We do think that people who have experienced a heart attack or have a stent may benefit from a statin as long as the side effects of the drug are not intolerable. You may wish to discuss this new study with your health professional to get her reaction. Here is a link to the article so you can print it and have a conversation about the data. So, your cholesterol is up and won’t budge despite your best efforts to get more physical activity and eat healthier foods. Sometimes, it takes a statin medication to bring cholesterol down.

Are High Cholesterol Levels Dangerous?

These foods can make it hard for your body to break some statins down, allowing too much of the drug to build up in your body. Statins get in the way can i drink alcohol while taking levaquin when your liver is trying to make cholesterol. Like a good basketball player who doesn’t let an opponent get the ball, statins don’t let your liver have an enzyme (HMG CoA reductase) it needs to create cholesterol. Your body makes 75% of your cholesterol, so helping it make less can make a big difference. The rest of your body’s cholesterol comes from what you eat.

1. While you’re taking statins, you should contact your provider if your muscles or joints hurt or if you feel weak, have a fever, have jaundice or your urine is dark.
2. Once you know your cholesterol numbers, you can work with your doctor to find the ideal cholesterol ratio for you.
3. You may think that if your cholesterol goes down, you don’t need a statin anymore.
4. So, it’s important to keep appointments with your doctor to monitor your statin therapy.

Your healthcare provider will look at your specific situation and decide if a statin is right for you. Even if your side effects are frustrating, don’t stop taking your statin medicine without talking to your health care professional first. Your care team may be able make a different treatment plan that can help you lower your cholesterol without uncomfortable side effects. Although side effects believed to be caused by statins can be annoying, consider the benefits of taking a statin before you decide to stop taking your medicine.

They work by blocking a substance that your body needs to make cholesterol. The very first statin, called lovastatin, was approved in the United States in 1987. Since then, other statins have been developed and approved.

But statins also prevent heart attacks in people with diabetes. The benefit of taking statins likely outweighs the small risk to have the blood sugar level go up. For people who already have high sugar levels, the mild increase in blood sugar levels may lead to being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. However, the benefit liberty cap gills of taking a statin may outweigh that risk. People with diabetes who take statins have much lower risks of heart attacks.

Statins that stay in your system for a short time work best if you take them in the evening (before your body starts making cholesterol overnight). Statin drugs that stay in your system longer work just as well if you take them at other times of the day. There are many drugs that may interact with statins, so be sure your health care professional is aware of all the medicines you take before starting with statins. If you think you’re experiencing side effects from taking statins, don’t just stop taking the pills. Talk to your health care team to see if a change in how much medicine you take or even a different type of medicine might be helpful. Epidemiological studies suggest that the rate of statin side effects is much higher.

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When the level of LDL cholesterol goes up, excess cholesterol can build up and stick to the walls of your arteries. The buildup is called plaque, and the formation of plaque can cause arteries to harden and narrow. If a plaque becomes unstable, a blood clot can form, suddenly blocking an artery. Lowering cholesterol isn’t the only benefit of taking a statin. These medicines also have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. Statins also may help reduce the risk of certain blood clots.

What Is Cholesterol Ratio and What Should Yours Be?

These effects can reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke. It’s important to consider your medical reasons, personal can you drink coffee with adderall values, lifestyle choices and any concerns when choosing a treatment. Talk to your healthcare professional about your total risk of heart and blood vessel disease and personal preferences before making a decision about statin therapy. And if the conclusion is that you cannot take statins, be reassured that there are other medications that can lower your cholesterol.

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These factors can affect your ability to take a statin and the statin options available to you. Some statins have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people who have never had these events. With secondary prevention, the drugs are used to prevent the recurrence of heart attack or stroke. Health care professionals often prescribe statins for people with high cholesterol. Statins help lower total cholesterol and reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke. This was the first study to show that statins could offer a real benefit.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Statins may also affect some diabetes markers (such as HbA1c or fasting glucose), and may not be suitable in those with liver or kidney disease. While you’re taking statins, you should contact your provider if your muscles or joints hurt or if you feel weak, have a fever, have jaundice or your urine is dark. “The last year I was experiencing severe neuropathy in my legs and feet. I was tested by my neurologist and he diagnosed me as having neuropathy.