Statins don’t remove existing gunk in arteries, but they stop more gunk from building up and make existing gunk less likely to break open.

Statins reduce intraplaque inflammation, thereby decreasing the likelihood of atherosclerotic plaque rupture and subsequent thrombotic events.

Stronger statins seem to calm artery inflammation better than weaker ones, based on scans that show how much sugar inflamed cells are using.

Even without niacin, statins alone can shrink plaque in the neck arteries of older adults with heart disease, as long as their bad cholesterol is kept low.

Taking statin pills for over a year can shrink the fatty, dangerous core inside artery plaques in the neck, making them less likely to rupture and cause a stroke.

Taking statins can lower your bad cholesterol enough to cut your chance of needing heart surgery or stents by almost half—even if you're not at high risk for heart disease right now.