a type of medicine called statins to lower cholesterol. Statins work by slowing down the liver’s ability to make cholesterol.
They are very effective at lowering LDL cholesterol and have helped millions of people around the world. But not everyone can take statins. Some people get side effects like muscle pain or joint pain. Others don’t see enough improvement from statins alone and need something more.
This is where a new drug called bempedoic acid comes in. It gives new hope to people who can’t take statins or who need extra help managing their cholesterol levels. Bempedoic acid works differently from statins but can still lower LDL cholesterol in a powerful way.
A recent study called the CLEAR Outcomes Trial looked at how well bempedoic acid works. The study was led by experts and supported by Esperion Therapeutics, the company that developed the drug. It was presented at a major medical meeting in Chicago in 2023. The study focused on people who were unable to take statins.
The results were promising. People who took bempedoic acid had their LDL cholesterol lowered by an average of 21%. Even more important, the drug also helped reduce the chance of having a heart attack or stroke by 13%. That’s a big deal because it shows that the drug doesn’t just change cholesterol numbers—it also helps protect the heart.
Even more encouraging, further research showed that the heart-protecting benefits of bempedoic acid were similar to those of statins. This is important because it shows that different types of cholesterol-lowering drugs can still offer the same kind of life-saving results, even if they work in different ways.
Heart disease and strokes are still the leading causes of death around the world. So, finding new and better ways to manage cholesterol is very important. One of the doctors involved in the study, Dr. A. Michael Lincoff from the Cleveland Clinic, said that bempedoic acid gives people another tool to fight high cholesterol—especially for those who can’t take statins.
This discovery is exciting because not all medications in other areas of medicine work the same way. For example, with diabetes drugs, some help with blood sugar but don’t always improve heart health. In contrast, bempedoic acid not only lowers cholesterol but also helps protect the heart.
In short, bempedoic acid is a big step forward in the fight against heart disease. It’s a safe and helpful option for people who need another way to manage their cholesterol. This makes heart care more flexible and more inclusive. With ongoing research and new treatments like this, we’re moving toward a future where more people can stay healthy and avoid serious heart problems.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about top foods to love for a stronger heart, and why oranges may help fight obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
For more health information, please see recent studies about simple guide to a 7-day diabetes meal plan, and why you should add black beans to your plate.
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