For your upcoming health column
The War Against Cholesterol: Are Statin Drugs The Saving Grace?
Americans are failing to manage their cholesterol through diet
and daily exercise. More than 13 million of us have coronary heart
disease-arteries clogged with deposits of cholesterol, fats, calcium
and other substances found in the blood. In a country with epidemic heart
disease, the number-one killer for both genders, the emergence of a new
class of drugs that helps optimize blood cholesterol levels has been heralded
as a potential "magic bullet." But are these newcholesterol-lowering
medications, known as statin drugs, living up to their promise?
Statin medications are indeed one of the most important medical advances
of the 21st century. They work by blocking a key enzyme the liver needs
to manufacture cholesterol, dramatically improving cholesterol levels.
They also help stabilize the lethal mixture of cholesterol and other
fatty deposits, known as plaques, that may have already accumulated in
your blood vessels. Statins help prevent plaques from breaking off
and causing a dangerous obstruction or blood clot that can lead to heart
attack or stroke.
Only your doctor can prescribe a statin and help you determine which
one is best for you. Here are several things you should know before
taking statins:
If you have high cholesterol levels without any other known cardiovascular
risk factors, it is important to try a few lifestyle changes, such as exercising
more and improving your diet, before embarking on a statin regimen.
Elevated cholesterol levels may not be the sole reason your doctor
suggests statins. You may also need them if you have angina (chest
pain) or have suffered a heart attack, if you have already had angioplasty
or bypass surgery, or if you have diabetes.
Statin drugs have a solid safety record, but they do come with some potential
side effects, including a serious muscle tissue disorder. Your doctor
should monitor your progress carefully.
If you already take a statin but have not yet achieved your cholesterol
goals, talk to your doctor about increasing the dosage or switching
to a different statin. You might respond differently to a different
statin, and it may take some experimentation to find the one that's
right for you.
For a copy of the FREE Johns Hopkins Special Report Seven Keys to
Reduce Cholesterol, please visit http://www.hopkinsreports.com/cholesterol.
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The John Hopkins White Papers (on subjects including arthritis, back
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