Statin Benefits

Statins are primarily prescribed to treat
 high cholesterol. However, other benefits of statins include preventing heart attacks, strokes, and other similar problems.
 
Statins work by inhibiting a particular enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase, which controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body. This causes the liver to make less cholesterol. Statin benefits also include:
 
  • Increasing the liver's ability to collect and get rid of LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol)
  • Increasing HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol)
  • Decreasing triglycerides.
     
In general, cholesterol treatment begins with lifestyle changes (weight loss, exercise, and a low-cholesterol diet). However, if lifestyle changes alone do not lower cholesterol to a desirable level, medication such as statins may be necessary.
 
The main goal of high cholesterol medication is to lower LDL cholesterol levels enough to reduce your risk for developing problems such as heart disease or a heart attack.
 
(Click Statins for a more in-depth look at the possible benefits of statins, including information on how they work and how they can help lower cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease.)
 
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
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