Simvastatin is a drug used in the treatment of dyslipidemia; a condition where the blood has elevated levels of fats. This can become particularly dangerous over the long-term, as this tends to manifest itself later as cardiovascular disease. As a consequence, the patient will be more likely to suffer a condition such as heart attack or stroke due to the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques in their arteries. Simvastatin is also used in the prophylaxis of these conditions, reducing the risk that these cardiovascular events occur in the first place.