In one of the most interesting clinical studies of
2008, researchers discovered that individuals
with normal or low LDL ("bad" cholesterol) but
elevated C-reactive protein (a marker for inflammation)
reduced their risk of heart disease significantly by
taking a statin. This prompted many healthy
individuals to ask themselves, "should I take one
of these cholesterol-lowering medications?"
The answer may be "yes" if you have heart disease
or are at high risk of developing it, says Doylestown
Hospital cardiologist Sean Reinhardt, MD. If you have
high cholesterol but no other known risk factors for
heart disease, you probably don't need medication -
just a careful diet and regular exercise.
"Some people - especially those with a strong family
history of high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease
- can't maintain good cholesterol levels on their own,
even with healthy lifestyle habits," he explains. "Statins
are a safe and effective way for many people to lower
their cholesterol."
Statins lower cholesterol by blocking the enzyme your
body needs to produce cholesterol. Of the millions
of people who take one (such as Crestor®, Zocor® or
Lipitor®), most experience few or no side effects.
The most common side effect is muscle ache. Liver
problems are relatively rare, but individuals first taking
the drug should be monitored.
"We check liver function three to six months after
someone starts a statin," Dr. Reinhardt reassures.
"Few drugs have been as studied and monitored as
statins, but we realize not everyone can take them."
Individuals with liver problems should not be on a
statin, nor should people taking certain medications. "I
look at a number of factors to determine a person's risk
factors before prescribing medication," he explains.
Dr. Reinhardt encourages all of his patients to
maintain a healthy weight, get exercise and eat right,
whether they are on medication or not.
