Reducing cholesterol to prevent coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains the number one killer of men and women in the United States of America despite major advances in interventional technologies for the treatment of coronary artery disease. CHD is rapidly becoming a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing nations as well and is now recognized as the leading cause of death worldwide. The recognition and treatment of coronary risk factors such as high cholesterol levels, hypertension, smoking, obesity and diabetes has made a positive impact on CHD morbidity and mortality. The most successful treatment has targeted lowering LDL cholesterol with HMG CoA Reductase Inhibitors or the statin class of medications. Recent studies have extended the boundaries of treatment to different risk groups and are reporting significant reductions in coronary events.