What are Statins?

About Statins

• Statins are prescription medications that people take to bring their cholesterol down to normal levels.
• Statin drugs work by blocking the action of the liver enzyme that is responsible for producing cholesterol.
• Too much cholesterol in the blood can cause a buildup of plaque on the walls of the arteries. That buildup can eventually cause the arteries to narrow or harden.
• Sudden blood clots in these narrowed arteries can cause a heart attack or stroke.
• Some statins can decrease your LDL (low-density lipoprotein, or “bad”) cholesterol by 50% or more. Providers often call LDL “bad” because it builds up inside your arteries, making it harder for blood to move through them.
• These medicines also have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Statins may also help reduce the risk of certain blood clots.
• Statins can sometimes interact with other medicines, increasing the risk of serious side effects, such as muscle damage.

Q1: What are coronary arteries?

The coronary arteries are major blood vessels in your body, supplying blood to your heart. They make it possible for your heart to beat and pump blood throughout your body. You have a right coronary artery (RCA) and a left main coronary artery (LMCA). Each contains smaller branches that go deep inside your heart muscle.

Source: Study finds one way statins can cause diabetes, and a solution