It's the most common cause of death in the UK. (CVD) is a general term that describes a disease of the heart or blood vessels, often caused by high cholesterol.

Statins may be recommended if you have cardiovascular disease (CVD) or have a high risk of developing it in the next 10 years. Statins may be recommended if these measures don’t help. limiting the amount of alcohol you drink.Lifestyle measures that can reduce your cholesterol level and CVD risk include: If you're at risk of developing CVD in the near future, your doctor will usually recommend lifestyle measures to reduce this risk before they suggest that you take statins. Read more about the side effects of statins. The risks of any side effects also have to be balanced against the benefits of preventing serious problems. A review of scientific studies into the effectiveness of statins found that around one in every 50 people who take the medication for 5 years will avoid a serious event, such as a heart attack or stroke, as a result. The British Heart Foundation states than just 1 in every 10,000 people who take statins will experience a potentially dangerous side effect. Your doctor should discuss the risks and benefits of taking statins if they're offered to you.Ĭases that involve more serious side effects, such as kidney failure, tend to get a great deal of media coverage, but these are rare. Others experience some troublesome – but usually minor – side effects, such as an upset stomach, headache or feeling sick. Many people who take statins experience no or very few side effects. Read more things to consider when taking statins.

If in doubt, contact your GP or pharmacist for advice. It's very important to read the information leaflet that comes with your medication, to check if there are any interactions you should be aware of. Some types of statin can also interact with grapefruit juice. Statins can sometimes interact with other medicines, increasing the risk of unpleasant side effects, such as muscle damage. If you accidentally take too many statin tablets (more than your usual daily dose), contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice, or call the NHS 24 111 service.

Just take your next dose as usual the following day. If you ever forget to take your dose, don't take an extra one to make up for it. In most cases, treatment with statins continues for life, as stopping the medication causes your cholesterol to return to a high level within a few weeks. The tablets should normally be taken at the same time each day – most people take them just before going to bed. Statins come as tablets that are taken once a day. Read more about when statins may be recommended. your personal and family medical history suggests you're likely to develop CVD at some point over the next 10 years and lifestyle measures (see below) haven't reduced this risk.you've been diagnosed with a form of CVD.Your doctor may recommend taking statins if either: stroke – when the supply of blood to the brain becomes blocked.heart attacks – when the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked.angina – sharp chest pain, caused by coronary heart disease.coronary heart disease – when the blood supply to the heart becomes restricted.Having a high level of LDL cholesterol is potentially dangerous, as it can lead to a hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and cardiovascular disease (CVD).ĬVD is a general term that describes a disease of the heart or blood vessels. LDL cholesterol is often referred to as 'bad cholesterol', and statins reduce the production of it inside the liver. Statins are a group of medicines that can help lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood.

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