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  • High cholesterol occurs when fatty deposits accumulate within blood vessels, a situation often caused by excessive levels of Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL).
  • High cholesterol is known as the ‘silent killer,’ as it seldom presents noticeable symptoms. Many individuals remain unaware of their high cholesterol levels until they suffer a significant cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke.
  • Given its asymptomatic nature, the only reliable method to detect high cholesterol is through a blood test.
  • When diet and exercise are not enough, statins are prescribed. Statins work by blocking an enzyme in our livers which produce.
  • There are 7 statins on the market and pravastatin and pitavastatin have a reduced potential for drug to drug interactions when you are on multiple medications.

Overview


Cholesterol is an important building block that our body uses to build cells, and to make hormones, vitamin D, and bile salts which our bodies require everyday. Cholesterol is found in our blood and comes from 2 primary sources.

  • Produced by our livers
    Cholesterol synthesis occurs by enzymes in our liver and accounts for around 80% of our total cholesterol in our blood.
  • From our Diet
    Cholesterol is absorbed by the intestines, from the food you eat.



LDL vs HDL

There are two main types of cholesterol;

  • Good cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein, or HDL-C—helps to get rid of LDL by picking it up and taking it to your liver so your body can remove it from your body
  • Bad cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein, or LDL-C—too much of this can be a problem as it can build up in your arteries.

If untreated high cholesterol can lead to the accumulation of plaque in our arteries increasing ones risk of having a heart attack or stroke.


High Cholesterol

High cholesterol occurs when fatty deposits accumulate within blood vessels, a situation often caused by excessive levels of cholesterol, particularly Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL).


Over time, this condition can lead to the formation of plaque—a buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in the arteries. This condition is called atherosclerosis. Plaque buildup narrows and can eventually block the arteries, restricting blood flow. When a large plaque ruptures or severely narrows an artery, it can cause a heart attack or stroke.


High cholesterol is known as the ‘silent killer,’ as it seldom presents noticeable symptoms. Many individuals remain unaware of their high cholesterol levels until they suffer a significant cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke. These events are often the culmination of years, sometimes decades, of untreated high cholesterol.

Causes


Some of the causes of high cholesterol are in our control, whereas others are not.

Cholesterol levels go up as we age. The bad cholesterol (LDL-C) rises after the age of 20 and reaches a plateau between age 60 to 70. This rise is more rapid in men than in women, however, after menopause, it tends to rise in women more rapidly.


Genetics can also play an important role in the levels of cholesterol in your blood. This is why your healthcare provider will ask you about your family history. If you have a close relative who has high cholesterol, your risk is higher. People of certain ethnicities are also more likely to have high cholesterol then others.


For most, a poor diet and lack of exercise are the two main causes of high cholesterol. Approximately 75% of the cholesterol in our blood is produced by our liver. The remaining 25% comes from our diet.


Risk Factors

Diagnosis


Given its asymptomatic nature, the only reliable method to detect high cholesterol is through a blood test. Regular screening is essential for early identification and management of high cholesterol, aiming to prevent cardiovascular diseases.


Some markers which your healthcare provider will test for include:

  • Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol.
    Normal: less than 100 mg/dL
  • High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol.
    Normal range: Higher than 40 mg/dL for men. Higher 50 mg/dL for women
  • Triglycerides: A fat that is linked to heart disease.
    Normal: below 150 mg/dL
  • Apolipoprotein B: A high-risk marker and predictor of cardiovascular disease
  • Total Blood Cholesterol: Defined as your HDL + LDL + 20% Triglycerides.
    Normal: less than 200 mg/dL

Read more on What Do Your Cholesterol Test Results Mean?

Lifestyle


Diet and exercise are the first thing your healthcare provider will ask you to change if you are diagnosed with high cholesterol.


Here are 6 things you can do to help lower your cholesterol levels:

  • Decreasing stress
  • Exercising at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Improve your diet by incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet and less saturated or trans fats
  • Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
  • Avoid smoking

Statin Therapy


Statins are the first line of defense to lower your cholesterol. When diet and exercise are not enough, statins are the first line of defense when it comes to lowering cholesterol. Statins work by blocking an enzyme in our livers which produce cholesterol, reducing our bodies overall cholesterol levels.


40–75% Will Stop Taking Their Statin In The First Year


Muscle pain is one of the more common side-effects from statin therapy. 62% of former statin users indicated that side-effects was the reason they stopped taking their medication.


Newer statins, like pitavastatin, are now available in the U.S and may be good options for those who have stopped taking their statin. In clinical studies, rate of muscle pain are only 3.1% with pitavastatin.


Don't Give Up On Your Statin. Not all Statins are the Same. There are 7 different statins. While they all lower cholesterol, there are some key differences to consider.


The current statins available in the U.S. include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol XL), lovastatin (Altoprev), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), simvastatin (Zocor), and most recently approved pitavastatin (Zypitamag, Livalo).


Read about Statin Intolerance

What to Consider When Choosing a Statin


Are you taking other medications?

Most statins are metabolized by an enzyme called cytochrome P450 (CYP450). Unfortunately, 70-80% of medications are also processed by the same family of enzymes. When these enzyme pathways become too busy it can lead to drug interactions.


There are only two statins which have very limited interactions with this pathway, pitavastatin, and pravastatin. Because of this key difference, they both have a reduced potential for interactions many commonly prescribed medications.


Are you diabetic, or prediabetic?

Increases in blood sugar levels have been seen with statin medications. While all statins do have a warning and precaution that they can raise HbA1c and fasting serum glucose levels, there is data to suggest that this may not be the same across all statins.

For example, a clinical study compared pitavastatin (4 mg) with atorvastatin (20 mg) in those living with Type 2 Diabetes. They found that while cholesterol lowering effects of the medications were similar, only the atorvastatin group saw a significant increase in blood glucose levels.

If you have Type 2 Diabetes, or are worried about your glucose levels, ask your healthcare provider about pitavastatin.


Are you currently experience statin side effects?

While statins are generally well-tolerated, they are not without their risk of side effects. The most common side effect is muscle pain, and this goes up with dose of statin.

If you are currently having issues with your statin be sure to talk to your healthcare provider.


Newer statins like pitavastatin have rate of muscle pain of 3.1% and may be a good statin option for you.


Do you drink grapefruit juice?

Some statins interact with grapefruit juice and this can lead to statin side effects.


In fact, grapefruit juice is well-known to have an effect on several medications. Grapefruit juice interacts with the same enzyme our bodies use to break down atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), and lovastatin (Altoprev).

If you enjoy grapefruit juice, you should consider statins like rosuvastatin (Crestor), pravastatin (Pravachol) and pitavastatin (Zypitamag).


Are you of Asian descent?

Certain statins, like rosuvastatin (Crestor) have dose restrictions for people of Asian descent. Newer statins, like pitavastatin (Zypitamag), do not have this same dose limitation.


Are you taking any antiretroviral therapy?

Most statins including atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), simvastatin (Zocor), fluvastatin (Lescol XL), and lovastatin (Altoprev) can interact with certain antiretroviral medications.

Statins like pravastatin (Pravachol) and pitavastatin (Zypitamag) do not appear to have this same limitation. If you're taking antiretroviral therapy be sure to tell your healthcare provider.


Have you reached your cholesterol lowering goals?

If you haven't reached your cholesterol lowering goals you may need to make some additional changes. You have many options. You can increase the dose of your statin which should add an additional ~6% decrease in your bad cholesterol. You can also add on additional therapies such as ezetimibe to your statin regimen.


Another important thing to consider is your lifestyle. If you're not at your target yet, you may want to consider making additional changes to the foods you eat and the amount of exercise you are doing.


Most importantly, talk with your healthcare provider to come up with a plan to achieve your cholesterol goals.

Combination Therapy



If you are unable to achieve the desired level of LDL-C reduction with a statin, your healthcare provider may increase the dose of your statin, or suggest additional therapies, also known as combination therapy.

The most common add-on combination therapy is ezetimibe (generic Zetia®). Until recently when ezetimibe's patent life ended it was extremely expensive. But now, with increased competition of generic manufacturers we have been able to add ezetimibe to Marley Drug's Wholesale List.

Cholesterol and Inflammation


When cholesterol deposits buildup inside your blood vessels, your immune system may recognize this substance as a foreign invader and sends white blood cells to gobble it up. This creates plaque. These plaques grow over time as more cholesterol is deposited on your blood vessels and more white blood cells are sent to help.
During chronic inflammation, these white blood cells deposited in these plaques can become overactive and this can contribute to plaques becomes unstable.


As you can imagine, blood is constantly flowing by these plaques. If they are unstable this increases the likelihood one of them may break off. When they break off this can be very dangerous. Either the plaque can get lodged further down stream and cause a blockage in a smaller blood vessel, or your body may recognize the ‘breakoff’ site as an injury and respond to it.


To explain how this works, think of a cut. Your bodies goal is to stop the bleeding, so it sends a certain cell in your blood called platelets, whose job is to create a barrier and stop the bleeding. Your body also recognizes a ruptured plaque in your blood vessel as a cut. It doesn’t know the difference. So it does the same thing it would with a cut, it sends platelets to the ‘injury site’, but in this scenario, these platelets are not helpful because they can form a blockage and stop blood flow. This is the main cause of a heart attack. And this is also why some of you at risk of a cardiac event may be on blood thinners.


Recently a new medication that helps reduce inflammation, low-dose colchicine (LoDoCo), was approved by the FDA to lower the risk of cardiac events in those with high inflammation.

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Common Questions To Lower Cholesterol

Can statins cause your to gain weight?

There is no evidence to suggest that statins can cause patients to gain weight.

When should you check your liver after taking a statin?

Once you begin taking a statin you should begin having routine blood tests to ensure the health of your liver. They will do this by checking for certain levels of liver enzymes in your blood, including alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels. This test should be done 3 months after beginning the treatment, then again after 12 months, however, no additional tests are needed thereafter unless clinically indicated.

Can statins cause liver damage?

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians the risk of your statin causing damage to your liver is about 1 percent. This number is similar to that of patients taking a placebo pill in clinical studies. To ensure liver safety, your healthcare provider will test for liver enzymes in your blood including alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase. This test should be performed 3 months after beginning the treatment, then again after 12 months.

Can statins cause hair loss?

Hair loss is very rare side effect of some statin medications. While not all statins include this as a side effect in their safety information, simvastatin does report cases of alopecia in their post marketing surveillance studies. There are also rare case study that have been published that report this occurring atorvastatin. If you experience hair loss after initiating your statin, please speak with your healthcare provider right away.

Why does cholesterol increase with age?

As we age our cholesterol levels go up. That's why men over 45 and women over 55 should have their cholesterol levels checked every 2-3 years. Our cholesterol levels increase because our bodies LDL receptors which are responsible for removing cholesterol from our blood become less active as we get older. Because of this, we have more cholesterol in our blood.

What should my triglyceride levels be?

Normal triglycerides are less than 150 mg/dL. Borderline high is defined as 150 to 199 mg/dL and high is considered 200 to 499 mg/dL.

How do I calculate total cholesterol?

Total cholesterol is a measurement of the your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Your total cholesterol is calculated by adding your LDL levels, HDL levels and 20% of your triglyceride levels.

What is statin intensity?

Statin intensity is a way to categorize different statins. It refers to how much a statin can lower bad cholesterol, or LDL-C. High intensity refers to statins that can lower LDL-C by 50% or more. Moderate intensity refers to statins that can lower LDL-C by 30 to 49%. Low intensity statins refer to statins that can lower LDL-C by 30% of less.

What do you do if you have statin-associated side-effects?

Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you experience any statin-associated side-effects. You have many options including altering the statin dosage, or changing to a different statin.

Which statin does not raise blood sugar?

All statins have a warning and precaution that they can raise HbA1c and fasting serum glucose levels. However, there is data to suggest that this may not be the same across all statin. A clinical study compared pitavastatin (4 mg) with atorvastatin (20 mg) in those living with Type 2 Diabetes. They found that while cholesterol lowering effects of the medications were similar, only the atorvastatin group saw a significant increase in blood glucose levels.

How do statins work?

Statins work by inhibiting an enzyme in our livers called HMG CoA reductase. This enzyme is criticial for the production of cholesterol. By blocking this enzyme this reduces our bodies ability to make cholesterol ultimately resulting in a decrease in our cholesterol levels. Interestingly, 80% of cholesterol is produced by our bodies (in our liver) whereas only 20% is thought to come from our diet.

Should I take my statin with food?

Eating food can change how our bodies absorb different medications. Some statins should be taken with a meal, where as others it doesn't matter. Newer statins like pitavastatin can be taken with or without food.

Should I take my statin in the morning or night?

Statins work by inhibiting the enzyme HMG CoA reductase. This enzyme is most active at night when we are sleeping. Because of this, most statins are recommended to be taken a night to have the best effect. Newer statins like pitavastatin have longer half-lives and can be taken anytime of the day.

What age should you start taking a statin?

Ultimately this is up to your healthcare provider. There are lots of factors to consider. The most recently blood cholesterol guidelines recommend that people who have one or more risk factors for heart disease and a 1 in 10 chance of having a cardiovascular disease event in the next 10 years (calculated using something called a ASCVD risk calculator) should start a low or moderate intensity statin once they turn 40. If you have type 2 diabetes they recommend starting a moderate-intensity statin anytime after the age of 40.

What are the 7 statins?

Statins that are approved for use in the U.S. include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor),simvastatin (Zocor ), and pitavastatin (Zypitamag, Livalo).

How quickly do statins work?

After starting a statin you should see changes in your cholesterol levels in 2-4 weeks. Your healthcare provider will likely schedule a follow-up test to check your cholesterol levels in that time period to ensure everything is okay.

How long do I need to take a statin for?

Statins are a type of medication that only works as long as you’re taking them. This means that for most people who are taking a statin you will likely have to take it for the rest of your life.

What are the most common side effects of statins

Muscle pain is the most common reported side effect of statins. If you are taking a statin your muscles may feel tired, sore, or weak. This pain can range anywhere from mild to very severe. The risk of muscle pain typically increases with the dose of statin you are taking. Newer statins like pitavastatin have muscle pain rates of 2.8% and 3.1% with the 2 mg and 4 mg doses. One important thing to consider with statin associated muscle pain is that those who start taking statins are also often re-starting a workout regimen and it can be difficult to determine if the muscle pain is from the statin or from exercising. If you experience any discomfort from your statin you should speak with your healthcare provider right away.

Can statins cause dementia?

This is a common misconception and has been studied extensively. A study published in 2020 looked at over 30 clinical studies and looked into this exact question. What they found was that statins were not associated with an increased risk of dementia. In fact, they found that statins reduce the risk of dementia by 16.8% Source: Poly T.N. et al. Association between Use of Statin and Risk of Dementia: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Neuroepidemiology 2020;54:214–226

Which statins do not interact with grapefruit juice?

Some statins interact with grapefruit juice and when taken together can cause your body to process the statin differently and can lead to dangerously high levels of statin in your blood. Statins which do not interact with grapefruit juice include rosuvastatin (Crestor), pravastatin (Pravachol), pitavastatin (Zypitamag), and fluvastatin (Lescol XL).

What should my bad cholesterol, or LDL-C levels be?

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians your target LDL-C levels depends on whether or not you have heart disease. If you do not have heart disease then your goal should be to lower your LDL levels to less than 130. But, if you do have heart disease, you want to lower your LDL-C even further to a level of 100 or less.