Tell me about... how statins work to lower cholesterol

On the average, statins lower LDL by 1.8 mmol/L. Photos: 123rf.com

There are a lot of articles on Facebook about the dangers of statins. I don’t know what to believe anymore. On the one hand, my doctor is telling me that my blood cholesterol is high, and I must be on statins as they will lower it. On the other hand, my non-doctor friends tell me statins are dangerous. What are statins anyway?

Statins are a type of drug that can lower your cholesterol. They are also called HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors in the pharmacological world. They function by blocking a substance (HMG-CoA Reductase) that your body needs to make cholesterol. Hence, your blood cholesterol will be lowered. Statins may also help your body reabsorb cholesterol that has built up in plaques on your artery walls, preventing further blockage in your blood vessels that can lead to heart attacks.