Statins

What are statins?

• Statins lower LDL, the type of cholesterol that builds up in arteries

• Used to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other heart issue

• Common ones include atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin

Why do they help?

• Can lower LDL by 30 to 50 percent

• Reduce your chance of heart attack and stroke

• Protect you long term, especially if started early

What this means for South Asians

• High heart disease risk even with “normal” LDL

• Standard tests may miss certain biomarkers that may provide further information

• ApoB testing gives a clearer picture of who actually needs treatment

• Early statin use can prevent events that show up earlier and more often in South Asians

• Ask your doctor about South Asian specific biomarkers

How do they work?

• Block a liver enzyme that helps make cholesterol

• That forces the liver to pull more LDL out of your blood

• Also lowers ApoB, which shows the number of particles that cause plaque

Side effects

• Common ones: muscle aches, tiredness, and stomach issues

• Other potential ones: liver enzyme changes or a small increase in blood sugar

• Very rare: serious muscle damage