Tag Archives: cholesterol

What Are Statins? Benefits, Side Effects, and Why They’re Essential for Your Health

Statins are a powerful tool in managing high cholesterol and preventing heart disease. Since heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., statins can play a vital role by lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This “bad” cholesterol contributes to heart attacks, strokes, and other serious complications.

Some patients have concerns about statins, and we’re here to offer clear, supportive information to help you make informed choices about your health and address any misconceptions.

How Do Statins Work?

Statins are medications that lower cholesterol by reducing its production in the liver. While diet and exercise are key in managing cholesterol, statins offer additional protection for those at risk of cardiovascular disease. Statins are especially important for individuals with conditions like diabetes, coronary artery disease, or those who’ve had a stroke.

Statins could be prescribed if your cholesterol is high or if you have other significant risk factors. Unless immediate action is necessary, lifestyle changes are usually encouraged to see if they can reduce risk before introducing statins.

Common Side Effects of Statins

Most people tolerate statins well, but they can cause side effects as your body adjusts to the medication. Common side effects include:

  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Muscle and joint aches
  • Slight increase in blood sugar levels

Fortunately, these side effects are usually mild and temporary. Should you experience unusual symptoms, your MPCP provider can adjust your treatment plan to ensure you’re comfortable.

Who Should Be Cautious with Statins?

Certain individuals are at greater risk for side effects, including those who:

  • Are over 80 years old
  • Have liver or kidney disease
  • Take multiple cholesterol-lowering medications
  • Drink excessive amounts of alcohol

For those who fall into any of these categories, your MPCP provider will monitor your treatment closely and potentially adjust your dosage or suggest additional tests to ensure that statins are safe and effective.

Additional Risk Stratification Testing:

CIMT Testing

For patients unsure about starting statins, MPCP offers Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) Testing at our Columbia Cardiology office. This simple, non-invasive test measures plaque buildup in your arteries and helps assess your risk of heart disease. CIMT can provide valuable insight into your heart health and help you evaluate your cardiovascular risk and the potential benefits of statins.

CT Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring is obtained through a CT scan. It is most helpful in patients who are being screened who have intermediate or borderline heart disease risk, particularly those with a family history of very early coronary artery disease, if statin therapy decision remains uncertain.

Apolipoprotein B (Apo B) Levels

Apolipoprotein B (Apo B) is a protein that transports cholesterol throughout your body, mainly carrying LDL and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), both of which can contribute to plaque buildup in your arteries. Consider Apo B as a taxi that primarily delivers “bad” cholesterol. High levels of Apo B in your blood can increase your risk of heart disease.

Performing an Apo B blood test to measure this protein and better understand your cholesterol levels is not routinely recommended. In certain cases, specifically in those with high triglyceride levels, elevated Apo B levels could indicate the need for cholesterol-lowering treatments, such as statins, to protect your heart health.

The Benefits of Statins

For most patients, the benefits of statins—such as reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart disease—far outweigh the potential risks. Statins have been proven to help people live longer, healthier lives by improving heart health.

If you have any concerns about statins or risk for other serious complications, your MPCP provider is here to help you decide what’s best for your health.

Dr. Green is a Maryland Primary Care Physicians, LLC partner and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Family Medicine. He sees patients at the Glen Burnie office.

Cholesterol 101

By Victor M. Plavner, M.D.

Have you been told you need your cholesterol checked? Or do you know you already have high cholesterol? What does that really mean and what numbers are important to know when we’re talking about cholesterol?

It’s easy to get confused when you hear people talk about good cholesterol vs. bad cholesterol, and what effect diet vs. heredity plays ─ even what numbers you should be concerned with when you have your cholesterol checked. Each individual should talk with his or her primary care doctor about their blood cholesterol levels and risks, but here is some good general information:

  • Cholesterol is a naturally-occurring, waxy substance that’s made naturally in the liver and can be found throughout the body. Cholesterol is also found in some foods we eat. While we need cholesterol for the cells and organs of our body to work effectively, too much cholesterol in our system increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
  • HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) is known as “good” cholesterol because it helps sweep the bad cholesterol out of your blood. LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) is considered “bad” because it causes the build-up of cholesterol on the walls of arteries, increasing the chances of cardiovascular disease.
  • Your cholesterol can be checked through a simple blood test. In general, the number you want is for your total (HDL & LDL) cholesterol to stay below is 200. Broken down further, your optimal LDL level should be below 130 for the average patient, below 100 for the diabetic patient and around 70 for the patient with coronary heart disease. HDL levels above 60 are considered helpful to reducing heart disease risk. So, a lower total and LDL cholesterol is good, and a higher HDL number is better.

High cholesterol is often hereditary and increases with age. However, there are several risk factors you can control: diet, excess weight, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and diabetes. Some researchers believe that dietary changes alone can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol by as much as 20-30%.

So, don’t panic if you have high cholesterol. Work with your doctor to come up with a dietary and exercise plan and, if needed, there are several medications that can help. And start early to keep your children active and eating healthy so they’ll have to worry less about high cholesterol later.

 

Victor Plavner, M.D.

Dr. Plavner is an MPCP partner and is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. He received his medical degree from the University of Louvain in Brussels, Belgium, and the George Washington University Medical Center. He completed his residency program in Family Practice at Franklin Square Hospital Center.