The term "heart disease" encompasses problems related to the function of the heart and cardiovascular system such as arrhythmias, diseases of the blood vessels, heart infections and heart defects. Cholesterol plays a part in the type of heart disease that affects blood vessels. It is a component of the arterial plaques that lead to atheroslerosis, the most frequently occurring form of heart disease. Statins are medications that can lower the risk of atherosclerosis by lowering blood levels of cholesterol.
Atherosclerosis Defined
Atherosclerosis is a disease that affects about 25 percent of Americans at some point in their lives, according to FreeMD.com. It is characterized by hardening of the walls of the arteries and the constriction of the pathway available for the flow of the oxygen-rich blood that arteries convey. The medical problems that stem from atherosclerosis depend on its location in the circulatory system. For example, coronary artery disease may arise from atherosclerosis of the arteries that service the heart, and stroke results if the carotid arteries in the neck are affected.
Role of Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance produced by the liver. The body needs some cholesterol for the formation of cell membranes and the manufacture of certain hormones, but a high blood level of cholesterol is a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Cholesterol in the blood circulates via two principal carriers called low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, and high-density lipoprotein, or HDL. If LDL cholesterol remains at an elevated blood level, it may begin to accumulate on the inner walls of vital arteries. The process of atherosclerosis begins when the accumulated LDL cholesterol combines with calcium, fats and fibrin, a blood-clotting material, to form a thick deposit called plaque. Arterial plaque reduces blood flow by narrowing the artery and can lead to a nearby blood clot.
Role of Statins
For people with atherosclerosis related to chronically high blood levels of cholesterol, doctors initially prescribe dietary restrictions on saturated fat and cholesterol in addition to regular exercise and weight control. If this regimen fails to bring cholesterol levels into the normal range, doctors then resort to prescription medications called statins. These are a group of six different drugs that can retard the progression of atherosclerosis by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis in the liver and by lowering blood levels of LDL, or "bad," cholesterol and increasing blood levels of HDL, or "good," cholesterol.
Warnings
The safety profile of the statins is generally good, but patients should be aware that certain side effects can occur. These effects include muscle problems such as weakness and deterioration, cognitive problems, pain or numbness in the fingers and toes, elevated blood glucose, and tendon problems such as tendinitis and tendon rupture. The risk of side effects increases as the dose of the statin increases.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Heart Disease: Definition: Causes: Risk Factors: Treatment and Drugs
- FreeMD.com: Atherosclerosis: Overview: Incidence: Risk Factors
- American Heart Association: Cholesterol
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: For Consumers: Controlling Cholesterol With Statins
- ScienceDaily.com: Science News: Statins' Adverse Effects Documented
