A friend told Hua Zi that her blood lipids are not high, and her low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is only about 1.7mmol/L, but the doctor told her to take statins. She didn’t understand a little. Aren’t statins lowering blood lipids? Her blood lipids are not high, do you still need to take them?
Hua Zi asked a friend if he had atherosclerosis? She said that the coronary arteries have atherosclerosis, but they are only mildly narrowed, not to the point of coronary heart disease. Hua Zi told her that she should take medicine. Because the pharmacological effects of statins can not only lower cholesterol, but also reduce the risk of atherosclerosis.
One, the risk of atherosclerosis
What most people know is that when atherosclerosis develops in the arteries, it narrows the arteries and affects the blood supply to the organs. But it takes a very long process from the onset of atherosclerosis to the severe stenosis of the blood vessels. Generally, it takes decades to progress to the point where it affects the blood supply to organs.
However, atherosclerotic plaques can accelerate their progression under factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, smoking, obesity, etc., which can lead to increased plaque instability . When vasospasm and contraction occur, it is prone to rupture, which induces platelet aggregation to form thrombus, resulting in myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction and other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Plaque rupture is the greatest risk of atherosclerosis. The risk of plaque rupture is not proportional to the degree of arterial stenosis.
Second, statins can not only lower blood lipids
The formation of atherosclerotic plaque is associated with damage to the arterial intima. LDL-C in the blood will enter the arterial intima from the injury to form the lipid core of the plaque. Lowering the level of LDL-C can inhibit or delay the formation of plaque. Statins are currently the most important LDL-C lowering drugs.
But in addition to reducing LDL-C, statins can also improve the metabolism of the arterial intima, resist the oxidation and inflammatory reactions caused by LDL-C, and can increase the lipid core density of the plaque. Increase and decrease in volume, turn unstable plaques into stable plaques, and make plaques less prone to rupture. Statins can reverse plaque during long-term use.
Three, low blood lipids also need to take statins
LDL-C is the “raw material” that causes atherosclerosis, but many people have low blood lipids when they develop atherosclerosis, because of high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and even aging All cause atherosclerosis. But no matter the cause, the risk of atherosclerotic plaques is the same.
The only way to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis is currently with statins, no other drugs can replace< /strong>. People with definite atherosclerosis, or those with “soft plaques” in the carotid arteries, even with normal blood lipids, are advised to use statins for prophylaxis.
A lot of people worry about the health effects of getting too low in cholesterol? In relevant clinical trials, no obvious adverse reactions were observed when the subjects’ LDL-C dropped below 0.7mmol/L, so currently, lower LDL-C levels are safe. Under normal treatment, the lowest LDL-C can be reduced to below 1.4mmol/L.
Statins are usually taken continuously for 2-4 years before plaque reversal is observed. According to the current research results, the longer the statins are taken, the better the protective effect on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular. Therefore, as long as there are no serious adverse reactions, it is not recommended to stop the drug.
To summarize, statins not only lower cholesterol, but also stabilize and reverse plaque. Some people with low blood lipids, but people with atherosclerosis also need to take statins. The use of drugs should not only look at individual indicators, but also on the effects and benefits of the overall disease. The use of drugs should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor. If you have any doubts about the medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist. I am Huazi, a pharmacist. Welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.