5 Must-Know Facts About Statins

If you’re paying attention to medical news reports, you’ve probably heard a lot about statins, the front-line treatment for high cholesterol. What you may not know is how these drugs really work, and the benefits and risks of statin treatment.

At West Houston Heart Center in Houston, Texas, Dr. Humayun Naqvi and his team provide preventative cardiology, including treatment for high cholesterol. Here’s what Dr. Naqvi and his team want you to know about cholesterol and statins.

Fact #1: Cholesterol is not necessarily your enemy

The first thing to know is that there are two types of cholesterol, and your body needs the right kind of cholesterol to be healthy. The two types are commonly called “good cholesterol” (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL) and “bad cholesterol” (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL).

Your liver makes about 80% of the cholesterol your body needs. It naturally helps with hormone and cell membrane production and other important functions. Your liver also removes cholesterol from your body, but if there’s too much LDL, your liver can have trouble getting rid of the excess.

You get the rest of your cholesterol from food, including LDL. If you eat too many foods that increase LDL, it can lead to arteries clogged by plaque, increasing your risk of heart attack or stroke. 

On the flip side, too little HDL, and you can end up with numerous skin tags and even serious eye issues. You need enough HDL to keep your body healthy and low enough LDL levels to avoid hardened arteries.

Fact #2: Having “high cholesterol” automatically means statins

Your primary care doctor should look at all of your health factors before prescribing statins after a diagnosis of high cholesterol. If your levels are only a little off, you should be able to adjust them yourself with lifestyle changes, such as:

• Diet adjustments 
• Exercise
• Quitting smoking
• Restricting alcohol

If your cholesterol levels don’t fall within parameters after these efforts, statins are usually the next step.

Fact #3: Statins are not a “cure” for high cholesterol

Statins don’t “cure” high cholesterol levels. Instead, they block an enzyme your liver needs to make cholesterol, while maximizing your liver’s ability to remove cholesterol from your blood. These medicines work for most people, and, if combined with lifestyle changes, can reverse the harmful effects of high cholesterol. 

However, if you stop taking statins, your high cholesterol may return. It’s important to talk to your cardiovascular specialist before starting or stopping any medication. 

Fact #4: Statins don’t usually cause harmful side effects

While statins can cause side effects, they only do so in a small number of people who take them, and in most cases the benefits outweigh the risks or inconveniences caused by the drug. The most commonly reported side effect of statins is muscle aches. These can often be done away with by lowering the statin dose or switching to a different type of statin. 

Fact #5: Statins are not a crutch that exist for “weak” people 

Statins can cause self-esteem issues due to stigma around taking prescription medications. Some people might say that high cholesterol is caused by eating foods you know are bad for you or having no willpower to exercise. 

The fact is that some people are simply predisposed to cholesterol issues and need a little help. If you have a familial history of high cholesterol and/or heart disease, your tendency toward high cholesterol could be inherited. Statins are a safe, sensible way to take care of your heart health.

Interested in learning more about statins? Call us at 832-400-3957, or book your appointment online today.