Position Paper on the Benefits and Risks of Statin Drugs Essay

Cardiovascular diseases are some of the chronic diseases killing people globally. In the United States, approximately 610,000 people die from cardiovascular diseases every year (Daniel, 2015). According to Daniel (2015), the most common cardiovascular condition is the coronary heart disease that is responsible for 375,000 annual deaths in the US. In addition, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 710,000 people experience heart attacks across the US (Sodhi, 2016). As a result, prevention of the cardiovascular diseases is a priority not only in the US but across the globe. Therefore, in order to cure or prevent cardiovascular diseases, it is paramount to address the risk factors associated with heart disease such as serum cholesterol. The statin drugs are manufactured and medically administered to reduce the level of cholesterol in the body. The drug inhibits the liver enzymes responsible for cholesterol production in the body (Daniel, 2015). However, the use of statin drugs is controversial because medical professionals disagree on the efficacy of the drugs. Nonetheless, like any other drug, statins have their pros and cons. The administration of statin drugs together with lifestyle change like healthy eating and exercises in beneficial in preventing heart disease and outweighs the risks.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The use of statin drugs has been medically proven to reduce cholesterol in the body. Atherosclerosis refers to the buildup of cholesterol in the blood vessels (Sodhi, 2016). High cholesterol leads to the blockage of the blood vessels, a situation that leads to stroke and heart attack. Since some of the cholesterol is produced in the body, statin inhibits the cholesterol-producing enzyme of the liver. The inhibition reduces the cholesterol in the blood vessels, reducing the likelihood of developing stroke or heart attack. People at risk of developing heart problems are those who smoke, are obese, have high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. Therefore, statin drugs are beneficial because they help in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Statins help to reduce the likelihood of developing the first heart attack. Likewise, for people with a medical history of a stroke or heart attack, they are vulnerable to another heart attack or stroke in the course of their lives. According to statistics, 20% or 1 in every 5 people with a history of stroke or heart attack is at high risk of experiencing the perilous condition (Brown, 2014). Therefore, the intake of statin drugs helps to prevent a second heart attack.

Drugs do more than just lowering cholesterol. They reduce inflammation in the arteries that damage the health of these vital blood vessels. In a 2008 JUPITER study, the researchers reported that statins reduce high-density lipoproteins and arterial inflammation (Daniel, 2015). Moreover, the study concluded that statins reduce inflammations in the artery for people with normal levels of cholesterol. On the other hand, statin drugs lower the risks of narrowed blood vessels by maintaining the smoother arterial walls or lining healthy and reduce the accumulation of fibrin in the arteries. Medical scientists indicate that fibrin is a type of protein that is responsible for clotting of blood in the arteries (Brown, 2014).

On the contrary, statin drugs have been criticized for their side-effects. The negative implication of the drugs include rhabdomyolyses, type 2 diabetes, weight gain, impaired mental function and nerve damage. Rhabdomyolyses refers to muscle damage because the drugs negatively affect the muscle tissues (Sodhi, 2016). Some people might also experience severe muscle ache due to the drugs. One or two out of ten people taking statin drugs have are at risk of experiencing muscle ache and damage (Roberts, 2014). However, two of the proven side effects of the drugs are weight gain and type 2 diabetes. Statin drugs lead to the increase in blood sugar which is a risk factor for developing diabetes. Furthermore, weight gain could also lead to obesity a risk factor linked to cardiovascular diseases.

However, the intake of statin drugs accompanied with lifestyle change is effective in dealing with the negative implications related to diabetes and weight gain. People should adopt healthy-living lifestyles. As a result, they should quit smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, eat healthy balanced diets to keep their blood sugar in check. Physical exercises are also important because they help in burning excess calories that harm the body. Apart from that, medical researchers indicate that consuming statin drugs together with other drugs could lead to adverse effects such as cognition problems and liver issues (Brown, 2014). Therefore, before taking statin drugs, patients should inform their doctors of the other drugs they use to avoid developing adverse side effects. Besides, it is recommended that if people experience side effects from taking the statin drugs, they should reduce the dosage. For instance, for those in high-intensity prescription, they should reduce the intake of the drugs to once a day or even once every couple of days (Sodhi, 2016). Since there are medically approved methods of reducing the negative implications such as lifestyle change, the benefits of statin drugs outweigh risks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, statins are drugs that reduce cholesterol in the body. High cholesterol is a risk factor for developing a heart attack or even stroke. Apart from reducing cholesterol, statin drugs prevent inflammation in the arteries and keep the blood vessels healthy. However, due to the controversy surrounding the use of statin drugs, it should be noted that combining exercises and healthy eating or the general change in lifestyle helps to overcome developing type 2 diabetes and weight gain. Furthermore, people should avoid mixing statin with other drugs to avoid developing serious effects such as memory loss and muscle damage. In summation, statin drugs are beneficial in lowering and preventing cardiovascular diseases.

References

Brown, C. (2014). Statin-use debate creates furor at The BMJ. Canadian Medical Association

Journal, 186(11), E405-E406. http://dx.doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.109-4825

Daniel, E. (2015). Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Health and Society (12th Ed.). Guilford, Conn.: McGraw-Hill Education

Roberts, B. (2014). The truth about statins. New York: Pocket Books.

Sodhi, V. (2016). Are Statin Worth the Trouble, Should we Stop Using Statin Drugs?.International Journal Of Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 4(3). http://dx.doi.org/10.15406/ijcam.2016.04.00120