If you need to lower your cholesterol, statins are a powerful ally. These drugs help reduce high levels of LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol that often is deposited in artery walls. As the statin starts working, it helps decrease the buildup of artery-clogging plaque.

Statins Do Double Duty
Statins control cholesterol in two ways. First, they put the brakes on an enzyme that controls cholesterol production. They also enhance the liver’s ability to remove LDL cholesterol that’s already in the bloodstream.

In addition to lowering cholesterol, statins reduce C-reactive protein (CRP) in the bloodstream. CRP is another contributor to heart disease.

Which Statin Is Right for You?
There are five statin drugs on the U.S. market: lovastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, and atorvastatin. They all have about the same effectiveness, and serious side effects are rare. Your doctor will decide which is the right one for you.

When you start taking a statin, follow these tips:

• Take them in the evening. Try to take your statins with dinner or at bedtime. The body makes more cholesterol at night than during the day.
• Stick with it. While you may not feel any different, your cholesterol level may begin to drop in a little as two weeks. By the time your doctor checks your cholesterol at six to eight weeks, you might be surprised by how much it has dropped.
• Report any continual discomfort. As your body adjusts to a new drug, you may have slight gas, stomach upset, constipation, or cramping. If these conditions continue or worsen, talk with your doctor. If you have muscle or joint pain, tell your doctor immediately.
• Know your numbers. Keep track of your LDL and HDL, or “good,” cholesterol, levels every time your doctor tests them.

Have Questions About Your Medicines?
Our online drug reference tool lets you find out all about the medicines you take, including the best place to store them. Go to www.paramounthealthcare.com and click on “Better Health for Life,” “Library,” and then “Drug Reference.”

More British People to Use Statins
The United States (U.S.) isn’t the only country using statins. The medicine is becoming more popular in the United Kingdom (U.K.), too.

New guidelines in the U.K. recommend statins for people who are at a certain risk for heart problems within 10 years. This could mean that 1.5 million more people will be taking statins, which may help prevent about 15,000 heart attacks a year.

Just as in the U.S., British doctors are encouraged to look at different factors when deciding whether to prescribe a statin. These include the patient’s age, gender, total and HDL cholesterol levels, blood pressure and blood pressure medications, and whether he or she smokes.