Over the years, opinions regarding the effectiveness of statin drugs on heart disease have varied. In this video, Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, author of Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum’s Heart Book: Every Woman’s Guide to a Heart Healthy Life and Bottom Line’s “At the Heart of It All” blog, discusses the current thinking on the use of statin drugs to treat heart disease. Most cardiologists still view statins as lifesaving drugs. In 2013, professional guidelines regarding statins were revised, resulting in the recommendation that 11 million people in the US should be taking statins. While there is some controversy about the increase in the number of people who should be on these medications, Dr. Steinbaum explains that over time, the use of statins in people with cardiac health risk factors leads to a decrease in the risk for cardiovascular death. Ultimately, each patient should be evaluated individually, and if heart disease risk factors are high, then statins are beneficial.

Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum is a cardiologist, author and spokesperson for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Campaign. She has devoted her career to treating heart disease through early detection, education and prevention. For more great tips from Dr. Steinbaum, check out her other videos and Bottom Line blog, At The Heart Of It All.

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