This decreases the amount of cholesterol in the liver cells, which causes them to take up LDL cholesterol from the blood. Simvastatin decreases the production of LDL cholesterol by blocking the action of the enzyme in the liver (called HMG-CoA reductase) that is responsible for its production. LDL is deposited in the arteries and increases the risk of heart disease by clogging and narrowing the arteries ( atherosclerosis), while HDL actually protects the arteries against this. Simvastatin works by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver.įor the sake of simplicity, there are two sorts of cholesterol a 'bad' sort called low density lipoprotein (LDL) and a 'good' sort called high density lipoprotein (HDL).

Your pharmacist can help you assess whether this medicine might be of benefit to you. South Asian ethnic origin (ie, from the Indian subcontinent that includes India, Bangladesh, Pakistan or Sri Lanka).overweight (body mass index higher than 25kg/m² or waist measurement larger than 40 inches in men or 35 inches in women).currently a smoker or have been in the last five years.family history of coronary heart disease in a parent, brother or sister.Men aged 55 years and over fall into this category, as do men aged 45 to 55 years and women aged 55 years and over who have one or more of the following risk factors: Moderate risk is defined as people who have a 10 to 15 per cent chance of having a heart attack in the next 10 years. Reducing the risk of a heart attack in people at moderate risk of coronary heart disease.

Heart pro shot