Statin Guidance

This decision aid is intended to help you to make up your mind whether or not to take a statin to help reduce your risk of having a heart attack or developing angina (together called coronary heart disease or CHD), or of having a stroke

If you have been signposted to this page then your health professional will have calculated your cardiovascular risk using your cholesterol levels & other clinical information. Visit QRisk.org on parameters we use 

  • Total cholesterol - the overall amount of cholesterol in your blood, including both "good" and "bad" - Healthy level 5 or below 
  • Good cholesterol (called HDL) - this makes you less likely to have heart problems or a stroke - Healthy level 1 or above 
  • Bad cholesterol (non-HDL) i.e total cholesterol minus HDL - this makes you more likely to have heart problems or a stroke - Healthy level 4 or below 

For more info on types of cholesterol visit bhf.org

Have a look at the relevant chart to you & the benefits of a statin (e.g. atorvastatin)

For lifestyle changes to help lower your cholesterol & cardiovascular risk visit Heart UK healthy living 

Heart UK cholesterol helpline 0345 450 5988 (Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm) or email ask@heartuk.org.uk

Important: Statin Guide

Go to the NICE guidelines Decision Aid for 'Should I take a statin'

Page last reviewed: 07 July 2025
Page created: 10 December 2019