Statins: What are they, how do they work, and what should you know before taking them?

Lifestyle changes are proven to be highly effective in helping people lower their cholesterol naturally, without the need for medication. However, if you’re not able to achieve healthy levels through diet and exercise alone, then statins might be an option worth considering. Learn more about these medications, how they work, and what you should consider before beginning treatment with them.

Statins: A brief history

Statins were first introduced in 1987 by pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer. Since then, new research has raised questions about whether statins truly live up to their reputation as a miracle drug for cholesterol management or if we may be overusing these medications. By understanding more about statins, learning their pros and cons, and developing lifestyle habits that can lower your cholesterol naturally, you can avoid medication or pursue it knowing all of your options. Let's take a closer look at statin drugs now.

Why Take Them

Many doctors recommend statins for their patients as a means of improving heart health. Statins have been shown to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels by nearly 40%—dramatically reducing your risk of developing coronary artery disease. While diet and exercise help reduce cholesterol naturally, a variety of lifestyle factors can also increase your chances of experiencing a major health event like a heart attack or stroke. And while statin use is extremely common, there’s plenty that individuals need to consider when deciding whether or not to take them. This includes things like potential side effects, as well as life events that may change your health status (i.e., pregnancy). As such, you must consult with a doctor about whether or not statin therapy is right for you!

How They Work

Statins block an enzyme that your liver needs to produce cholesterol. In theory, blocking that enzyme slows down or stops your body from producing so much cholesterol. That results in lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol circulating in your blood. Statins can also help reduce triglycerides (another type of fat found in your blood) by blocking another enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase. High levels of both types of fat (LDL and triglycerides) can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. Since statins reduce bad cholesterol but don't directly change other risk factors like smoking or high blood pressure, they're usually prescribed along with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to try to prevent those diseases from happening—no pill will make up for unhealthy habits alone.

The Side Effects

While statins can be an effective way to lower cholesterol levels in some people, it's important to weigh these benefits against potential side effects. Some of these include nausea and diarrhea, muscle pains and weakness, memory loss or cognitive impairment (especially in older adults), fatigue or lethargy. Many of these side effects subside when statin therapy is discontinued. Statin therapy may also decrease bone density over time; while some studies suggest that calcium supplementation may offset the bone loss in postmenopausal women receiving statin treatment, all patients—especially those who take more than 20 mg daily—should have their bone density monitored annually. It's also important to note that none of these studies examined potential side effects for children younger than 18 years old.

Can Lifestyle Changes Help?

There’s no question that diet and exercise are important components of lowering cholesterol. A simple diet change can help to lower your overall cholesterol by 20 per cent. If your cent is more convincing about lifestyle changes as a way to manage your cholesterol, just consider how much of an impact exercise can have on other aspects of your health—staying active is as good for you in many ways as statins.

How to Take Them Safely

In recent years statins have become one of medicine’s most prescribed drugs. Also called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (because they inhibit an enzyme involved in creating cholesterol), these medications have played a vital role in reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease. But because of their powerful effect on cholesterol levels, statins also come with side effects—which is why it’s important to be aware of all the facts about these medications before taking them. If you need to take a statin for health reasons or are considering starting one because your cholesterol is high and lifestyle changes aren’t enough to bring it down, here’s what you need to know about these drugs.

Final Word

Statins work by blocking a chemical that's made in your liver, known as cholesterol. When you take statins regularly, they significantly lower your overall cholesterol. Because cholesterol is vital to our body's health - it helps with cell function - statins come with some side effects. So if your doctor recommends these drugs for high cholesterol or related problems like heart disease or stroke prevention, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, try not to stop taking statin medication cold turkey; talk with your doctor about tapering off of it slowly over time so that you can wean yourself off of it safely and effectively. Second, note that cutting out other types of foods from your diet will not reduce any side effects from statin use.

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