High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart problems. It may increase the risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and more. To lower your risk of these health issues, your doctor may prescribe a statin.
Statins come in different doses and intensities. The right option for you depends on many factors. For some people, a high-dose statin may be the right fit.
Dr. Bloom is a Cardiologist, an Associate Professor of Medicine at Stony Brook University Medical Center, a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Heart Failure Society of America.
References
Barter, P. J., et al. (2010). Effect of statins on HDL-C: a complex process unrelated to changes in LDL-C: analysis of the VOYAGER database. Journal of Lipid Research.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Know your risk for heart disease.
Cholesterol Treatment Trialists’ (CTT) Collaboration, et al. (2010). Efficacy and safety of more intensive lowering of LDL cholesterol: a meta-analysis of data from 170,000 participants in 26 randomised trials. Lancet.
Chou, R., et al. (2016). Statins for prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults: evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA.
Jones, R., et al. (2018). Clinician guide to the ABCs of primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. American College of Cardiology.
Ojha, N., et al. (2022). Myocardial infarction. StatPearls [Internet].
Pahwa, R., et al. (2022). Atherosclerosis. StatPearls [Internet].
Sizar, O., et al. (2022). Statin medications. StatPeals [Internet].
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