If you’re taking medication for heart health or know someone who is, chances are it’s a statin. Taking statins can be an effective way to prevent heart disease. These prescription medications also reduce the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes.
HOW DO STATINS WORK?
When we talk about cholesterol, we’re often referring to a build-up of waxy substances in the blood that can lead to heart attacks or strokes. Statins can help clear these cholesterol deposits out of the bloodstream and reduce the amount your liver produces.
They do this by slowing down the production of an enzyme key to making cholesterol. As cholesterol production is lowered, your liver will look to pull cholesterol from your bloodstream instead. According to some sources, statins have been shown to reduce cholesterol by as much as 30% - 50%1. Of course, what you eat will still affect the amount of cholesterol your body makes.
SHOULD I BE TAKING A STATIN?
Your healthcare provider can review your cholesterol levels and other risk factors and help you make an informed decision on whether you should take statins. Besides your cholesterol, risk factors include tobacco use, exercise and diet, weight, family history, age, and more.
Taking a statin has been shown to lower the risk of Heart Attack and Stroke by 25% - 35%. 2 Statins also have been shown to substantially lower the risk of heart disease. 3
While uncommon, side effects like joint pain, nausea, or mild blood sugar elevation can occur with statin use. Still, more than 70% of those affected by muscle pain were able to remain on statin therapy pain-free after making changes to their regimen. 4 Also, despite a common myth that statins may cause dementia or impair cognitive function, robust scientific evidence shows no link between statin use and an increased risk of dementia or cognitive decline. 5 If you’re experiencing side effects or feeling unsure, talk to your doctor before stopping. There may be options to help you stay on track.
The benefits of statins can heavily outweigh the potential side effects, making them an effective solution to high cholesterol for many people. 7 Just remember that statins are typically a lifelong commitment. Many people stop taking statins because they don’t feel any different—but that’s a sign the medication is doing its job quietly. 6
NOT EVERYONE WITH A HEART CONDITION NEEDS A STATIN
According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), if you are between the ages of 40 and 75, you should seriously consider using statins if you:
Have one or more cardiovascular disease risk factors and a higher 10-year risk of a heart attack
Already have a cardiovascular disease related to hardening of the arteries
Have very high LDL cholesterol—anything over 190 mg/dL or higher
Have diabetes and a cholesterol level between 70 and 189 mg/dL 7
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STATINS ARE A CLASS OF DRUG WITH MANY NAMES
If you are a Select Health member, you can use our look-up tool to confirm benefits. For Select Health Medicare members, use our Medicare look-up tool. There are several statins available for use, including:
Atorvastatin (Caduet® or Lipitor®)
Fluvastatin
Lovastatin (Mevacor® or Altoprev™)
Pitavastatin (Livalo® or Zypitamag®)
Pravastatin
Rosuvastatin (Crestor® or Ezallor Sprinkle®)
Simvastatin (FloLipid®, Vytorin® or Zocor®)
For more information on statins and if they’re right for you, please contact your Primary Care Doctor. You can also call Select Health Member Advocates at 800-515-2220.
Sources
1 https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/should-you-take-a-statin-for-high-cholesterol
3 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2821624
4 https://health.clevelandclinic.org/statin-muscle-pain
5 https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/could-taking-statins-prevent-dementia-disability
6 https://www.ccjm.org/content/92/6/347
7 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/statins/art-20045772
