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Statin Drugs What are They and are They Safe
Statin Drugs What are They and are They
Safe?
The most commonly used type of medications used as an answer to
high cholesterol are called statin drugs.
Because they are so popular, numerous studies have been performed
to ensure the safety and validity of these drugs, and it has been found that not only do they
lower bad cholesterol (LDL) levels, but they also raise good cholesterol (HDL) levels in many
cases.
Statin drugs what are they and are they safe statin drugs have
little or no side effects associated with their long-term use, and taking them can reduce the
risk of both heart attack and stroke.
Consider talking to your doctor about the use of statin drugs if
you have been diagnosed with poor cholesterol levels.
There are six statin drugs now on the market. Each of the major
drug companies in the United States produces forms of these drugs, making them easy to get
and use.
Statin drugs you can take by prescription from you doctor are
rosuvastatin, fluvastatin sodium, atorvastatin calcium, lovastatin, pravastatin sodium, and
simvastatin.
Common names for these types of drugs that you might recognize
include Zocor, Lipitor, and Lescol. Your doctor can recommend the exact medication that is
right for you.
In general, rosuvastatin and atorvastatin calcium are used for
intensely lowering cholesterol, and may be taking in conjunction with other
medications.
Pravastatin sodium is safest to use in small doses if you suffer
from liver disease. It is also important to abstain from drinking alcohol as well.
Atorvastatin calcium and fluvastatin sodium are especially useful
if you have kidney problems.
Lovastatin, simvastatin, and pravastatin sodium are all proven to
help reduce the risk of heart attacks, with pravastatin also helping to reduce the risk of
stokes.
Statins all work by blocking the enzyme in the liver that causes
your body to produce cholesterol. If you have excess cholesterol in your body, this
actively prevents you from making more.
Statin drugs what are they and are they safe you should not need
to take statins to maintain already healthy cholesterol levels this can be controlled through
diet and exercise.
Statins may cause a rare but serious disease called
rhabdomyolysis, which damages muscles, so you should only use these drugs if you need them
and they are prescribed by a doctor.
If you already take statins and experience muscle weakness,
consult your doctor this is the number one sign of rhabdomyolysis and may progress to kidney
failure and cause untimely death.
Overall, by keeping a close check on your own health, you can
report any abnormalities to your doctor.
Statin drugs are great tools to use if you need to lower your LDL
cholesterol and raise your HDL cholesterol, but, as with most kinds of prescription drugs,
they work best if you live a generally healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, no
smoking, and plenty of exercise every day.
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