Crestor Information
Heart Disease is the biggest killer in Europe yet most people don't even know if they are suffering from high cholesterol. Crestor lowers cholesterol and can save lives.
Listed below are common questions and answers designed to provide first time guidance regarding Crestor. If there is a question you would like to put to our doctor that is not covered below, please feel free to email consultations@prima-med.com.
Here are the important things you need to know before you choose the cholesterol medication Crestor
What is Crestor?
Crestor (rosuvastatin) is a drug that lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver. It is a member of a class of drugs, which perform the same function, known as statins. Crestor can prevent the complications of atherosclerosis (angina, heart attacks, stroke and death).
How does Crestor work?
Crestor works by blocking an enzyme in the liver, which in turn limits cholesterol production and lowers the amount of total cholesterol that ends up in the bloodstream. Crestor can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol up to 52%. It can also increase the amount of HDL(good) cholesterol in the blood by up to 14%.
Does Crestor have any side effects?
As with all prescription medication, Crestor may cause side effects in some people. The most common include:
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Abdominal pain
- Weakness
- Nausea
If you develop any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness at any time during treatment (especially if you also have a fever or feel ill), call your doctor right away, as these symptoms could be a sign of a rare but serious side effect.
Who Should Take Crestor?
Most individuals are placed on statins because of high levels of cholesterol. However, high levels of cholesterol are not always necessary for atherosclerosis to occur. Other risk factors include family history, diabetes, smoking and obesity. Crestor is the only statin which can treat individuals who have or are at risk for atherosclerosis, but do not have high levels of cholesterol.
How do I know if I have high cholesterol?
You won't know if you have high cholesterol, because you won't have any symptoms. Most people find out they have high cholesterol when they have a blood test as part of a medical check-up. Alternatively, it may be identified after other health problems, such as heart disease, have been diagnosed.
Who should have a cholesterol test?
Anyone who has any cardiovascular disease, such as coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease (disease in the blood vessels that supply the limbs) or stroke, should have their cholesterol measured by a doctor.
Anyone, even children, with a family history of familial hypercholesterolaemia should have their cholesterol measured.
Anyone aged 35 or over should consider having their cholesterol measured if they have one or more of the following risk factors for CVD: family history of early heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or if they smoke.
