Statins are medications that are used to lower cholesterol and have been touted by many as the wonder drugs of the 21st century, reports the Mayo Clinic. Statins work by blocking the substance in the liver that the body needs to produce cholesterol and assist the body in absorbing cholesterol that may have accumulated in the arteries. Popular statin medications include Lipitor, Zocor and Crestor.
Effectiveness
One of the main pros of statins is that they are effective for lowering cholesterol, according to the Mayo Clinic. The drugs are most effective for patients who have total cholesterol levels higher than 240 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl). High cholesterol, combined with other factors for heart disease and stroke, should be present to receive the most effective results from statins. Doctors consider issues such as age, weight and blood pressure, whether the patient is diabetic or has a family history of heart disease before prescribing statins.
Few Side Effects
Side effects, such as muscle pains or liver abnormalities can occur, but most people experience very mild side effects that disappear as the body adjusts to the drugs. Patients usually tolerate side effects because the benefits outweigh the discomfort in most cases, the Mayo Clinic reports. Side effects also can include digestive problems, rashes and flushing. Statins, also referred to as HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, are particularly useful for lowering LDL cholesterol levels and also can raise HDL levels, while having a modest effect on triglycerides, or blood fats, according to the American Heart Association.
Other Benefits
Researchers have found a number of other possible side benefits to using statins that can include increased bone density. As of 2009, studies were still underway to prove the possible connections between the cholesterol-reducing drugs and increased bone health, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute report strong evidence that statins may help in controlling various kinds of cancer, particularly colorectal and skin cancers. Researchers found that statins work against certain cellular functions that control the production of cells. Other benefits of statins can include a decrease in tumor production and tumor growth. Metastasis, or the formation of malignant cancer cells, also was reduced in patients receiving cholesterol-reducing drugs.
