Having high cholesterol, and more importantly having a high bad cholesterol or LDL puts you at increased risk of coronary artery disease and having a heart attack. The mainstay of medical therapy has been "statins" such as Lipitor, Crestor, and Zocor. Some people do not tolerate these medications due to side effects such as muscle ache. Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, discusses ways to lower cholesterol without a statin.