London, Nov 23 : British researchers have confirmed that statins, taken by million of heart patients every day, are safe to use after an 11-year long study.

They advised everyone at risk of a heart attack or stroke should take the potent heart pills immediately and continue them indefinitely.

The study, carried out by the Heart Protection Study Collaborative Group in Oxford, found that the cholesterol-busting pills not only get to work immediately, but their protective effect increases as treatment continues and carries on working for years.

It also confirmed they do not cause cancer or any other unexpected health problems.

The research, which followed up patients for 11 years, also showed that more prolonged statin use will produce greater reductions in the number of heart attacks and deaths.

“The persistence of benefit is remarkable and the reliable evidence of safety, with no excess risk of cancer or other major illnesses during 11 years follow-up, is very reassuring,” the Daily Express quoted Richard Bulbulia, a study author, as saying.

The research is published online in The Lancet. (ANI)