Statins are a class of drugs that are prescribed to the majority of patients for lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, commonly known as “bad cholesterol,” in the blood. The drugs act by inhibiting the production of LDL cholesterol in the liver, which reduces the risk of CVD. In this blog, we will cover the different uses of statins, considerations when taking them, and possible side effects to give you an understanding of how statins may impact your health.
What Are Statins?
Statins are drugs that lower LDL cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol is a form of fat carried in the blood, and though our bodies require cholesterol to function, too much LDL cholesterol can cause the arteries to become hard and narrow, a condition known as atherosclerosis. This condition limits blood flow and can cause severe cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks, strokes, and angina.
Statins help reduce LDL cholesterol production by the liver. Consequently, these drugs lower the levels of cholesterol in the blood, lowering the risk for CVD development. Statins are prescribed mainly for high cholesterol patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, or those having a high likelihood of developing a heart-related disease in the near future.
Why Have You Been Offered Statins?
Doctors usually recommend statins when you have already been diagnosed with CVD or you are at risk of developing the disease in the next ten years. Cardiovascular disease is generally a term describing a group of conditions that have an impact on the heart and blood vessels. Some of the most common forms of CVD include:
- Coronary Heart Disease: It is a disease in which the arteries supplying blood to the heart get narrowed due to atherosclerosis.
- Angina: Chest pain due to a reduced blood supply to the heart muscles.
- Heart Attacks: Sudden blockages in the blood supply to the heart, which may cause severe damage.
- Stroke: It is caused by an interruption or blockage of the blood supply to the brain that may lead to brain damage.
- Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD): A condition where fatty deposits in the arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs.
The primary need to provide statins is to control cholesterol levels with the intention of reducing the risk of these potentially life-threatening conditions. Usually, they are taken as an adjunct therapy with other lifestyle measures, including a heart-healthy diet, exercise, and smoking cessation.
How Do Statins Work?
These block an enzyme produced in the liver that is in charge of cholesterol. By reducing LDL cholesterol production within the liver, statins thereby reduce the number of “bad cholesterol” particles circulating in the blood. The formation of plaques on artery walls, the hallmark of atherosclerosis, is thereby eventually reduced.
With regular intake of statins, the patient can significantly reduce risks associated with heart attacks and strokes in relation to other cardiovascular events. Statins are generally prescribed as lifelong medication since discontinuation increases cholesterol and raises the risk of cardiovascular complications.
Who Should Take Statins?
First, the use of statins is not limited to those diagnosed with a form of cardiovascular disease but also to everyone at risk of developing the conditions. Thus, if you have a family history of heart disorders, are overweight, or you have high cholesterol levels or high blood pressure, you will be advised to take statins and reduce your cholesterol levels to lower your CVD risk factor.
Moreover, if you have the following risk factors, statins may also be prescribed.
- Age: The risk of developing CVD increases with age.
- Family History: Having a family history of heart disease can significantly increase your risk of developing this condition.
- Lifestyle Factors: Poor diet, no exercise, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption can all raise cholesterol levels and the risk of developing CVD.
- Chronic Conditions: Certain conditions, like diabetes, high blood pressure, or chronic kidney disease, may increase your risk of developing cardiovascular problems.
Taking Statins: What You Need to Know
Statins are generally prescribed as an oral daily medication. The doctor will determine the appropriate dose depending on the cholesterol levels, history of illness, and risk factors for CVD. Dose may be titrated to maximize the results over time.
While some statins are taken at any time of the day, others must be taken in the evening. This is because cholesterol production in the liver is highest at night, and this timing could prove to be more effective. One must always follow one’s doctor’s advice concerning the timing of taking statins.
Always remember that taking another dose the next day when you forget to take one is not recommended; instead, continue with the dose when scheduled. Similarly, in case of an overdose with statins, seek the advice of your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Statins and Lifestyle Changes
Statins are mostly prescribed along with lifestyle changes that can help decrease cholesterol and enhance the health of heart. Lifestyle changes are as follows:
- Healthy Diet: A balanced diet with low saturated fats and high intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help keep cholesterol levels healthy.
- Regular Exercise: Physical activity promotes a healthy heart. It elevates HDL (“good”) cholesterol and decreases LDL cholesterol.
- Weight Management: Maintaining appropriate weight will highly reduce the incidence of heart diseases and related ailments.
- Smoking Cessation: Smokers are strictly advised to quit smoking to maintain their hearts and vessels.
- Moderate Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol consumption can also be moderated in order to reduce the rates of high blood pressure and heart disease.
Although statins help reduce levels of cholesterol, they must be used within a more integrated approach to heart health management.
Side Effects of Statins
Like any medication, statins can cause side effects. The majority of patients tolerate statins well, but some may experience mild side effects. The most common side effects of statins are:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Fatigue or muscle weakness
- Digestive issues, such as constipation, diarrhea, or indigestion
- Muscle pain
- Sleep disorders
These side effects are mostly mild and will go away with time. But if they persist or bother you, then talk to your doctor as the dosage might have to be adjusted.
Very rare side effects of statins include myopathy, which is inflammation or damage to muscles. Call your doctor immediately if you experience muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness that has no apparent cause. Severe myopathy can lead to kidney problems and other complications.
Serious and Rare Side Effects
While rare, some people have had severe side effects from taking statins, including:
- Myopathy: Muscle damage or weakness.
- Peripheral Neuropathy: Numbness or tingling in hands and feet.
- Tendon Problems: Tendons have inflammation or tears, leading to pain and aching.
If these rare side effects arise, you should inform your doctor immediately. In certain instances, statins may need to be stopped or adjusted to prevent further complications.
Interactions with Other Medicines
Interactions: statins interact with other drugs with the increased risk of side effects. Other examples of drugs that may have an interaction include the following.
- Some antibiotics and antifungals
- Medications used for HIV
- Warfarin-a drug for a thinning of the blood
- Calcio – suppresing ciclosporin drug
- Calcium channel blockers like verapamil or diltiazem
- Amiodarone that used for treating an abnormal heart rhythm known as arrhythmia
- Fibrates.
Such interactions can enhance the risk of muscle damage and other complications. It is highly important to discuss all the medicines you are taking with your doctor, including those over-the-counter drugs and supplements.
Alcohol and Statins
Moderation in alcohol drinking would be safe when on statins, but excessive use may cause greater damage to the liver and other complications. The physician may recommend that you limit alcohol intake to no more than 14 units per week.
Other statins may interact with grapefruit juice, affecting the amount of the drug that accumulates in the bloodstream and increasing the risk for adverse effects. Check with your provider to see if you should avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking a statin.
Alternatives to Statins
If you are susceptible to developing cardiovascular disease but can not take statins, then your doctor might recommend alternatives instead. Apart from adopting lifestyle changes, there is still other cholesterol-lowering medications such as fibrates, bile acid sequestrants, or PCSK9 inhibitors.
Now this fact, those statins are very potent in reducing cholesterol to near-natural levels and virtually preventing cardiovascular events. But in many who can’t tolerate it, alternative treatments are beneficial in the management of cholesterol and heart health.
Conclusion
Statins are a critical intervention in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. The lowering of LDL cholesterol reduces heart attacks, strokes, and all the other bad things that are life-threatening with statins. Generally safe, these drugs may cause side effects for some people; thus, keep close contact with your doctor so that its benefits outweigh your risks.
In addition to the medication, a healthy lifestyle such as good diet, regular exercise, and avoidance of smoking can even help prevent cardiovascular diseases. And if these lifestyle changes are put together with the use of statins, so much protection can be given for your heart and your overall health. Always consult your healthcare provider whether statins are right for you and how to manage the possible side effects and interactions.
