Do statins lower the risk of heart disease?
Dr Ravi Assomull discusses how statins reduce the risk of developing heart disease in people with conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or a strong family history of coronary artery disease. He also explains when lifestyle changes alone may be sufficient for those at low risk, even with high cholesterol.
Learn more about High cholesterol or book a consultation with Dr Assomull – no GP referral needed, appointments typically within one working day.
Transcript
Absolutely. If you have risk factors such as hypertension or diabetes or a family history of coronary artery disease and you're deemed at high risk of heart disease, statins reduce your risk by minimising the buildup of fatty deposits in your coronary arteries. Conversely, if you're at low cardiovascular risk and have high cholesterol, then an approach using lifestyle modification solely would be entirely reasonable.
