Effects of Statin Drugs

What Are Statins?

Statins are a class of medications used to treat elevated levels of cholesterol that contributes to the risk of cardiac disease. Although cholesterol is critical to the function of every cell in the human body, it also contributes to the development of plaque on the walls of the arteries, a condition known as atheroschlerosis. Statins are used to prevent and treat this buildup of plaque that can contribute to heart attack, stroke, leg pain and death.

How Statins Work

We take in cholesterol in what we eat, and our body creates its own cholesterol. Statins work by blocking a key liver enzyme that produces cholesterol. This enzyme is called HMG-CoA reductase. Blocking the enzyme causes the liver to be depleted of cholesterol. It compensates by pulling cholesterol from the rest of the body, thus the cholesterol level in the blood is reduced. It inhibits the body's ability to produce LDL, the bad cholesterol, by increasing the number of LDL receptors on the surface of the liver cells, and more cholesterol is removed from the bloodstream

Clinical Results of Statins

Statin drugs have been shown to reduce LDL levels from 18 to 55 percent. It also raises HDL, the good cholesterol, 5 to 15 percent. It can also help the body reabsorb the cholesterol found on the artery walls. It also reduces oxidative stress on artery walls, reduces inflammation of artery walls and stabilizes the plaque that remains on blood vessel walls. Some evidence also shows that those who take statins are less likely to die of pneumonia and the flu.

Who is a Candidate for Statins?

A number of medical categories are deemed candidates for statin use, such as those who test with abnormally high cholesterol levels, those with a family history of heart attacks at a young age, the obese, those with peripheral artery disease, the elderly and diabetics. There is controversy over whether even more people in the general population could benefit from taking statins based on clinical trials that were able to reduce heart attacks as much as 54 percent. Some even question whether children who are obese could benefit from statins. However, a number of side effects occur with statins, and its long-term health effects on children are not yet known.

Statin Side Effects

Some side effects of statins can be very uncomfortable and may be troubling enough to make taking stains undesirable. Statins have a number of common side effects including, muscle and joint pain, nausea, diarrhea and constipation. Statins can also increase liver problems, so periodic liver function tests are required. Rashes or skin flushing may occur, and neurological symptoms, such as numbness, tingling, prickling sensations, shortness of breath, or difficulty walking can also occur. Pregnant women should not take statin drugs. Certain other drugs may be affected by statin use. Statins should only be taken under strict physician supervision.

References

• Mayo Clinic
• MedicineNet
• Statin Advice