Statins should be available over the counter

Welcome to The Workup, a new First Opinion column from Vishal Khetpal.

There’s a saying in medicine: Statins should be in the water. While this may be hyperbolic, as a cardiologist, I don’t think it’s too far from the truth. Despite being around for a generation, statins — a specific class of drugs used to lower cholesterol levels — remain among our strongest tools for reducing a person’s risk for experiencing a life-altering heart attack and stroke. Many Americans with risk factors for heart disease should be taking them.

Yet far too few actually do. Although the reasons for this are undoubtedly complex, I think the time has come to take a different, more simplified approach. Statins are safe, effective, and cheap. They should be available over the counter.