There is a myriad of cholesterol lowering drugs such as Lipitor, Crestor, and Zocor also called statin drugs that have been proven to effectively reduce the overall blood cholesterol levels, including the bad LDL cholesterol. However, before using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), there was no way to fully detect the process of clearing plaque build up from artery walls. When MRI stepped in researches at Johns Hopkins could significantly sooner then before, observe the process and the benefits of statin drugs in lowering cholesterol.

As part of the research, MRI was used to early detect the effects of a statin drug named Zocor, in removing cholesterol build up in patients with severe atherosclerosis. The results could be seen using an antenna inserted through the patients nose all the way down to his esophagus combined with rings which were placed around the patient’s chest.

Although the MRI was limited in showing results up to 2 years from the beginning of therapy, it was in fact able to detect the removal of plaque in clogged arteries as soon as six months from the time the patient had started taking these lowering cholesterol drugs.

Another benefit related to the use of MRI scan is its ability to show how these statin drugs really work in lowering cholesterol in addition to the stages of recovery.

MRI scans have proven time and time again that the use of stain drugs resulted in the thinning of plaque build up in artery walls in addition to lowering the overall blood cholesterol level, in as little as six months from the beginning of therapy.

Despite the quickness of the process, it is hoped that in the near future MRI will be able to detect the early stages of atherosclerosis much sooner so action to lower cholesterol could be taken such as dietary and lifestyle changes so the heart diseases and other symptoms related to high cholesterol could be prevented.

Although statin drugs have been proven to be highly effective in lowering cholesterol, they come with a variety of side effects, some even permanent. Like always, choosing the natural path to lower cholesterol through well balanced low cholesterol diet and lifestyle changes are the most effective and safe choice.