Treating high cholesterol and keeping it within the target range is a priority for anyone with heart disease or at risk of developing heart disease. Diet and exercise are usually the first line of defense against high cholesterol, but medications are an important option when lifestyle changes alone aren't enough. To decide on what treatment to use, your doctor will look at the levels of all your fats (HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol), coupled with your risk factors. The more risk factors you have, the lower your doctor will want your cholesterol levels to be.
Statin medications have been found to be particularly effective at reducing the risk of heart attack. This is because statin medications not only lower cholesterol levels, but they also reduce inflammation that can damage heart tissue. Other medications are better at specifically targeting individual fats, such as your triglycerides. Talk to your doctor about why they are recommending a certain medication.