Q: My husband is supposed to be taking cholesterol-lowering drugs but he’s not complying. What can I tell him to convince him to take the drugs?
Answer from Dr. Andrew Carter, director of interventional cardiology research for Providence Heart and Vascular Institute: Cholesterol-lowering drugs are proven to reduce repeat heart attacks, death from heart attacks, and stroke. It’s very important for your husband to take the drugs he’s been prescribed.
I hear from patients fairly often that it’s difficult for them to understand why they should be taking their drugs, since they don’t actually make them feel better. And I understand that. But cholesterol-lowering drugs are the most effective treatment we have for lowering heart disease risk.
Patients who develop blockages in their arteries that require a stent procedure often assume that they can simply continue having stents if they develop another blockage. They view it almost as having the oil changed on their car. But the next time they develop a serious blockage, a stent may not be an option; surgery may be required, and surgery is linked to higher risk for complications and death. Eventually, we may find we simply can’t do anything.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs are very effective, and offer a much better long-term prognosis than stents or surgery. Without the drugs, these more aggressive therapies will eventually become necessary – and there’s just no reason to take that risk.
