Statins like Lipitor and Zocor have been used for years to lower cholesterol in people who’ve suffered from heart attacks and strokes.
But recently Dr. Roger Chou with Oregon Health & Science University found statins also work well for people with lesser cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure.
“We actually saw benefits in people with and without high cholesterol levels, with and without hypertension, men and women," Chou said. "Different age groups. Different racial and ethic groups."
"The benefits were seen across a variety of people,” he said.
The large study prompted the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to recommend low-dose statin regimens for adults without a history of heart attacks and strokes.
However, most doctors still advise people not to just rely on pills to improve their health. They say exercise and diet also play a large role.