Cholesterol forms part of every cell membrane and assists in the production of our sex hormones and vitamin D. Physicians that practise evidence-based medicine know that potential problems arise when bad cholesterol becomes elevated and is deposited within the inner lining (endothelium) of our arteries as atheromatous plaques.

The process begins in early adulthood (as fatty streaks). Cholesterol plaques ?grow? over time and slowly narrow the lumen of arteries. Some plaques are quite stable but others become inflamed and rupture, spilling their soft waxy cholesterol core along with debris from the roof of the plaque into the bloodstream. These, in turn, trigger our body?s clotting mechanism and platelets (sticky cells within the blood) aggregate to form a potentially deadly clot (that manifests as a heart attack or occlusive stroke).

Our measured total cholesterol level consists of ?good? high-density lipid (HDL, which transports cholesterol out of our blood vessels) and ?bad? low-density and very low-density lipid (LDL, VLDL which transport cholesterol into our blood vessels) along with triglycerides. Exercise and a natural diet low in animal fats (including dairy) and high in fibre will help to raise the good cholesterol and lower the bad.

Unfortunately, it has been found that most of our cholesterol problems (some say up to 75 per cent) are inherited. It has also been found that a high level of bad cholesterol is associated with high
incidences of heart attacks, strokes and peripheral artery disease (poor circulation of blood going to the lower limbs). The whole affair becomes far more complicated (and dangerous) when there is hypertension and/or diabetes.

Simply put, we know that statins can significantly reduce the bad (LDL) cholesterol, stabilise or shrink plaques and save many lives by reducing the risk of catastrophic vascular events. Statin therapy has been shown to reduce coronary events by approximately 23 per cent. Some researches claim that they also reduce the risk of strokes in high-risk patients by 25 per cent. They even reduce the risk of women having clots in their veins while on hormone replacement therapy.

Statins are well researched. According to an American Heart Association listing, there have been 63 studies on statins with names ranging from the ?4S? (Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study) to the ?WOSCOPS? (West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study). And, Dr. James M. McKenney, PharmD (President and CEO National Clinical Research Inc., Professor Emeritus Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia) recently alluded to the ?20-year history of statins and their proven efficacy based on many scientific studies that show statins reduce morbidity and mortality?.

Like all drugs, statins carry possible side effects. However, elevated LDL levels, atheromatous plaques, diabetes and hypertension definitely increase your risk of catastrophic cardiovascular events. Statins have been proven to significantly reduce that risk. Evidence-based medicine dictates that we continue to use them until a viabl is discovered.