How did you decide whether to start a statin in your 50s?

[Anthony80]

My primary care doctor recently recommended starting a statin due to my elevated LDL cholesterol and family history of heart disease. I'm in my early fifties and otherwise healthy with an active lifestyle, so I'm hesitant about beginning a lifelong medication. For others who have faced this decision, how did you weigh the potential benefits of cardiovascular risk reduction against concerns about side effects like muscle pain or cognitive effects? What questions did you ask your doctor, and did you pursue any additional testing, like a coronary calcium scan, to help inform your choice? I'm also curious about experiences with lifestyle modifications alone versus adding medication.