Cholesterol statins: benefits and harms, list of the most effective

In the article, we will consider the most effective and safe statins for cholesterol.

The issue of normalizing cholesterol against the background of modern life is more acute than ever. Most doctors are confident that in solving this urgent problem, absolutely all means are good. Doctors often prescribe statins for cholesterol, whose benefits and dangers are widely discussed today. Against this background, the guarantee of their complete safety is ambiguous, since almost every drug has its contraindications and side effects. Not only the components that make up the drug can provoke their occurrence, but also self-medication in excess of the dosage.

So what are the benefits and harms of statins for cholesterol?

Statins and their mechanism of action

Statins are medications designed to lower cholesterol. They do not act on cholesterol itself, and, in addition, do not destroy it and do not remove it from the human body. These substances interact with the liver and inhibit the secretion of the enzyme involved in cholesterol production.

The human body contains the so-called lipoproteins with different densities. It can be low or high. Lipoproteins are a kind of transport that transfers cholesterol from the liver to tissues and in the opposite direction. Against the background of proper metabolic processes, they are absolutely harmless to human health. But bad cholesterol is able to group together, forming plaques, leading to the appearance of severe pathologies in the human body.

Cholesterol statins help reduce the number of these carriers to tissues. Directly, the concentration of cholesterol carriers in the direction of the liver, on the contrary, rises. Thus, direct and reverse transport of cholesterol is normalized in the body. And his general level against this background decreases. At the same time, statins break down adipose tissue into separate fragments and fight hereditary factors of high cholesterol. A similar property is characteristic only of statins. From cholesterol they are prescribed more often.

Statins and indications for their use

Doctors usually prescribe statin treatment in the following cases:

• In the case of cholesterol in the blood more than 5.8 millimoles per liter of blood. In the event that it is not possible to adjust the cholesterol content with a diet, then statins should be taken for three months or more.
• Against the background of the development of atherosclerosis and pathologies of the heart. In this case, statins are prescribed in order to prevent the subsequent development of the disease.
• Against the background of the development of diseases that provoke the appearance of atherosclerosis.
• In order to prevent heart disease in young people. Statins are prescribed if one of the relatives suffers from hereditary pathologies of the heart.
• In the framework of preventive measures as the prevention of atherosclerosis in people in adulthood. In the process of aging, the risk of developing this pathology only increases.

The most effective and safe statins for cholesterol will help you choose a doctor.

What are the contraindications to the use of statins?

The use of statins is strictly contraindicated in the following cases:

• When there is an insignificant risk of developing vascular and heart diseases.
• Women before menopause.
• Patients with diabetes.
• Children or adults who have reached the age of 75. At this time, the likelihood of side effects increases due to poor tolerance to the drug. Thus, at this age, the harm from statins will be more than good.

Regarding the question about the background of what indicators of cholesterol should be taken statins, doctors strongly disagree. But immediately after heart attacks, the rehabilitation period without fail requires the use of these drugs.

It is extremely rarely allowed to take them to children who have genetic disorders and an excessively high concentration of harmful cholesterol in the blood. Statins in such circumstances are prescribed with great care. In this case, you need to carefully weigh the benefits and harm that such medications can bring. Nevertheless, under any circumstances, doctors must correctly calculate the dosage with the dosage regimen for each of the patients individually.

American experts believe that patients should use statins that lower cholesterol, even with an indicator of less than 3.5 millimoles per liter, if they are at risk. The risk group, as a rule, includes elderly patients with poor heredity and overweight. Such people suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes. Most often men are at risk. Next, we find out what the main benefits of statin treatment are, as well as the danger of their use.

The benefits of using statins for cholesterol

In certain cases, statins can bring tangible benefits to patients. Sometimes they are the only chance to save life. Among their advantages are the following advantages:

• Such drugs help the human body to deal with such a dangerous disease as atherosclerosis.
• Help with the rehabilitation of patients who have suffered a stroke or heart attack.
• Can prolong the life of patients suffering from serious illnesses.
• Lower blood levels of bad cholesterol.
• Prevent the development of pathologies of blood vessels and heart.

Many patients usually respond fairly well to such treatment. But the need for a long intake of about three or four years has an extremely negative effect on immunity.

The most effective and safe statins for cholesterol are discussed below.

Harm to the body

Patients sometimes do not even suspect what exactly statins are dangerous. I must say that against the background of their use, harm may not manifest itself immediately. In this regard, in the case of prolonged use of such drugs, it is necessary to monitor the general state of health of the patient, who must regularly pass the necessary tests, visiting his attending physician. Damage against the background of prolonged use of these drugs can manifest itself in the form of the following reactions:

• The state of the nervous system can be noted by the presence of over-inflation, unexplained mood swings, insomnia, dizziness and weakness.
• The appearance of inflammatory lesions of the nerves is possible.
• The digestive system during long-term use of such drugs may be accompanied by constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, poor appetite, vomiting, anorexia, drug jaundice and pancreatitis.
• On the part of the locomotor system, strong joint pain can occur, in addition, muscle pain along with pain in the back, aching bones, cramps and exacerbations of arthritis.
• The circulatory system can at the same time respond by lowering the platelet concentration.
• Statins to lower cholesterol can disrupt the metabolism, causing sharp changes in sugar concentration.
• It is also possible that allergic reactions may occur, which may be accompanied by the appearance of itching, rash, runny nose, exfoliation of the upper layer of the skin and anaphylactic shock, including.

At what cholesterol to take statins, many are interested. But it is also capable of harming the body, causing respiratory diseases and causing impotence along with obesity, edema, and even Alzheimer's disease. Cases of renal pathology are noted along with the manifestation of cataracts, vascular thrombosis and eczema.

The risks of adverse reactions increase with the age of patients. An inadequate reaction to these drugs can occur in patients with a slender physique, and in addition, in alcoholics. It should be noted that cholesterol-lowering statins are not compatible with alcohol. Patients suffering from pathologies of the skeletal and muscle apparatus, they are shown only in case of emergency and strictly under medical supervision.

It is not recommended to use statins in parallel with a number of drugs, such as Verapamil with Fluconazole and Erythromycin. They are not compatible with antibiotics or antidepressants. You should also abandon grapefruits and juices prepared on their basis.

Nevertheless, the benefits of statins from cholesterol are much more than harm.

List of the most effective drugs

In total, today you can meet five groups of statins. The rosuvastatin group includes drugs:

• "Roxer."
• Tevastor.
• "Rosulip."
• "Rosucard."
• "Rosuvastatin."
• "Akort".

These statins are recognized as the most effective group of drugs. They contain the active ingredient for long periods. These drugs provide the best result in combination with general therapy.

Drugs are related to the group of atorvastatin:

• "Tulip."
• Liptonorm.
• "Torvakard."
• Atoris.
• Liprimar.
• Atorvastatin.
• "Canon".
• Atomax

This group is less effective compared to rosuvastatins, but is able to counteract the formation of cholesterol from adipose tissue. Against the background of their use, doctors note a significant increase in the production of beneficial cholesterol. The most effective statins for cholesterol can be purchased at any pharmacy.

The group of simvastatins includes such drugs as Simlo along with Zokor, Simvor, Simvageksal, Sinkard, Ovenkor, Simgal, Simvastatin, Simvastol, Simvakard and Simvakard Vasilip. " This group is characterized by the most balanced statins, since they can quite well lower the concentration of cholesterol against the background of relatively little harm to the body.

The group of fluvastatins includes the drug "Leskol Forte." Such statins have a weak effect. They are usually used when primary therapy in the form of a diet aimed at weight loss, along with physical activity did not bring tangible results.

To the group of lovastatins include drugs such as "Cardiostatin" and "Holetar". These drugs are unique statins synthesized from natural fungi. The harm from their use is minimal, but doctors rarely prescribe them, as experts consider the appointment of more effective statins justified.

All of the above drugs differ, as a rule, only in the active component, but otherwise they are all alike. As for the benefits and harms of taking them, it must be said that this issue is individual for each patient.

The most effective and safe cholesterol statins can be quite difficult to choose correctly.

Natural statins

Statins have a number of serious contraindications, in connection with which many suspicious patients are afraid to use them. But they have a natural replacement in the form of known anticholesterol substances:

• The use of ascorbic acid. The source of this substance is citrus fruits along with sea buckthorn, blackcurrant berries, rose hips, sweet pepper and cabbage.
• Treatment with nicotinic acid, which is found mainly in nuts and all types of meat. In addition, such an acid is also found in red fish.
• The use of omega-3 fatty acids. This useful component can be found in absolutely all types of red fish, as well as in oils that are of vegetable origin.
• Treatment with policosanol. This substance is extracted from sugarcane, it is sold in any pharmacy.
• Reception of pectin. This component contains apples along with carrots, cabbage, beans and cereals. It can also be found in bran.
• Resveratrol treatment. This component is found in red wine and grape skin.
• Use of curcumin in turmeric.

These are the safest statins for cholesterol.

Soy products along with ordinary garlic contribute to lowering the concentration of bad cholesterol. According to some studies, a low concentration of cholesterol in the blood is associated with the appearance of certain neoplasms in the body, in addition, with negative changes in the kidneys, nervous disorders and anemia.

Preventative measures

How to lower cholesterol without statins?

As part of the treatment of atherosclerosis, which is caused by an excess of harmful cholesterol in the body, it is necessary, first of all, to adjust your lifestyle. Thus, we must try to normalize cholesterol using the following measures:

• Proper nutrition amid the development of such a deviation is extremely important. First of all, a person should exclude fatty and fried foods. Preference should be given to dishes in steam, boiled or stewed.
• It is also very important that the state of the cardiovascular system is in good shape. Physical exercises in the form of walking, gymnastics, any activity in the fresh air and so on are very useful for this.
• It is necessary to abandon bad habits. Scientists have repeatedly proved that the abuse of smoking and alcohol helps increase bad cholesterol.

We examined the benefits and harms of statins from cholesterol. Tips below.

Statins and features of their use

If there is harm, the patient may refuse to use dangerous, in his opinion, drugs. But the final decision as to whether or not to drink statins should be made only after a thorough assessment of all the risks. First of all, the consequences that can occur without treatment with these drugs should be considered. Among other things, it is important to know about the features of using statins:

• It should be noted that their reception in some situations can become life-long. Without them, the patient can feel a significant deterioration in health. Moreover, in the absence of proper treatment, the patient's condition can significantly deteriorate, which will lead to extremely serious, irreversible consequences.
• Only an experienced specialist who takes into account the presence of certain chronic diseases can prescribe drugs suitable for the patient. Self-administration of such drugs is strictly prohibited.
• Effective results can be achieved within the framework of the safe use of drugs only if the dosage chosen by the doctor is correctly observed.
• When prescribing such drugs, the doctor determines the frequency of biochemical analyzes, which the patient must strictly observe.
• In the case of pathological changes in the liver, rosuvastatin in small doses is recommended. This group of statins will cause minimal damage to the diseased organ. During the treatment period, nutrition should also be monitored. Antibiotic alcohol must be completely eliminated.
• Patients suffering from renal pathologies are not recommended to drink fluvastatin with atorvastatin. Their action is considered the most toxic to the kidneys.
• In the event that the prescribed drug is not available at a cost, then the possibility of replacing it must necessarily be agreed with the attending physician.
• Statins practically do not combine with any other drugs. Therefore, against the background of taking several drugs, complications and side effects may occur.

It should be noted that according to the statements of various pharmaceutical companies, representatives of the sphere of official medicine, the benefits of such drugs far exceed their harm. As for the opinion of independent researchers, it is somewhat different, in connection with which it is believed that the side effect of statins is much more dangerous compared to the benefits that they can bring. Therefore, as in most other cases, in this situation you should look for a middle ground.

Thus, taking statins can bring harm and benefit to the patient at the same time. In any case, they should be taken only as directed by the doctor. It is the specialist who determines the optimal type of drug for the sick person with its dosage. To listen to the recommendations of your doctor or not is a personal matter for the patient.

Reviews about statins to lower cholesterol

Reviews about these drugs are mostly positive. According to many patients, they effectively and consistently lower cholesterol. Usually well tolerated, rarely cause side effects. The main thing is to choose the right drug - users advise.