Editorial Team
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Editorial Team | Published : May 20, 2014 12:38 PM IST
Britain's top heart surgeon has said that statins is a good cholesterol drug and should be made sold over the counter. Sir Magdi Yacoub said that the results found were astounding; they suggest that the risk benefit ratio is massively in favour of taking the drug therefore over 40s people should definitely take them, the Mirror reported. Yacoub said that any side effects were 'very minor' when compared to drugs' potential benefits. The National Health Service has estimated that 7,000 lives were saved by Statins every year in Britain, with seven million people taking the drug in total. (Read:Can statins cure erectile dysfunction?)
What are statins?
Statins are a class of drugs that are prescribed for lowering the levels of cholesterol in the blood. When the blood cholesterol levels are high, cholesterol gets deposited on the walls of the arteries along with other fatty substances to form a plaque. This deposition is linked to a number of diseases and conditions includingatherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, stroke and heart attack. Statins act by blocking or obstructing a substance in the liver that is required to synthesize cholesterol. When the synthesis of cholesterol by the liver is inhibited, cholesterol from the blood is absorbed which causes a drop and prevents further blocks in the blood vessels. Commonly used statins include atorvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin and pravastatin. Statins are usually the first line of treatment provided to patients with high cholesterol because apart from lowering cholesterol they also work to enhance the functioning of blood vessels, reduce the risk of blood clots, improve plaque stability as well as reduce stress on the cells. The 2014 guidelines on cholesterol (published by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA), suggests that patients who have a 10 year risk of heart disease greater than 7.5 should be prescribed statins.
With inputs from ANI
For more articles on statins, visit our statins section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.
