I have low cholesterol. Why might I benefit from statins?
A person’s cholesterol level is only one factor that contributes to heart disease. Many people have heart attacks despite having low cholesterol levels. Statin drugs have many effects beyond mere cholesterol lowering. One of these effects is to lower inflammation, which plays a major role in heart disease. Not all the benefits (or risks) of long-term statin use are known, but the drugs clearly lower a person’s risk of heart disease. But the new findings may well change treatment guidelines. Doctors may now wish to order high-sensitivity CRP blood tests for patients with some risk for heart disease, even if they have low cholesterol levels. Relatively high CRP levels may convince patients — and their doctors — that it’s time to start statin treatment. It’s not a simple decision. Once a person starts statin therapy, treatment usually continues for life. And while generic drugs cost less, treatment isn’t cheap. Crestor, which is not available as a generic drug, costs about $3.45 per day
