When Statins Don’t Work: Tests for Your High Cholesterol
When Statins Don’t Work: Tests for Your High Cholesterol
Statins lower cholesterol for millions of people. They also can help protect you from heart attacks and strokes. But for about 4% of people who take them, they don’t work well enough.
If your statin doesn’t help, don’t worry. Your doctor can help you find other treatments. But first, she’ll give you a few tests to see why the statin didn’t work and how much extra help you need. Then, you and your doctor will talk about all of your risk factors and your preferences to come up with your new treatment plan.
Can Low Cholesterol Keep Your Brain Healthy?
Most people think of heart disease when they hear the words "high cholesterol," but your brain's health may also be at stake.The evidence is still limited, but studies show that high levels of cholesterol may be linked to Alzheimer's disease or other kinds of dementia.
Read the Can Low Cholesterol Keep Your Brain Healthy? article > >
One of the first things your doctor will do is talk with you more about your family history. You can tell her more about any heart problems that your parents or siblings have had in the past. If your father or a brother had a heart attack before age 55, or if your mother or a sister had a heart attack before age 65, your chances of heart disease are higher.
If your family history puts you at higher risk, your doctor may decide to prescribe either a higher dose of your statin or add another cholesterol drug.
Blood tests can give your doctor a better idea of why your statins aren’t working well, or why you have side effects from them.
Muscle pain or dark urine are signals that your medication might be damaging your muscles. If that’s the case, one type of blood test will show that you have a higher amount of a substance called creatine kinase (CK). Your doctor may also check your CK levels when you start taking a statin to compare it to the amount you have after taking the drug.
Your doctor may also check your amount of “bad” LDL cholesterol to see if the statins aren’t working, or if there are other things, such as your diet or alcohol intake, that may be causing the problem.
Inflammation may be linked to high cholesterol. Your doctor can look for subtle signs of it in your blood, including one called the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). If your hs-CRP levels are 2 mg/L or higher, your doctor may prescribe a higher dose of your statin or another drug.
Your doctor may test your thyroid gland, too. If it’s not making enough hormones, a condition called hypothyroidism, it may cause muscle pain when you take statins.
If your statin doesn’t help, don’t worry. Your doctor can help you find other treatments. But first, she’ll give you a few tests to see why the statin didn’t work and how much extra help you need. Then, you and your doctor will talk about all of your risk factors and your preferences to come up with your new treatment plan.
Recommended Related to Cholesterol Management
Can Low Cholesterol Keep Your Brain Healthy?
Most people think of heart disease when they hear the words "high cholesterol," but your brain's health may also be at stake.The evidence is still limited, but studies show that high levels of cholesterol may be linked to Alzheimer's disease or other kinds of dementia.
Read the Can Low Cholesterol Keep Your Brain Healthy? article > >
Family History
One of the first things your doctor will do is talk with you more about your family history. You can tell her more about any heart problems that your parents or siblings have had in the past. If your father or a brother had a heart attack before age 55, or if your mother or a sister had a heart attack before age 65, your chances of heart disease are higher.
If your family history puts you at higher risk, your doctor may decide to prescribe either a higher dose of your statin or add another cholesterol drug.
Blood Testing
Blood tests can give your doctor a better idea of why your statins aren’t working well, or why you have side effects from them.
Muscle pain or dark urine are signals that your medication might be damaging your muscles. If that’s the case, one type of blood test will show that you have a higher amount of a substance called creatine kinase (CK). Your doctor may also check your CK levels when you start taking a statin to compare it to the amount you have after taking the drug.
Your doctor may also check your amount of “bad” LDL cholesterol to see if the statins aren’t working, or if there are other things, such as your diet or alcohol intake, that may be causing the problem.
Inflammation may be linked to high cholesterol. Your doctor can look for subtle signs of it in your blood, including one called the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). If your hs-CRP levels are 2 mg/L or higher, your doctor may prescribe a higher dose of your statin or another drug.
Your doctor may test your thyroid gland, too. If it’s not making enough hormones, a condition called hypothyroidism, it may cause muscle pain when you take statins.
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