FAQs for Statins!
What Are Statins?
Statins are excellent drugs that lower cholesterol in blood vessels of the body. Cholesterol is a bad, when in too-large quantities, kind of fat that can lead to heart disease. LDL cholesterol is the worst kind of fat, and it is the kind that statins works on to break up. Cholesterol is created by a particular type of enzyme in the blood and cholesterol works by blocking this enzyme.
Where Do Statins Come From?
The original statin compound was isolated from a naturally occurring fungus. It was called ‘mevastatin’ and was found in red yeast rice. The quantity of statin found in natural products varies from product to product and even within batches of the same product. Most modern statin variants are wholly synthetic drugs.
[box type=”note”]You can find statins in the following medications: Altocor, Altoprev, Mevacor, which all contain lovastatin, Crestor contains rosuvastatin, Lescol (fluvastatin), Lipitor (astorvastatin), Livalo (pitavastatin), Prevachol (pravastatin), and Zochor contains simvastatin.[/box]
How Effective Are Statins?
We have known about statins for a long time and extensive clinical trials over many years have shown that these cholesterol blocking medicines reduce the risk of heart disease by more than a quarter. More than thirty-three million Americans are currently prescribed with one or more statins. It is also known that statins reduce the risk of vascular dementia. this is the second most common type of dementia behind Alzheimer’s disease.
Who Should Take Statins?
The fatuous answer to this question is, only those people prescribed the drugs by their doctor and only in the dosages recommended. The proper answer is only those people who are diagnosed heart disease or have a high risk of developing heart disease. Statins are the most effective treatment in these cases.
Who Should Not Take Statins?
Statins are not a panacea for lowering cholesterol, and they are definitely not an alternative to a healthy diet and regular exercise. Statins should not be put into the American water supply in the same way fluorine is for example. Mothers to be or women below 40 who are not taking the contraceptive pill and therefore, have the possibility of becoming pregnant, should not take statins.
What Are the Risk Factors that Make Statins Necessary?
The likelihood of heart disease rises with age, with an abnormally high total cholesterol level, with high blood pressure, with the use of tobacco and with a family history of heart attacks. Each individual can only assess their personal risks profile in consultation with their doctor.
What are the dangers in taking statins? The Food and Drug Administration recently required drug manufacturers to add some side effect notices to their packaging of statins. These were possible memory loss, cognitive disorientation and diabetes due to low blood sugar. It sounds scarier than it is, in reality. The dangers are present but far from being clear and a big cause for concern.
The most common side effect of statins is muscle tenderness and aching. You should consult your doctor immediately if you are taking statins and feel this effect.
