Statins are the most commonly prescribed medicines in the United Kingdom. They work to lower the level of cholesterol in your blood. There are a few different kinds of statins, but they generally all work in much the same way.
You may be advised to take statins if you have had a heart attack or stroke in order to reduce your risk of another event. If you have peripheral arterial disease, statins can help to slow the progression. If you are diabetic, you are at a much higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and taking statins will help reduce this risk.
Even if you are in good health you may be prescribed statins if you are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. For example, if you have a strong family history of the disease. Statins again can help lower that risk.
But a new study has suggested that Doctors should give statins to patients at a younger age to slash their odds of heart disease in later life. Those aged 18 to 39 with high levels of bad cholesterol were found to remain at risk even if they tackled the issue when older. Health checks normally start around the age of 40, and by then the cholesterol is already clogging arteries. It is possible that the damage caused then could be irreversible. Experts want testing before the age of 20.
Researchers at Columbia University in New York studied data on more than 36,000 subjects aged 5 to 84. They found high levels of bad cholesterol in young adulthood was linked to a 64 per cent higher risk of heart disease in later life. Those with high blood pressure when younger were 37 per cent more likely to suffer heart failure as they got older.
HMHB says:
Anything that can help diagnose problems earlier, to give the best opportunity of righting any problems, must be a good thing. Naturally we also need to look at our lifestyle when younger, with exercise and diet too.
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