statin drugs and you

(NAPSI) - If you have high cholesterol, you’re not alone. About 95 million Americans have an LDL or “bad” cholesterol level above healthy levels. If you are one of them, you probably know high cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease.

Despite our best intentions, better diet and exercise often aren’t enough to get cholesterol levels within a healthy range. In fact, many people need more than a change in diet or exercise if they want to lower their cholesterol enough. Doctors may prescribe a cholesterol- lowering medicine based on your cholesterol level and other risk factors for heart disease, such as:

• Age (45 years or older for men, 55 or older for women);

• Family history;

• High blood pressure;

• Diabetes;

• Obesity

The most prescribed type, or “class,” of drugs for lowering cholesterol is statins. Statins work in the liver to help reduce the production of bad cholesterol and have been prescribed to millions of Americans.

Whether you have just been prescribed a statin or have been taking one for years, there are things you should know and questions you should ask your doctor about the medication.

Discuss your family history with your doctor. Ask him or her about your personal overall risk for developing heart disease. Many different factors affect your individual risk for this, and your doctor is your best source of information. He/she can help determine the appropriate diet, helpful exercise, and, if necessary, the best statin for you, based on your personal health history.

On average, statins lower cholesterol 20 to 60 percent. But you should keep in mind that not all statins work the same way in all people. When clinical studies are conducted with one statin, it doesn’t necessarily mean the same study results would apply to others.

If your doctor does prescribe a statin, you should know they have proven to be highly effective. However, all drugs, even those sold over-the-counter, may cause side effects. Fortunately, for statins, side effects are rare. Your doctor will monitor you while you’re on the medication. Most importantly, research has shown that, in many cases, the benefit of taking a statin drug consistently can have important long-term health consequences.

Here are some questions you may wish to ask your doctor about the various statin drugs available today.

• What are my personal risk factors for heart disease?

• What should my cholesterol goal be?

• What are the potential benefits of taking this statin?

• What are the risks of not taking this medicine?

• Do the benefits outweigh the risks?

• Does it have benefits beyond lowering my cholesterol?

• How long has it been prescribed?

• Are there any known safety issues?

• Has it been studied at both high and low doses?

• Would you take this medicine yourself?

With this information, you and your doctor can make an informed decision about whether taking a statin drug is the right step for you in managing your cholesterol levels.