How Do Statins Work to Protect Your Heart?
Cholesterol lowering drug can prevent heart attack, stroke
Cholesterol lowering drug can prevent heart attack, stroke
High cholesterol is a major risk for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. While a healthy lifestyle can lower cholesterol for some, others may also need medication. That’s where statins come in.
Statins are prescription drugs that help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. They are among the most common heart medications. Millions of people in the U.S. take statins.
“Your doctor will consider all your risk factors, including cholesterol levels and medical conditions,” says Todd Hitchcock, MD, a cardiologist at Scripps Clinic Carmel Valley. “If your doctor recommends statins, it’s because you are at risk for heart disease or stroke.”
Who needs statins?
Doctors often prescribe statins for adults who:
- Have high LDL (bad) cholesterol
- Have a history of heart attack, stroke or artery disease
- Have diabetes, high blood pressure or other risk factors for cardiovascular disease
- Have a family history of heart disease
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance made by the liver that circulates in the blood and is essential for good health. Your body needs it to build cells and make vitamins and other hormones.
Cholesterol comes from two sources: your liver produces most of it, while the rest comes from animal foods like meat, poultry and dairy products.
There are two types of cholesterol. One is good. The other is bad.
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is the good cholesterol. It helps remove the bad cholesterol and protect the arteries.
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is the bad cholesterol that can clog your arteries. Saturated fats, such as those in beef and full-fat dairy, can increase LDL cholesterol and increase the risk for heart attack or stroke.
“When you eat a lot of these foods, especially those that are high in saturated and trans fats, your liver produces more cholesterol than the body needs — and that can lead to serious problems,” says Dr. Hitchcock.
Why is high cholesterol dangerous?
When there is too much bad cholesterol in your blood, it can combine with other substances and form plaques in your arteries. These plaques can narrow or block your arteries, leading to heart disease.
“It can disrupt the normal flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart, which is why it’s important to know your risk factors,” Dr. Hitchcock says. In addition, “high cholesterol has no signs or symptoms, which is why it’s important to have your doctor check your cholesterol levels. All it takes is a simple blood test.”
What is a cholesterol test?
High cholesterol has no symptoms, but a simple blood test can check cholesterol levels. This test, also called a lipid panel, measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels in your body. Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood that your body uses for energy.
High triglycerides, along with low levels of good cholesterol and high levels of bad cholesterol, can raise your risk of heart attack and stroke.
How do statins work?
Statins lower bad cholesterol by blocking the liver enzyme that makes cholesterol. They also help the liver remove more cholesterol from the blood, reducing overall levels. This two-step process is highly effective at lowering LDL, or bad cholesterol.
What are the side effects of statins?
Statins can cause mild side effects, including muscle aches, constipation and nausea. However, most people feel fine as their body adjusts to the medication.
Sometimes, statins can have serious side effects like muscle pain, liver damage, high blood sugar and memory problems.
“Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about side effects. When side effects do happen, it may just be a matter of changing your statin to a different one that works better for you,” Dr. Hitchcock adds.
Can you lower cholesterol without medication?
While statin drugs can help lower heart disease risk, they are not a cure on their own. They work best when combined with healthy habits.
“The primary ways heart attack and stroke risk can be reduced are by leading a healthy lifestyle,” Dr. Hitchcock says. “This includes managing high blood pressure, not smoking, eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise. But sometimes a pill in combination with lifestyle adjustments can create the best treatment.”
Take charge of your heart health
At Scripps, expert cardiology teams provide personalized care to help prevent and manage heart disease.
Whether you need a cholesterol test, medication guidance or support for a heart-healthy lifestyle, Scripps is here to help.