Statins are medicines that lower LDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Whether they are right for you depends on your total cardiovascular risk, which doctors estimate using your age, blood pressure, smoking status, diabetes, family history and cholesterol together, often via a risk calculator.
People who have already had a heart attack or stroke, have diabetes, or have a high estimated risk usually benefit most. For lower-risk people, lifestyle changes may be tried first. Some people have very high cholesterol due to an inherited condition (familial hypercholesterolaemia) and need treatment regardless of other factors.
This is a personalised decision. Discuss the benefits, your risk level and any concerns with your doctor or pharmacist rather than deciding for or against statins based on the cholesterol number alone. Do not stop a prescribed statin without medical advice.