Yes, statins protect hearts. But critics question their expanding use

For people who haven’t had a heart problem, the benefit-to-risk balance changes

illustration of man with umbrella under raining statins

THE STATIN UMBRELLA  After decades of study, a big question remains about the safety of statins: What are the risks for people who have a chance of benefit but haven’t yet had a heart attack or stroke?  

JAMES PROVOST

Cholesterol is so important to life that practically every human cell makes it.