Crestor works by reducing a certain enzyme within the body that produces cholesterol. It belongs to a class of medications called statins.
Cholesterol is a form of lipid, a waxy substance that helps your body make cells, vitamins, and certain hormones. It is not inherently bad. Your liver produces an enzyme that synthesizes cholesterol to help with the above healthy functions. Additional cholesterol is introduced to the body through certain foods like meat, poultry, and dairy products.
There are two types of cholesterol: high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) and low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). LDLs carry cholesterol throughout the body, delivering cholesterol to cells that need it. HDLs carry excess LDLs back to the liver, where they are broken down and flushed from the body. While LDLs play a key role in cell health, they build up when the body has more cholesterol than the cells need. This buildup turns into plaque in the arteries (blood vessels). As plaque covers the artery walls, the blood vessels become narrow. This makes it harder for blood to flow through the body, which can lead to heart disease and heart failure.
Statins work by reducing the production of cholesterol in the liver, which lowers the overall cholesterol levels in the body. Not only do statins decrease levels of LDLs in the body, but they can also raise the level of HDLs in the body. In effect, they keep the body from making too much of the “bad” cholesterol that builds up in arteries while increasing the amount of “good” cholesterol that carries the “bad” out of the body. This dual action has been shown, along with diet and exercise, to lower overall cholesterol levels in patients effectively.