I’ve had permanent AF for three years, now 78 and am on Apixaban and low dose bisoprolol as well as thyroxine and pramipexole for RLS . After recent blood tests Surgery decided I should be on Statins. Atorvastatin now perscibed but not started. Seems to be a safety net as Cholesterol is within normal limits . I talked to practice pharmacologist on phone who said adding this statin was ‘belt and braces’ to prevent heart attack or stroke. Not so sure I want to mess with more drugs, any experiences either way from anyone else ? Wish you all the best.
Starting Statins.: I’ve had permanent... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Starting Statins.
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Axex
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It’s difficult to answer Axex because we are not medically trained so cannot interfere with advice given by GP’s. There seems to be a tendency for some GP’s to suggest taking statins when blood tests indicate they might not be necessary. Much the same happened to me some years ago. My wife does have a cholesterol problem which runs through her family, so I was very much aware of some of the side effects associated with statins.
When I discussed it with my GP, I asked if he would recommend them to his father if his blood tests were the same as mine. Suffice it to say I’m not taking statins and I’m a fervent believer in following your doctor’s advice.
Axex in reply to
Thanks Flapjack. I’m taking time to review and research before taking the plunge and your story was really helpful. I don’t take my blood pressure anymore ,too stressful and time consuming and my cholesterol is within normal limits. I think it’s my age and my permanent AF that’s pushed the GP surgery to prescribe this statin. I haven’t been able to talk to a GP or heart dept., but the clinical pharmacologist is quite helpful and it’s seems that statins is the next ‘sensible’ step!! All the best Ax
Why is it the "next sensible step" is the question you should be asking of all the medics you come across. Your cholesterol levels are within normal levels. Why would you take a medication for it? High cholesterol levels can be a sign of too low thyroid levels.
What were your most recent thyroid blood test results? TSH is not enough on it's own. Before starting on a statin I would be asking for a full thyroid panel to be run. TSH, FT4 and FT3. Get the blood drawn first thing in the morning, before 9am preferably and don't take your levothyroxine for the day until after the test. The gap between test and last dose should be 24hrs. If it's not because you take your meds before bed perhaps, you must adjust the dose the day before ready for the test.
Don't drink or eat anything before the test other than a full glass of water to make sure your blood will come down. Dehydration is terrible for blood draws.
You are looking for a TSH around 1 or below and a FT4 and FT3 at least over 50% through the range. If your results are not in those ball-park areas, then I would consider a dose increase before I would take a statin. But of course that is just my personal thoughts on the combination problem that you and I both have going on.
Good point! My cholesterol has gone down since my thyroid has stabilised. My GP STILL waved the statins card. I asked why - "your risk factor has gone up because you're a year older she said." "That's going to happen next year too then was my response. " Each year I'm getting closer to the end of my life - why is that a bad thing?
Cookie24 in reply to
Does your wife still take statins even with side effects? My cholesterol is also high like my Mom's and we are both thin women.
in reply to Cookie24
hi Cookie, yes she does, but it’s a low dose of Rosuvastatin which does not seem to create side effects. She has little choice, it’s a hereditary problem which affects her family……
MarthaJ in reply to
May be some confusion her as Esomeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor, not a statin?
in reply to MarthaJ
You are absolutely right! 😳 She takes Rosuvastatin. You can tell I’m not medically trained!
My saving grace is she has acid reflux too!
MarthaJ in reply to
🙂 Hope she tolerates that ok.
I'm not on statins myself - GP has tried to persuade me but I am not keen. In the end it has to be a personal decision, you know your own body best and have to do the research and weigh up the pros and cons.
in reply to MarthaJ
Thank yes, it took her a while to establish a treatment regime that worked but family history suggests that she is doing the right the thing 🤞
Absolutely no problems with statins. NO difference to heart rhythm. Atorvastatin didn't suit me- stomach issues but simvastatin is fine. Try watching this video by the BHF. youtube.com/watch?v=om7PnTd...
Thanks Qualipop, there is a lot info out there and that video is a useful ‘sit back and listen and learn’.I had no idea how many people used Statins, but a one time it seemed like it was a fashion. All the best Ax
Hi Axex,
My medication consumption started in 2007 ( 3 years before AF mugged me at the age of 63 ). Back in those heady days ... these were the days when healthcare advice suggested that BP of around 140/80 was acceptable ... at a later date ( which I can't remember ) it was revised to 120/80.
In 2007 my BP was probably around 145/90 ish and my new GP at the time put me on Ramipril 10mg. It didn't do a great deal but BP did drop a tad down to around 135/60 ish. Then he prescribed 40mg of Simvastatin. I'm still on the same dose Ramipril. I was on the same dose Simvastatin until a month ago when my Surgery Pharmacist asked me if I would mind changing to Avorvastatin 40mg, I didn't and so changed with no side effects. At my last lot of annual blood tests my Cholesterol was in the high end of the normal range. My resting BP at present during the day varies between 124/71 and 138/82. All depends on the time of day.
Thanks you BenHall1 .sounds like you’ve worked out what keeps you stable and that Avorastatin is a good preventative med . I’m now in permanent AF after 12 year PAF and apart from breathlessness trying to ignore it. I don’t take my BP anymore it just worried me so I just deep breathe and watch my heart rate.My cholesterol is normal but age and permanent AF ( 3 yrs in) are deciding factors here I think. Suspect I’ll try toe in the water.Best wishes Ax
Have you read this post re cholesterol:
healthunlocked.com/afassoci...
Hi Jeanjeannie, Thank you .I watched Sangay Gupta video…..it’s excellent. Learning a lot today and shan’t forget that glove. Still not decided on statins as my Cholesterol is within normal limits and not too keen on more meds however statins now arrived in the postbox with Xmas cards ! Ax ( maybe start in the new year)
jeanjennie - it’s not available now
Oh no. That's sad - I wonder why it's been removed? We've always watched his talks that have been put on this forum. I didn't put this one on but I have put others on in the past.
This makes me very sad and wondering why I'm on this forum anymore.
Jean
Hi jeanjeannie. I watched the video this morning, and I went back to watch it again but found it had vanished !Hope it wasn’t something I did ? It may be on Utube…..Ax
Pls don't tell me Admin is censoring statin information as well as C-jab info or perhaps I misunderstood your post.
What is going on with the moderation of this forum? Why on earth would anyone consider it necessary to remove a helpful and informative link provided by a long-standing, trusted contributor? And most disturbing of all, to do so without the simple courtesy of an explanation!
You have absolutely no idea what the issue is with the video. This is a software platform. Such things are inherently unstable. Stop assuming that every slight issue is a slight against you. Come back tomorrow and it will probably be there again.
Talk about Chinese Whispers!
You have obviously missed all of the recent threads expressing genuine concerns about the unexplained removal of posts by the moderators then. And as I wasn't the contributor who appears to have been censored on this occasion, I haven't for one second considered it a slight against me.
As someone who clearly has more technical nous than me, you could easily have pointed out the possibility of a software glitch without the aggression and condescension.
You see when I, in my naivety, click on a link and see 'This post has been removed', I tend to assume the post has been removed.
This is a current 'push' from the government, apparently, My GP told me that they were under pressure to prescribe statins even - as in your case, and mine - when the cholesterol levels are within the 'normal' range. My GP told me there is 'no such thing as 'good' cholesterol'. 😑
There does seem to be no doubt that statins can protect the heart to some degree, but it's also the case that the side effects can be problematic. It is a drug that requires the pros and cons of the individual and the medication to be considered. What are the risks and downsides and are they outweighed by the potential benefit to this particular patient.
That's my take on it anyway, but I'm no expert!
Neither is your GP by the sound of it (an expert). That was a rubbish comment to make to you. Our brains contain around 20% of the total cholesterol in the body. That's kind of necessary for our cognitive health. Why would he consider the risk of impinging on the brain worth it in someone with normal cholesterol levels. Especially in a woman, who post menopause is already dealing with the loss of oestrogen to the brain.
This government has been a disaster for all sorts of reasons. If they are "pushing" something medical I'd run the other way in a heart beat. I would not base my health on a word they say. Look how many they killed during their lackadaisical Covid management.
Absolutely. Cholesterol is essential for life. It is present in the make up every every cell wall in our body. Our bodies make vitD when exposed to sunshine from the cholesterol in our skin. You are spot on about the link with thyroid hormone levels. My cholesterol levels go up and down with my TSH. I think there is something very odd about this push given that several meta analyses of statin trials have shown extremely mdest benefits. With older people taking several medicines already there seems no perception whatsoever of the dangers of polypharmacy.
Well, quite. Hence why I politely but emphatically declined.
This GP has been pushing against the statin narrative for years — and he has even written a book about it! His blog is well worth a read...
I do agree Fancypants but it wasn't just the posters GP as I've had a similar push from my GP too twice over with no real proper explanation or discussion or pros cons for my health (not the population study which is what I think this is based on). I've already been robbed of my estrogen due to being on an estrogen blocking tablet for 7yrs which theyve now 'discovered' leads to impingement of higher executive brain thinking, links to Altzeimers and the list grows of other consequences that I won't bore you with. I can't retrieve my now very very low estrogen levels that's permenant as are the effects. So why on earth would anyone want to prescribe a drug that could further impinge on the brain function when my cholesterol is normal I really don't know!! Well I do know.... It's because the questionaire the GP fills in does not take into full account the individuals medical profile. It's designed to more or less ensure you end up on a statin if you have any form of heart disease. I'm not even in Afib anymore due to an op and my stroke risk is therfore reduced plus had a LAA flap closure!!I any case am I right in thinking that statins were trialled on the male population not females?
I call it being treated by a generic computer programme not a proper medical assessment of my individual needs!! Shocking!
I completely agree with you. And yes, almost all medications are only tested on males. And statins were one of them I think. I've read that somewhere.
By far and away the best for lowering LDL and increasing HDL is vitamin B3 niacin the version that gives you a flush which is not harmful. The non flush nicotinomide doesn’t have any affect on cholesterol levels. A recent survey -zerohedge.com/medical/long-... - has found that long term use of statins increases the risk of cardiac problems. It stops cholesterol production- we need it! - and eliminated any K2 which triggers the protein created via cholesterol to move calcium from the blood ie arteries to the bones/ teeth.
The medical profession is failing in its duty to give patients all the salient facts by prescribing statins “ because everyone else does”
waveylines in reply to
Vitamin Bs work together for best effect so shouldn't be taken in isolation.......
in reply to waveylines
Quite so but multi B tabs almost certainly wont contain the flushng variety of B3 nor will the dose be high enough. Start with 100mgs 3 times a day after eating and build that up til the flush kicks in. ie day 200mgs then 300 etc etc You are aiming for 3000mgs in total daily as a minimum.
waveylines in reply to
mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...
I don't like the sound of some of the side effects.... especially fast heart rate...
We don't need additional help with the high heart rate if we have AF. We can manage that all on our own!
Error
It might be worth reading The Great Cholesterol Myth by Bowden and Sinatra, and other authors on the subject, eg Dr Malcolm Kendrick. Take time to make the right decision for you.
I have been taking 80 mgs of Atorvastatin for a couple of years with no apparent problems.
Each of us is different, though.
Hi
80mgs Avorastatin - heck.
Research says that 40mgs will do the same of reducing as 80mgs.
What is your Cholesterol level after subtracting good cholesterol?
cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)
I am told it is to help prevent the plaque build up in one artery from coming loose and blocking it. I have no idea how effective it is.
Hi
After stroke - Embolc type the Endocrinologist wanted me on statins. I said finally will accept 10mg.
4 days later when my carotid arteris were checked for plaque - all clear. Nothing in them but that's when the girl saw the shadow as she checked my thyroid.
So it was the irregular heart beat that caused the rogue clot (not plague) which caused the stroke. The irregular heart beat was caused by hyperthyroidism. But ths can hapen in both hyper and hypo thyroidism. Mine was caused by cancer.
But if your Dr reduced your 80mgs to 40mgs research says it will have the same effect.
Avorastatin interferes with thyroid med thyroxin which is the synthetic hormone replacement to allow ones functioning proceeses. The thyroid does heaps - read all about it.
It seems you don't kow your cholesterol levels good and bad.
When research says 40mg will 1/2 your bad cholesterol level! What does 80mgs - do the same.
Over many years and before the Stroke and heart problems my noes read, refused statins, refused flu injections.
I was called up for my 6th Covid with Omicron strain cover so I had it yesterday. No trouble. Meanwhile a friend that I called into on Sunday says that he has a very sore throat. I suggested that he have a rat test for cOVID.
I'm fine but Covid is spread when folks display sympyoms.
Fingers crossed but I'm at day 3 after the visit. Just a cold???
cheri JOY
I don't think it prevents existing plaque from coming loose but they say it prevents plaque build up.... Hence taking it years ahead. Just so many other consequences that don't convince me outweighs the alleged benifits in my case.... Lol...
At 79, I don't think I have time to build up too much more plaque!
I think the claim that statins prevent plaque from coming loose is akin to:
"The Covid vaccine won't prevent Covid, but might lessen the severity of it."
Most of my family and friends who took every booster shot got Covid several times over the past 2 years. I had it once for a very mild case, with no boosters after two shots 3 years ago. A couple of my "boosted" friends suffered much more with their Covid than I. Curious!
Doctors are required to support the vaccines and trust the manufacturers claims and testing. Our real-life experiences should not be ignored!
I am reducing my dose of metoprolol as a self study. I have had to play doctor regarding my Afib and heart medications a lot. I am doing a better job than my EP was.
Fibnum
Sounds like over prescribing to me. I would need to know exactly what the statin does and why necessary in my particular circumstances. Important to do more research.
Not against them, my wife had a mini stroke and they put her on them. She doesn't ask questions and just takes it. 20 yrs ago they measured my cholesterol which has always been & remains around 7 and tried to push statins onto me, which I declined.
Hi
7 is that after you have minused the 'good cholesterol'? Foods like Avocado, Salmon, Sardines etc are good cholesterol.
We need cholesterol for the processes and healthy nervous system.
We can decline to take prescriptions that Drs want to throw at us.
Manage our own health means that we are responsible with what happens. Good or Bad.
cheri Joy. 74. (NZ)
Hi
I am on thyroxin - Synthroid. Ca thyroidectomy and 12 right lymphs. (2 were affected as well as the thyroid lobes).
Statins interfere with thyroxine. I have 10mg now and then.
Apparently up to Avorastatin 20mg is OK.
If your Cholesterol is normal ??? My Cardiologist advises me that 3 is OK.
We all need Cholesterol so I wouldn't get below 3. Normal is up to 4.2 if I remember. But to arrive at your level you have the total of BAD CHOLESTEROL and minus GOOD CHOLESTEROL (like Avocados, salmon, sardines etc) to get the actual total.
You are taking an anti-co.agulant, GREAT. That is the most important anti Stroke, Heart Attack.
With all different meds there are side Effects and risks and it is our personal decisions.
Leaving you hypothyroid is a risk of further heart condition so in my case is to keep TSH 1.5 - 2.5. (I am at the top of thyroxin or sometimes a little over normal but I'm working on to keep the TSH controlled.)
I take CCB Diltiazem 120mg AM, the only med which keeps my Day H/R controlled under 100. The first year 88-96 H/R Day but I've lost 7kg and eat Sour Dough bread and drink A2 milk. Night H/R avge regardless of meds is 47.
I take 2.5mg Bisoprolol PM which keeps my BP controlled.
Heart Condition
1. Severely Dilated Left Atrium.
2. RVentricle Regurgitation.
3. Systollic normal
4. Pressure normal.
5. Soft Systollic Heart Murmur.
That's me. Controlled AF and heart structure abnormal so rely on meds. No cardioversion, ablations, or an anti-arrhymic meds although I read that Diltiazem is an anti-arrhymic med.
Someone in the chain of prescriptions is rewarded by putting patients on statins. Please read the risks, benefits, and who monetary is rewarded by you taking Statins.
All the best.
I had a stroke in 2019 with Rapid and persistent AF. 4 days in hospital a Carotid Arteries scan showed a shadow on my Thyroid which when biopsy showed papillary cancer. All removed and at low risk I declined RAI and TSH Suppression. 3 yearly Neck Scans show 'all clear'.
cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)
I was like you (but a little younger at 68) and already on enough medication for heart failure (but more or less back to normal). Very reluctant to add a statin when my cholesterol levels were OK until a routine CT scan showed some mild plaque deposits. I’m quite annoyed by the situation but have to accept that it is in my interests to start. I started on atorvastatin. But had to stop after a month due to adverse blood results. I’ve just restarted on a lower dose.
Best wishes with whatever you decide.
Ahhhhh or should I say arggggh the statin question. Was your GPs recommendation based on a very basic questionnaire? I only ask because mine was. If so if you are of a certain age, have heart disease (and Afib is classified as such) then you automatically qualify for a statin. So my GPs judgement was based on a computer programme of about three questions. I was shocked. My GP wasn't able to explain any further. I was not impressed as my cholesterol is fine.The argument is it extends life (by a few days) and I was told I'd die in about 20yrs if I didn't take them. Given my current age it wasn't a very convincing argument.
I too have hypothyroidism and was much more interested in ensuring that continues to be optimal as it has a great influence on cholesterol levels.
So I've currently declined.
I'm not advising you either way except to quizz your GP further on what basis this is being recommended to you. Have a good read about it all. There is a massive push to get patients on statins in the UK at the moment.
I’m a 79 year old woman with paroxysmal AF which is controlled with Flecainide -100mg taken twice daily, so don’t take anticoagulants any more, never been overweight. Whenever they find my cholesterol is slightly up, I take red yeast rice capsules until the next test shows it’s fine. I use it as I’ve heard so many have problems with statins but they might be ok for you if you really need them though don’t seem advisable if you don’t!!
I feel that when a doctor prescribes a treatment, it's based on their knowledge of your own health and illness background. The general evidence for statins for the prevention cardiovascular morbidity, which is the number one cause of long-term illness as we get older, is considered sound. Unfortunately, statins have fallen into the "Big Pharma" mindset that is now prevalent on social media, confusing and confounding as it always is.
Steve
I am not a campaigner but as I take a number of meds I watch out for interactions and side effects so I was very interested to read the following about statin use.
europeanscientist.com/en/fe...
I am not on or intend to take statins!!
Thanks Quanglewangle re the Article in American scientist , found it and read it . Now digesting it ! There is so much info there and I‘m thinking hard about the way to go . Slightly surprised to see the pills already on my doormat , I‘d thought I had the Xmas period to think it over ! Anyway I‘ve now got a lot more to go on and hope I can make and informed choice .Happy Xmas & 2024 Ax
Thank you everyone who replied to my recent question about Statins. The number of replies meant I didn’t say thanks to you all. The AF HealthUnlocked is an really useful forum ,it informs and reassures ,So have a happy Xmas and goodwill to all Thankyou Axex
I have exactly the same dilemma though I DO take 10 mg of Simvastatin daily. The hospital suggested I should reduce my cholesterol level (even though it was 'normal') subsequent to a stroke (ischaemic one caused by AF). I am also in permanent AF.
The argument is that my LDL should be not just low but 'super low'. My GP thus put me on the statin a year ago and although it reduced the cholesterol even lower, he said it was 'not ideal' so increased my dose to 20 mg a day.
I find the increased dose DOES have an impact on my general health and produces side effects which I really could do without, so I have reverted to the old dose. (which is still not without effects!)
The average for an 'ideal' LDL reading for a male with a weak or moderate risk is below 4.9 mmol/L to 3.4 mmol/L (units used vary between countries), but for those with arterial disease and any general cardiac problems it should be lower, below 1.8 mmol/L.
My level has been around 2,7 mmol/L but my argument is that as my stroke was almost certainly not the result of arterial problems, but just heart rhythm, or AF, so I don't think the LDL level is as significant as the tables suggest.
Of course, the doctors' view would be that these are the standard measures and they can never be certain of the immediate cause of any stroke or other similar problem. It is therefore a 'belt and braces' approach and can do no harm.
My decision, wise or foolish, is that I will continue to take the basic lower dose statin as I do not want to further undermine my quality of life by taking a higher dose that makes me ill.
I can't seem to have a sensible discussion on this with my GP who takes the line that I should simply follow the guidelines set out by the health system.
I think you have the same decision to make; but of course I have no guarantee that my decision is the right one.
By the way, quite a few people find Astorvastatin worse than Simavastatin in effects so that is another option you may wish to consider if you decide to take the statin at all.
hi there - I’ve been on Atorvastatin for just under a year now and I feel fine with it, when I saw the cardiologist in January he said whilst I had managed to reduce my cholesterol level with diet it only ever reduces it by 10% but satins will reduce it further so why wouldn’t you if it helps to prevent stroke etc. so I followed his advice - I did get a bit of weight gain but managed that myself - good luck with whatever you decide
Hi, my GP keeps pushing statins at me. Because I had a mild stroke, they say my bad cholesterol should be below 2.5, mine's 2.9 down from 3.6 last year and under 4.0 recommended by NHS. I won't take them cos of potential side effects and take benecol everyday, recommended as an alternative by another GP, and I eat less meat. The impression I have from this site and talking to people of our age is that its an easy fix for GPs, perhaps they get a bonus for the more people they can get to take them.
I have paroxysmal AF and am currently in remission. I had a good chat with the cardiologist at my final appointment about this, since my GP has waved the statins card at me several times. It may help you, and others, to know what he said.
We spoke about the QRisk factor (think this is the correct name) and what it based on. He said that - in the case of those with paroxysmal AF the test of isn't reliable - ecause we don't have the condition all the time. He said that if you have persistent AF it would be more reliable as a test of risk factor. But other comorbidities should also be taken into account. So I'm not sure what those might be in your case. He also said that the risk.factor automatically increases with age. So you could be in better health than you were say 2 years ago, and the risk factor goes up. (That last bit is my opinion btw).
See what others say about whatstatins are for. I honestly think it's a judgement call. Each year we are inevitably getting closer to the end of our life. Can we treat people for getting older?
Things is wheres the research evidence for age being the reason for taking them? I read that the extension of life was a mere few days.... Are the consequences of taking them worth that? For some people I'm sure its of great benifit.... But we seem to be edging towards an ageism thing & that's a different matter. It was in the news recently talk of all those over 50! Really?????Surely the NHS can spend the money they are given by us the people in more targeted ways.....
Absolutely agree. We've got to stop demonising ageing. And we need to normalise that our lives come to an end. What I prefer is good quality of life. If that ends up being 5 years less, I'm OK with that and so us my other half.
Well said. I'd rather have QofL over length anytime. And yes our lives do end and my preference is that happens with dignity, grace and respect, that I'm allowed to go when my time come. It's a natural part of the cycle of life after all.
I just amused myself by going online and playing with the scoring system. Even with a moderate risk it tells me 'heart age is 74' and 'people with this level of risk usually live to 84'. I'm 67 so how am I supposed to interpret that? By changing two of the answers I got a whole 2 years from a lower risk score. Seriously?
Indeed.... It's a nonsense tbh. There are so many factors at play that are not taken account of. Generalisations do not work for the individual! Mind you I'd be happy to make it to 84 but it doesn't say you will! A friend of mine whose a statician said you can manipulate stats to say what you want them to say.... There's a cancer reoccurance risk for BC called Predict .... You do actually put some key specific factors into it like tumour types, size, spread etc However it has the decency not to say how long you as an individual are likely to survive before re occurance. It talks about numbers out of a hundred that reoccur according to each type of treatments your type of bc and then overall of all your treatment. It's based on stats that are running behind of several years.... I think 5+ yrs behind. It doesn't mean to say you will or you won't. Just a generic calculation based on...previous group. It doesn't say how many die as a direct consequence of treatment.
Eg one of my friends her group estimation gave her 96% survival at 5yrs post treatment . She died after two years from reoccurance. (mine gave me 60% at 5 yrs, still here 9yrs on still in remission). I rest my case. Her very healthy fit husband took the dog for a walk 6 months later and was killed by a hit and run driver. What were the odds of that? Terrible, terrible tragedy. I see this statins assessment on this level. To some degree it's crystal ball gazing playing on people's fears. It doesn't even give you the number out of a hundred, hardly any info & it's based on incredibly general data. As a woman it's based on research done on men! Just says yeah take statins! And for some it will be very important they do. For the rest of us it's far less clear. Such a decision should not just be based on this generic assessment.
I shouldn't be here... I am. My statins assessment doesn't take account of the new treatment I luckily had, so no longer in Afib. Why would I take it seriously when it omits pertinent facts? It probably can't include it cos it's too new not enough stats yet. Can my GP analyse what it says? No! This is AI at its worst.
Sorry to go on.... Will stop now! 🤣😂
I've been on Atovastatin for 30 years. No side effects that I have noticed. I'm also on BP meds, Apixabam, and dofetelide.
82, male, U.S.
Did you recently have a heart ct scan? That may have shown some partial coronary plaque buildup even though your blood cholesterol level is normal & hence the statin Rx.
I've been on Atorvastatin for years with no problem. Note that if you decide to go forward with taking it, it's best to take in the evenings as it causes sleepiness, at least for me. I take mine at 8 p.m. and makes for a very good night's sleep.
Coincidently I have just returned from a Cardiology appt, where I discussed the addition of Artorvastatin to my list of recent medications since being diagnosed with AF in May this year. I have developed pains in my legs when getting up after sitting for more than a few minutes and was told that muscle pain was a common side effect of statins. Before I had AF I was considered low risk for heart problems and statins were not deemed necessary with cholesterol of 6.5. Now it is 4 and was told that cholesterol can never be too low and to persevere with them!! The comments here have been very interesting and useful.
The test does not take into account the variables of AF. Pretty much what my cardiologist told me. Ironically the very next day my GP waved the statins card again (am a year older), so I told her what the cardiologist said. She's a good GP - they're obliged to do this in the UK.
They are indeed 'oblidged' to push them. You would think they had better things to do though given how much they struggle to cover the bare basics these days....lol.... Your GP sounds far more sensible. Mine tried to threaten me with the death card if I didn't take them with nothing to substantiate her threat. I don't take kindly to emotional blackmail. I will ask my surgeon his thoughts on them given I'm currently Afib free & had LAA occlusion. I suspect he will say it's unknown....which is the truth..
Safety net ? Something to think about…Statins appear to be on the doctors checklists. The stats don’t add up on statins. Billions are made from statins. . One main side effects messes with muscles. There are some that benefit. The question is why do they have everyone taking it for life without addressing
lifestyle and diet. Based on my own research ( Dr Robert Lustig and Dr Pradip Jamnadas ) both have done extensive research. pharmaceutical companies report the minimal required numbers to make it look like statins will keep you alive longer than if you didn’t take them.
How about a big 4 days extra vs years of unpleasant side effects?
Maybe listen to your intuition. Do your own research and know the truth of what they report.
My research regarding medicine is for my own welfare, After having meds almost take me out. I did have cryoablation in May 2023 that went very well. Sometimes we need to take the reins and educate ourselves. If you don’t need it, don’ t take it. Sometimes too much isn’t a good thing.
I wish you the best on your health journey. Research. Research Research.
I'm on Edoxaban and Atorovastatin. No noticeable side effects. I have a stroke and don't want another one. Belt and braces or whatever fashion item you choose seems a good idea! Because my normal HR is SR Bradycardia with ectopics, night-time and resting down to 37, averaging around 40 I'm kept off HR control drugs for now including PIP.
I exercise regularly since my stroke and my health is better now than before the stroke. Male aged 71.
I am 89, female in Canada, am 3 years into permenant AF, just got back from cardiologist, he said my heart is strong, no CHF so does not want to change my meds. Taking 70 mg metoprolol and 10 mg eliquis daily. Says see you in a year! Gave me much needed confidence!
I believe the risks need to be cautiously considered . I have seen elderly with memory loss, weakness, and muscle wasting from stations. Personally not a fan and in the United States make huge profits for the pharmaceutical companies Just my opinion but would investigate and if you do start, watch for side effects and confer to your MD should any arise.
Had similar discussion with my Cardiologist and was surprised as my labs are in normal range. Spoke with pharmacy and he suggested I check out some YouTube.com lectures, which I have. They are given by Dr. Jamnadas, 30 years in Cardiology and research.
I learned a great deal about statins and more concerning the effect of diet and data concerning recent studies looking at outcomes from following patients who are using statin daily over several years. As I am not a medical doctor I will not tell you what decision is best for you IMHO.
Knowledge and new learning will balance out what you already know. Pradip Jamnadas MD. is a good resource for a start. Again,
this is just a suggestion.
Good luck, Larry
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