Hello Diane,
"The FDA now says that Crestor should be prescribed for prevention's sake in men ages 50 and up and women 60 and older with normal "bad" cholesterol levels only if they have a CRP of 2 mg/L or higher as well as at least one characteristic that puts them at risk for cardiovascular disease. Those risk factors include a smoking habit, a family history of early heart disease, high blood pressure, and low levels of HDL, or "good," cholesterol (which the American Heart Association says for men is anything below 40 mg/dL). "
reference.
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/on-men/2010/3/1/statins-for-prevention-taking-a-cholesterol-lowering-drug-when-cholesterol-is-normal.html
I thought that both a recent study and the Statin Effects Study showed that there was no benefit to women of any age ?
Hi,
Ideally total cholesterol levels should be maintained below 200, but in patient’s with strong family history or risk factors like smoking, alcohol, sedentary life style habits it is advised to maintained below 160. As, mentioned in your post your family history suggests of strong risk factor and it would be better to start satin now itself with diet modifications for preventing life threatening situations. Best.