Tell me about... Statins and how they work to lower cholesterol

Statins work by blocking the cholesterol-producing enzyme in the liver, HMG-CoA reductase. Photo: AFP

I just found out that I have high cholesterol through a blood test. My general practitioner advises me to go on this class of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins. What are statins?

Statins are a group of drugs that are also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. They are a type of lipid-lowering agents that reduce the level of cholesterol in your bloodstream.