Drugs are not the only means to fight cholesterol

Most people in the U.S. should strengthen their efforts towards lowering cholesterol levels, as the United States health officials announced new guidelines, endorsing a more aggressive strategy for fighting heart disease, America's leading killer.

According to Straits Times, the new recommendations also stress no patient should rely on drugs alone to lower cholesterol, but should take responsibility for the right diet and exercise to keep the heart and arteries healthy.

Although patients were once told to get so-called bad cholesterol down to about 100, the new guidelines say the highest-risk people need to aim for a low-density lipoprotein level of 70.

In a report published in the journal Circulation, U.S. health officials call for a 30 to 40 percent reduction in previously recommended levels for the cholesterol known as LDL- a type that increases the likelihood of heart disease.

The report says there appears to be a significant decrease in incidents of heart disease under the lower levels.

The new guidelines would allow doctors to prescribe cholesterol-lowering drugs to patients with an LDL level over 100. Current guidelines prescribe drugs for levels over 130.