Statin drugs are a class of cholesterol lowering medications prescribed to millions of Americans for the prevention of heart attacks and strokes.

The American Medical Association says cholesterol is produced by the body, but can also be found in animal products and saturated fats. While some cholesterol is good, certain bad cholesterol can build up on and narrow arteries, putting patients at risk for high blood pressure, heart attacks and stroke.

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Statins are also called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. They work by blocking the production of cholesterol in the liver and preventing excess cholesterol from entering the bloodstream. The statins actually prevent the production of the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme which produces cholesterol.

The National Center for Biotechnology information calls HMG-CoA “the rate-limiting enzyme for cholesterol synthesis.”

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The American Heart Association points to statins as only one of four drug-class options for reducing cholesterol. Selective cholesterol absorption inhibitors prevent the body from absorbing cholesterol in the intestine. Resins lower LDL by encouraging the body to make more bile in the liver, which reduces the amount of cholesterol circulating through the bloodstream. Lipid-Lowering therapies include an increase of fibrates, niacin, omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters and Marine-derived omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

ALERT: 4 Things You'll Feel Before a Heart Attack

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