A review of statin efficacy in reducing CVD - article from cardiology

[CDreamer]

So many posts pro statins but you may want review their efficacy on reducing CVD

medscape.com/viewarticle/99...

[CDreamer]

love this quote

He realizes that half of his research findings will be disproved in 5 years; he just doesn't know which half.

[SeanJax]

tell the truth it depends on your age. If you are above 65 , taking or not taking drugs for cholesterol and triglycerides would not change too much the end point, which is here your longevity. But for young people above 30 years old, since they still have half century to live, treating these conditions is worth to be pursed. Still it is up to them to take the medication. Nobody can convince or force them to take these drugs.

[mjames1]

When I clicked on the link, I got an article about triglycerides.

Jim

[CDreamer in reply to mjames1]

Correct

[pusillanimous]

I have been taking 5mg of statin for 15 years - long before AF was diagnosed have no side effects, keeps my cholesterol reading at 4 with all the 'goods' absolutely fine, so will carry on taking them whatever the current findings are!

[Ppiman]

That was a very good article, Thanks for posting it. I suspect he might say that statins cause no harm in the main, so the risk benefit ratio is on their side, but what we know is developing and the studies he refers to are moving in the directions he discusses, and away from statins.

A less refined diet and increased levels of exercise are likely a central aspect to living longer, along with the genes we inherit, of course. High fibre seems to be the key, from any dietary source, a low body mass and daily walking, some uphill. How many will do that?

Steve

[CDreamer in reply to Ppiman]

I was interested in Wavylines reply below. My view is that there should be more emphasis and support for changing lifestyles before suggesting statins?

[Ppiman in reply to CDreamer]

Valium and its ilk were popular well before the seventies and they are still the only true anxiolytics yet discovered and with very useful muscle relaxant properties. I gather around 30% of people (mis)taking them, i.e. long term, are at risk of developing potentially serious issues, so its reputation has been maligned somewhat wrongly in my view. The word “disaster” is hardly useful to describe their use, only their misuse in some. SSRI drugs are a similar current worry, again, a group of drugs given in hope by doctors to patients presenting with desperation in their voices and wanting help.

I wouldn’t belittle doctors by suggesting that they use “little questionnaires” to determine prescribing in the sense suggested since those questionnaires are formed from the knowledge of key international studies and decided upon by committees of experts in which best practice is the aim.

The hope of statins is, I guess, rather like the hope for the covid vaccines, less for the individual and more for the NHS, i.e. to reduce pressure on what is a tragically poorly run, funded and equipped health service.

These drugs do have their place but why they become the flavour of the moment is an issue and a fascinating study in itself.

Steve

[CDreamer in reply to Ppiman]

Thanks for your reply. I take your points and will think on and hope I would never 'belittle' doctors but I do get very frustrated with some who don't look at an individual and listen to their experience and treat the person, rather than the dysfunction.

[Ppiman in reply to CDreamer]

Actually, CD I think I misrepresented you by mixing up the other post you referred to. My apologies.

Steve

[waveylines]

Thanks CDreamer.I think the push on statins is a bit like the push on valium for anxiety back on the 70s....... a disaster in the creation. My cholesterol level is total fine.... Nothing raised at all but GP pushed hard for me to go on statins. Why? because if you have Afib it automatically recommends statins on their little questionnaire the GPs use.

They put my next door neighbour on them. He's in his 80s. Previously a fit man, he now has terrible trouble with his legs which ache & his calves hurt. Only occurred since statins.

[Auriculaire in reply to waveylines]

Maybe I am just lucky in my doctors but my neither my GP nor my cardiologist have ever mentioned statins and I have had afib for nearly 8 years. My father died of a heart attack when he was 40 . According to my cardiologist this means I need to come for my checkup regularly but no mention of statins! Just recently my cholesterol and triglycerides shot up but all the GP said he was unhappy about with my blood tests was the out of range TSH. I am beginning tp think they are statin sceptics.

Interestingly the article CDreamer linked to said that high triglycerides were associated with hypothyroidism so maybe my raised TSH has caused these and the cholesterol to shoot up.

[CDreamer in reply to Auriculaire]

I thought you might be interested in that one......

[Auriculaire in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for posting it. I get Medscape updates by email but obviously not everything they publish and I hadn't seen this article. I knew that high cholesterol went along with hypothyroidism but not that triglycerides could be raised. I have switched to taking my Levothyroxine at night so will have to see if my TSH has come down when I go for my blood tests next month. I am not happy about how erratic the level has been over the last few years since they stopped my T3.

[waveylines in reply to Auriculaire]

Yes out of range high TSH usually a big sign of Hypothyroidism is known to raise cholesterol..... Once your thyroid meds are optomised cholesterol le el should drop.Glad your GP is skeptical over statins! With mine one wise GP completely understood my refusal (& I felt he was on my side but he's retired now) anoher GP 6 months later told me I'd die if I didn't take them.... She took that ridiculous short computer questionnaire literally. I still refused, won't be blackmailed, she couldn't provide any medical evidence for her dramatic statement. Actually it's the second time she's told me I'd die if I don't do what she says.... Weird tactic!! And I'm still alive! 🤣😊

[Auriculaire in reply to waveylines]

My TSH has been very unstable over the last 2/3 years despite being on the same dose of Levothyroxine. When I was on a combo of NDT and Levo it was always stable - just practically non existant! My endo was unconcerned - said that was normal with T3 -but all changed once I got afib. At the moment my afib is not too bad but I am worried about trying the NDT again.

[waveylines in reply to Auriculaire]

I'm on NDT. Have been for years & my TSH is 0.02. So long as your thyroid hormones stay in range it's fine. It's not the cause of my Afib. So sorry you got taken off it.

[Auriculaire in reply to waveylines]

I was actually taken off Cynomel. Well that was what I was prescribed along with Levothyroxine I didn't take the Cynomel but imported NDT from America. Animal derived drugs are not allowed to be prescribed in France. So I took an NDT / Levo combo which was more or less what I was prescribed with the synthetics as far as actual mcgs of T4 and T3 were concerned. But I never told the endo that I was actually taking NDT. She was always happy with my bloods. FreeTs were always well within range and she never detected anything wrong when she listened to my heart. She was also convinced with my reasoning when I told her the afib had started after exposure to Cipro ( unlike the cardiologist who pooh poohed this).This might well have been because she had had a bad reaction to Cipro herself ( though not cardiac) and she knew what a poisonous drug it can be for some people. Also I reckon the cardiologist had made a fuss about her prescribing Cynomel . It is very unusual here to get T3 and he went on as if I was taking cocaine. He obviously did not know that an undamaged thyroid makes T3 as well as T4 and that the amount I was taking was about the average. I could re start the NDT whenever I wish as we still import it for my husband. Maybe I'll screw up my courage one day!

[Windlepoons in reply to waveylines]

I've been given "the doom" lecture by various medical people. In the end its my choice. They plant ideas in your mind which can become a self fulfilling prophecy if you are unaware of how important it is to keep a positive frame of mind. Thoughts are very powerful creators.🤗

[waveylines in reply to Windlepoons]

Thanks Windlespoons.... They can only plant ideas if you allow them! Thankfully these days we have masses of information and knowledgeable people at our fingertips to dispell claims that are not true or are distorted. Healthy skeptism.....& an inquiring mind are great things to foster. 😊😊😊

[CDreamer in reply to waveylines]

And we are all very glad of that x

[Windlepoons]

Thank you for posting this. It bears out what I have been saying since they were pushed on the public. I have friends who had terrible muscular problems after taking it, one that kept feeling very dizzy and one whose doctor told her that the statins were the probable cause of her pancreatitis.

[Chrissy7]

thanks CD, have to find out about these, have to start taking them...ablation time ...see my post I'm just writing pls, you are very helpful!