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 including atherosclerosis, 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.

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