A healthy diet and exercise are key to lowering cholesterol. Many people also need to take a statin. This includes Hispanics and Latinos. Statin medicines are especially useful for people who:

  • have low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels of 190 mg/dL or more
  • already had a heart attack or stroke
  • have diabetes
  • are over age 40 with other risks like high blood pressure or smoking

Statins work well for most people. However, everyone is different. Hispanics and Latinos respond to statins differently than whites and other groups. Sometimes, they need a higher dose to reach their cholesterol goals. It isn’t completely clear why.

Talk to your doctor about lowering your cholesterol. Your doctor can also help you adopt a healthier lifestyle.