Statins: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly about Statin Therapy

Most people now throughout the world have heard all the hype about statins. They are touted about as having the ability of lowering our cholesterol levels. Doctors are pretty quick to prescribe them, especially to heart patients and those at risk of developing heart disease in the future. Others write out the little prescription to give to patients who have trouble lowering their cholesterol levels through sensible dieting and exercise.

But what are the facts?

In this article the aim is to give it to you straight and in detail in the words of the layman. After all we aren’t all qualified physicians and it is easy for us, the average and unqualified “patient”, to whip the prescription paper from the Doctor and rush down to our local pharmacy.

So let’s look at this closely and as best we can.

THE GOOD

This benefits the patient in the following way: First it lowers the LDL-C level. That’s good news as patients with a high LDL-C level in the blood can lead to buildup of plaque inside artery walls. This we have all heard about with regards to heart disease. It is commonly known as atherosclerosis. The effect this elevated LDL-C level can have is the cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD). It also increases the risk of stroke or heart attack. So statins help lower the LDL-C and inhibit the forms of plaques on our arteries. So that is pleasing to know when your doctor hands over that prescription for a statin. Another benefit is that statins have been shown to decrease serum LDL-C levels by as high as 55%.

Other benefits to the patient with CVD include decreasing vascular inflammation. This helps in the slowing of the process of atherosclerosis. Other uses for statins are under investigation and some include reducing diabetes complications and slowing osteoporosis progression. Others are lessening the effects of dementia lowering and blood pressure. Investigations into the effects of statins also include improving ventricular function in patients with heart failure.