Heart Care Patient Education

These websites offer important information about heart conditions and treatments:

Buproprion SR (Zyban or Wellbutrin)

This medication reduces withdrawal symptoms and the urge to smoke.

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Over the Counter Forms of Niacin (Vitamin B3)

Niacin lowers triglycerides and raises HDL (good) cholesterol levels in your blood and may also decrease LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

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Statins

These medicines lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in your blood. They may also lower triglycerides and increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

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Fish Oil

In high doses, fish oil capsules reduce levels of triglycerides and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the blood. In low doses, fish oil reduces the stickiness of blood cells (platelets), reduces inflammation in the blood vessels, and may reduce irregular beats in the heart.

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Bile Acid Resins

This medication binds bile in your intestines and prevents it from returning to your liver, which causes the liver to remove cholesterol from your blood.

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Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension research demonstrated that high blood pressure (or hypertension) can be significantly reduced by a healthy eating plan.

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Niaspan (vitamin B3 or Niacin)

• Niacin lowers triglycerides and raises HDL (good) cholesterol levels in your blood.
• Niacin may also decrease LDL (bad)cholesterol levels.
• Niaspan is a long-acting, prescription version of niacin.

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Chantix (Varenicline)

Works on the same receptors as nicotine to help you quit smoking.

In studies, close to half the participants have quit smoking at the end of 12 weeks.

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Starting an Exercise Program

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Red Yeast Rice (Monascus Purpureus)

This nutritional supplement has been shown to lower total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Red yeast rice may also increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

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Fibric Acid Derivatives

These medicines are effective in lowering triglycerides, and may slightly reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol.