Heart disease remains the No. 1 killer in America, taking more lives per year than cancer and accidents combined. That’s frightening, but there is cause for optimism.

For decades, statin drugs have been the gold standard in cholesterol management. Statins block the liver enzyme responsible for producing cholesterol, lower “bad” LDL levels by as much as 60% and stop plaque buildup between the artery walls.

Statins also reduce inflammation and stabilize plaques that are already formed on the artery walls. In turn, this reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. The medications help maintain normal circulation, where the blood flow to the legs may otherwise become cut off from blocked arteries. This helps diminish the risk of peripheral artery disease.

Statins are well studied and widely trusted. Lovastatin became the first approved version in 1987 and others such as simvastatin, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin quickly followed. Today, millions of people around the world take statins to manage cholesterol. Roughly one-quarter of adults over 40 in the U.S. use a cholesterol-lowering drug and most of those are statins. This drug class is a cornerstone of heart health, considered to be a life-changing medication to many.

Even though statins have quietly saved countless lives over the years, scientists are still studying new ways to treat cholesterol. lnclisiran, an RNA-based drug, works by blocking a protein that normally raises LDL levels. The big advantage? It’s given as an injection only twice a year. A single dose of inclisiran can keep LDL about 50% lower for six months. Instead of daily pills, people with high cholesterol would just need two shots a year to get steady cholesterol control. But until newer, more convenient drugs are widely available, statins remain an effective choice and a familiar standby for many people.

Learning about statins—or other treatment options to lower cholesterol—and talking openly with your doctor about your health can be the difference between life and death. When we combine trusted treatments and the power of knowledge, we move closer to a future where fewer families lose someone to heart disease.