Clinical Studies - Cholesterol - Pacific Clinical Research Medical Group

Cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke, is the most common cause of death for Americans, accounting for approximately 50% of deaths. Most of us know that we need to watch our weight, get regular exercise, not smoke and control our blood pressure, but many of us do not know our cholesterol blood levels, much less the proportions we have of “good cholesterol” and “bad cholesterol.”

Indeed, many of us do not think about our cholesterol until we have had heart trouble of some kind. And yet, the control of cholesterol is within our grasp, through diet and exercise for some of us, and with medication for the rest of us. Most of the time, developing cardiovascular disease has no obvious symptoms that we can recognize. In a minority of people, there can be warning symptoms that can include:

Chest pain

Easily fatigued

Shortness of breath on exertion or at rest

Pain radiating down the left arm

When we go to the doctor and we are told our cholesterol level, most of the time, this is referring to “Total Cholesterol.” However, this is not the best measure for knowing the cardiovascular risk of our blood cholesterol. Total cholesterol is the sum of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), “the bad cholesterol” plus High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), “the good cholesterol” plus Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL). In a simple formula;

Total Cholesterol = LDL + HDL + VLDL

Scientists have learned that controlling LDL has a significant impact on our risk for future cardiovascular disease. However, we have also learned that a good level of HDL can protect us from some of the risk of having too much LDL, if we’re unfortunate enough to have too much LDL. Up until now, we have only had medicines to lower LDL. However, we are conducting a study of a new medication that not only lowers LDL (the bad cholesterol), but also increases the level of HDL (the good cholesterol). Most cardiologists agree that a safe and effective medication of this type would be a significant advance in lowering overall cardiovascular risk.

If you or someone you know is concerned about your cholesterol, call us to schedule a free cholesterol screening, including a written report, which you can share with your doctor. If you qualify, you may be interested in our new cholesterol medication study. Our study offers free study-related medical evaluations and study-related medication.

Call 1-888-STUDY-411 to speak to one of our knowledgeable, caring staff members and to learn more about qualifying for one of our research studies AT NO COST to you; or you may contact us via e-mail.