Drug Mechanism: How

Crestor contains the active ingredient rosuvastatin calcium, which is a type of medicine called a statin. Crestor works by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver. For the sake of simplicity, there are two sorts of cholesterol; a \\\'bad\\\' sort called low density lipoprotein (LDL) and a \\\'good\\\' sort called high density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL is deposited in the arteries and increases the risk of heart disease by clogging and narrowing the arteries, while HDL actually protects the arteries against this. Crestor decreases the production of LDL cholesterol by blocking the action of the enzyme in the liver (called HMG-CoA reductase) that is responsible for its production. This decreases the amount of cholesterol in the liver cells, which causes them to take up LDL cholesterol from the blood. The decreased cholesterol production and increased removal of LDL cholesterol from the blood ultimately results in lowered blood cholesterol levels. As the body produces most cholesterol at night, statins are generally more effective if taken at night. Crestor also causes a small decrease in the production of other \\\'bad fats\\\' in the blood called triglycerides, and a small increase in the level of HDL cholesterol. This results in lowered levels of \\\'bad fats\\\' and raised levels of \\\'good fats\\\'.

Crestor also pays an important role in the prevention of heart disease. Crestor reduces the risk of excess cholesterol being deposited in the major blood vessels of the heart. Any blockage in the blood vessels limits the amount of blood and therefore oxygen being carried to the heart muscle. In severe cases this can result in a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Crestor also reduces the risk of stroke by decreasing the risk of excess cholesterol being deposited in the blood vessels leading to the brain. These fat deposits can cause blockage and therefore limit blood and oxygen supply to certain parts of the brain. Crestor is used to reduce the blood levels of cholesterol and other fats when these cannot be lowered by diet and exercise alone. This helps to reduce the risk of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and the problems described above that this can cause. It is important to continue to follow a cholesterol-lowering diet and exercise regime while taking Crestor.