What Is Crestor for?

Many middle-aged and older adults struggle with their cholesterol levels. This is usually due to years of poor dieting and little exercise, although other factors can be involved. If high levels of "bad" cholesterol continue to build, health conditions that cause heart attack or stroke can arise. Crestor is a prescription medication designed to combat these problems by reducing the effects and presence of "bad" cholesterol in the body.

Purpose

Crestor lowers an individual's "bad" cholesterol, also called low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and raises levels of "good" cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL can cause plaque to accumulate on arterial walls (atherosclerosis), and this can lead to a heart attack or stroke, according to the American Heart Association. By reducing LDL, Crestor helps prevent atherosclerosis.

How it Works

Crestor works by blocking an enzyme in the liver that can lead to a substantial production of LDL in the body. By blocking this enzyme, the body is forced to produce less LDL, thereby reducing the amount of plaque that can form on arterial walls.

Statistics

AstraZeneca, the makers of Crestor, notes that studies show the drug can lower LDL cholesterol by as much as 52 percent. The company also asserts the drug can increase the HDL by as much as 14 percent. Here's why that's a good thing: HDL protects against heart attacks, as it carries the cholesterol from the heart and back to the liver, where it was originally produced. It is then expelled from the body through bowel movements.

Other Factors

Like most medications aimed at diet, fitness and weight loss, Crestor is recommended to be used in conjunction with a low-fat diet and exercise regimen. Together, these measures are vital to weight loss and overall health, which includes lowering cholesterol. While Crestor can slow down the production of plaque, its effectiveness will be limited unless the patient adopts a diet low in saturated fats.

Limitations

Crestor cannot prevent the occurrence of a heart attack, heart disease or stroke. It can only prevent a certain percentage of plaque from building in the arteries. Crestor is not prescribed to individuals who are suffering from liver problems, or women who are pregnant, nursing or who plan to become pregnant.