FAQs About Statins and Cholesterol Control

FAQs About Statins and Cholesterol Control

Statins, such as Crestor, are a class of drugs used in decreasing cholesterol levels in the blood. Are you curious by now? Here are a few more things you should know about statins and your health.  

How Do Statins Work?  

The liver produces most of the blood cholesterol,  so there are two main ways that statins work in its reduction.

  • They decrease the liver’s cholesterol production.
  • They aid the liver in removing cholesterol already present in the blood.  

But don’t take statins without your doctor’s recommendation and supervision! You have to thoroughly discuss the risks and rewards of taking these drugs, especially if you are at risk for a heart attack or have suffered a stroke.  

Are There Risks to Taking Statins?

In most people, statins are usually well-tolerated. Usually, there are little to no side effects, provided you follow the proper doses. But there are two risks that you may want to discuss with your doctor:  

  • Muscle issues are relatively common in people taking statins. But note that even in people not on a statins program, these are also quite common. So ask your doctor about the matter before deciding to stop taking statins.   
  • The risk of diabetes may increase. But such risk is small, not to mention that the benefits of reduced risk of stroke and heart attack may outweigh it.  

Like all drugs, statins have their share of side effects and drug interactions. However, you can minimize these problems by working closely with your doctor about proper dosage and duration.  

Why Take Statins Along with Healthy Lifestyle Habits?

Of course, the performance of regular physical activity, the consumption of heart-healthy foods, and the adoption of sensible lifestyle habits are a must in keeping blood cholesterol levels in check. These are controllable factors, but many other uncontrollable factors, such as genetics.

The latter plays a crucial role in an individual’s risk for heart attack and strokes. But unfortunately, even healthy individuals don’t have a way to control them. In these situations, statins come into play. They are drugs that can reduce blood cholesterol levels that changing to a healthy lifestyle alone can’t fix.

Even when taking statins, you should always follow your doctor’s recommendations about changing your lifestyle. You may find it initially difficult, especially when you have deep-seated unhealthy habits, but the thought of premature death should be enough motivation to get on it ASAP.