My husband 73 yes old just had cardiovascular risk blood tests and has been asked to speak to practice nurse of pharmacist.I do think this is part of the drive to get everyone on statins.
He really does not like taking medication and I would class him as fit.Not really overweight BMI 25.6 and only health issue pernicious anemia.
Drinks a little more than he should 16.8 units per week.
Some Readings a little out of range but some ok.
How important are Statins considering side effects.
I am advising him to say no and ask advice re diet.
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kkatz
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It's not a simple as LDL being a little high and your husband being "fit" and "not "overweight". Other considerations are family history of cardiovascular disease and other markers such as LP(a) and CRP. Also, at least in the United States, many advocate a Cardiac CT for calcium scoring which can give indications of any plaque buildup in the veins. Depending on all this, Stains may be an important part of an overall prevention strategy for cardiovascular disease.
There is no set answer because it would depend on age and risk factors. However, according to the American Heart Association, this is the population group where calcium testing might be beneficial--
"People reluctant to begin statin therapy and who want to understand their risk and potential benefit more precisely.
People concerned about restarting statin therapy after stopping treatment because of side effects.
Men ages 55 to 80 or women 60 to 80 with few risk factors who question whether they would benefit from statin therapy.
People ages 40 to 55 with an estimated 10-year risk for developing heart disease between 5% and 7.5%, and risk factors that increase their chances of heart disease."
Very marmite question which people have strong views. I have been refusing statins for over 10 years, my cholesterol levels haven’t really changed & I have no indications of arteriosclerosis. I have a condition for which statins are contraindicated. It does depend upon personal circumstances but I think they are vastly over prescribed. I just had this conversation with a good friend who refused to accept either statins or diet restrictions - they love their butter far too much and quality of life is far more important to them than longevity.
Do you own research and decide accordingly as we can only offer opinions.
PS - know that GPs are paid to have the statin conversation with patients and many GPs tend to toe the line to meet government set goals. I don’t think that’s a good enough reason to take them when even my GO agrees they are unlikely to benefit me long term and may harm.
Diet makes almost no difference to cholesterol and nor should it. It's time the demonisation of cholesterol, a major building block of the whole body and a huge part of brain health, was ridiculed for what it is and firmly put in the bin.
I have seen a few printed reports recently (can't remember where, nothing substantial yet) that are linking statins with dementia. Given the significant volume of cholesterol making up the brain this is quite likely to end up a very big warning against these medications.
I don’t believe in the Cholesterol theory and I have also seen the links to Dementia but as I have Myasthenia - I have also seen the links to statins causing Myasthnia and exacerbating those who are sero positive.
I’m in the no, not never camp! Diet is important, not for cholesterol just for health and eating the right sort of fats essential for brain health. Omega 3 oils taken daily together with Vit B is showing better results than any of the new drugs which tend to strip out amyloids but in doing so tend to cause bleeds. Some interesting studies which is re-writing everything we thought we knew.
Everyone needs to make their own decision as to what is right for them and maybe, for some people, statins could be helpful.
CD says it all. I would be far happier if "having the conversation" wasn't part of doctors pay structure here in UK as many take it a stage further. At least my own GP accepted and respected my reasons and right to decline but some seem to take offence.
My brother who lives in South Africa had the Cardiac CT for Calcium scoring and does need to take statins after his results. My wife was tested twice and was about the same score as me and her GP refused to put her on saying she was absolutely OK. My GP however put me on statins and I had a hard time with them so came off. If I was offered all the tests my brother in South Africa had and was told I needed to take them then I would give them another go. No-one has to take them if they don't want to but maybe they are worth a try and if you don't get on with the medication like me then either come off them or find a type/brand that agrees with you if you can.
out of curiosity what was the Calcium score for you both and your brother. I'm just trying to get a gauge. I had one done 7 years ago and was zero just had one done this week and score of 18 my GP also said nothing to worry about and no statins required. I did forget to ask him at what number does one consider Statins based on Calcium CT scan. My Lipids and cholesterol were all within range
Sorry I didn't make it plain it was only my brother who was tested. My wife and I just had the standard cholesterol tests. I don't know what his score was but I shall ask - maybe he can remember it was about 3 years ago. Had we been offered other tests to back up the cholesterol score which indicated that I should take statins then I would have.
I had a calcium score of 136, I’m pretty fit 55 year old female, I reluctantly started taking rosuvastatin at only 2.5 mg every other day with red yeast rice on opposite days. I have recently gone up to 5 mg and cholesterol numbers are going down. My doctor actually cringed when she saw my score and told me that it was significant and I am at moderate risk for heart attack. I hate taking meds but trying to prevent. She also prescribed daily baby aspirin but unable to take due to getting stomach pain with them.
So definitely a score above 100 will likely get a statin prescription.
I don't know it was about 3 years ago and it is likely they use a different way of measuring in South Africa. I will ask for details and hope he can find his results.
I eat very well,stay fit have a BMI of 21.My cholesterol is over the range, refused a statin from my GP who was fine, I work in a surgery so had a conversation with one of the cholesterol I have worked with a long time. She advised me to think about it ask for a low dose. I started to take 10mg not side effect it went from 6.2 to 4.1 in 3 months.
It’s a very personal choice I couldn’t do anything with my diet.
Think it’s a case of seeing what you can do with diet and exercise first
I was put on statins (Simvastatin 40mg ) in early/mid 2007 when I was also put on Ramipril ( 10mg) for high BP ... aged 63. From what I can remember there was no discussion with my GP on the pros and cons other than it was a good idea at my age with my BP issue.
In those days yep, I was a boozer and overweight - can't remember the specifics now. These days, aged 80 ( in Sept ) I switch on and off the booze as I feel like, but, I certainly don't booze as much as I used to back in the day.
I have never considered Statins as good, bad or indifferent and I have certainly had no ill side effects, any side effects for that matter. So I continue to scoff Statins.
However ........ in Jan 2010 I got mugged by paroxysmal AF and my party bag of drugs changed and has continued to do so. So in order of chronological progress it became ......... Simvastatin, Ramipril, Felodopine, Warfarin (Coumadin), Bisoprolol, and as and when required for pain relief for osteoarthritis in various joints, Co Codomol 30/500. Due to unwanted side effects of Bisoprolol (5mg) this was changed to Nebivolol (5mg) in August 2023. I also identified food as a trigger for AF and consulted a Nutritionist on diet as a method of AF control.
Finally, as a result of my heart trying to kick off again in March 2024, my Cardio Consultant prescribed Sotalol (40mg morning and 40mg at night ) .......... and hey ho, happy as a pig in mud, really whipped my BP into shape to a nice steady 127/80 accompanied by a HR of around 72. At a cost though - real lethargy from Sotalol.
How long I'm gonna stay fit and well is anyones guess but certainly right now my heart doesn't bother me at all BUT PAIN FROM OSTEOARTHRITIS is another matter. I have an Echocardiogram done every 2 years and although my EF is deteriorating it is more consistent with age than any inherent issues within the heart itself. On this basis I can only assume that each drug ( especially Statins) is interacting with the others and each is playing its part in keeping me alive and kicking and a real pest to Mrs. Ben Hall and cat. 😂😂
I would only consider starting statins if there we're other significant co-morbidities at play.
I was first offered them quite strongly 20 years ago when on Cholesterol of 7 (my norm) and as I was fit with no other significant issues I declined. Still C of 7 and no problems.
I would much prefer it if doctors weren't paid to raise the issue and also discussed the pros of cholesterol as well as the cons of statins leaving us mostly! sensible patients to take our own decision.
My blood test showed 5.5, like your husband. My husband’s was a little higher and was happy to go on statins but I wanted to see if I could get my cholesterol down myself. I stopped eating cheese every lunchtime and allowed myself just a little now and then ( I am crazy about cheese ! ) Also, I swapped the butter on my toast ( and cooking with butter ) to Benecol. I also had a Benecol yoghurt with granola and a banana for lunch when I didn’t have my cheese lunch. Other than that, I just checked the labels on things and looked out for the high saturated fats. My normal diet doesn’t really include the kind of food that is high in Sat Fats, but I found a Chicken Tikka Masala from the supermarket has the highest Sat Fats of the Indian food range ! Anyway, 3 months after my original blood test, my cholesterol result was 4.4 ! I felt very smug I can tell you !
I agreed to try statins because of cholesterol being just out of range and was put on 20 mg Atorvastatin. She said she'd put me on the lowest dose which is 10mg so I was a little cross however as I hate taking more pills I looked it up and you can A take a half dose B take every other day and it can still have the same effect also some only take statins once a week.So I am taking it every other day and we'll see what the cholesterol readings are in 3 months.
No it's Rosuvastatin. My GP says my cholesterol level is the lowest she's ever seen. But it has always been like that as she is not the first GP to tell me that. (I used to live in London and had it measured there some 50 years ago)
I was put on statins automatically after a stroke despite my levels being OK. After a year or so I was finding the pains in my hands untenable. After speaking to my doctor she said I could stop them but I tried lowering the dose to 20mg as I know statins are beneficial for stabilising plaque. No issues since and my level is 2.3
not only does he not need them with such a borderline result but all the latest research says they do not prevent heart attacks. They may reduce cholesterol but cholesterol is essential for repairing inflammation in our blood vessels. They have also not found a correlation between high cholesterol and heart disease/death. The results are out there, google the statin scam or suchlike! Our brains are composed of 75% myelin and myelin is 100% cholesterol. Our bodies are clever, they produce cholesterol in the amounts we need.
You will read many online negatives and nonsense because statins have been dragged into the world of conspiracy theories and ideas about "Big Pharma". This is a sad state of affairs, but is a feature of modern online life and social media.
The latest evidence for whether to take statins seems to put blood test results to one side a little, and, instead, take their cue instead from something like the Chads2 type score used to determine our need for anticoagulants when AF strikes, that is, on the potential risk of cardiovascular disease occurring in the future. Your doctor will have the NICE / NHS guidelines on this.
It might be worth adding a counter to the conspiracy type comments that often arise whenever the word "stain" is mentioned. Feel free to stop reading now and what follows is only my view borne of my background on the industry and my having a conspiracy believing brother.
Statins have been shown to be exceptionally safe drugs with a low level of important side effects, even when used in the long term. I have read that they have been unequivocally shown to improve outcomes significantly for anyone who has already had a cardiovascular "event" such as an ischaemic heart attack or embolic stroke. Of course, many such "events" are "silent" and unknown to the sufferer and, even if plaque can be shown to be present, might still never occur.
So far as I know, however, statins have not yet been shown to do the same for anyone who remains free of such atherosclerosis, i.e. those with otherwise healthy circulation, regardless of cholesterol levels. Also, reducing cholesterol "too far" might, itself, bring health issues, although this also seems not proven. Of course, a few people will have side effects, which is th case with all drugs. This is often related to their individual drug clearance mechanisms (liver enzymes and and kidney function, for example) as well as other genetic traits.
If I were your husband, I would make sure my weight was healthy for his height and years and eat from accepted healthy choices with plenty of fruit, veg, nuts and pulses in the mix.
My wife's blood results are similar to your husband's but she has been told she doesn't need to take statins. Her grandfather did have several heart attacks but otherwise her parents and grandparents lived long lives.
I agree with you when I was diagnosed wit underactive thyroid I was prescribed statins whic I wasn't happy about my collesterol test was 5 something I refused the statins and said I'd prefare to get a lower reading without statins I'm not overweight I only eat red meat once a week he agreed to test me again in six weeks I replaces butter with benecol margerine and I take one plant sterol a day after six week my collesterol tested 4 . something said no further action needed
Thats good. Thinking along these lines with plant sterols as well. My cholesterol is within normal range, but thinking as a precaution. I eat healthily, no red meat for 35yrs plus, very little processed, weight good (thanks to gastritis!) BMI 26.Do you take anticoagulant as well , I did check with a pharmacist who said they'd be fine to take with apixaban.
yes I take apixoban and verapamil as I have permanant AF I'm like you avoid professed food as much as possible eats lots of grains fruit and veg I keep to a healthy weight meds I take have not made me put any weight on and I am very fit and feel well as AF is well controlled with the meds
Your doctor was obviously ignorant of the fact that higher cholesterol can be one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism and correcting the thyroid levels will often lower the cholesterol. Most GPs know next to nothing about the thyroid or how to diagnose conditions by signs and symptoms. My choesterol goes up and down with my TSH.
I was given an MRI scan and the consultant recommended I take a small dose of statins to protect my brain's fine arteries from deteriorating. I take 5mg 3 times a week. No side effects for me. I'm 80. It's all about preserving brain function for as long as possible. Nothing about cholesterol as mine is extremely low.
Hi, reducing amount of meat consumed and alcohol are aids to reducing cholesterol. When I said I didn't want statins, a GP suggested taking benecol as a cholesterol reducer. Got my serum non HDL down to 2.9.
I take statins with absolutely no side effects. Ask yourself who are the people who post online about statins? Only those who have problems. The millions who take them without any ill effects don't bother to post. The first one I took, atorvastatin gave me stomach pain. Simvastatin is fine. My husband who is diabetic and has very high cholesterol refuses to take statins just because the first one he tried made his legs ache. He wouldn't try anything else.
I posted an article a few weeks (or months?) ago about research that has shown statins can help to prevent dementia. It’s not just about cholesterol. I have been on simvastatin for years and my cholesterol is fine but my personal choice is to go on taking it because of the other benefits it can bring.
If it were me with those results, no. My overall cholesterol is a bit higher than that and I've no intention of taking statins. Almost everyone I know on them complains about the side effects. I take a supplement called BioPlantarum Plus plant sterols. These do seem to make a difference. Maybe your husband can suggest he has 6 months t9 think about it and make a few dietary changes. I see you've had loads of replies so I won't clutter up further.
I am also 73 and I have bloods similar to your husband, though my serum cholesterol is slightly lower at 5.1. I take atorvastatin, 40mg. I originally refused it, but looking at the stats, it made sense. Statins reduced cholesterol a little but the main benefit is that they are anti-inflammatory which helps a whole range of other conditions. I also go to the gym 5-6 times a week and have a normal BMI.
What if statins were the difference between a stroke and no stroke? A lot of the negative comments quote epidemiologic studies which gives population risks. They seem small so many people may take them needlessly. But they are effective at the individual level. Masses of people buy lottery tickets and Premium Bonds knowing they won't win but hoping they will. Your husband sounds a bit like me at 70. I wasn't even being checked and then I had a severe stroke. But back 9 years ago I did have a health check when bradycardia and ectopics was diagnosed. A more risk averse Dr would have prescribed statins then.
Although I had great emergency care following the stroke, the subsequent full preventative work and screening hasn't happened over the last two years we know why. This January I had a sudden cardiac arrest and now have a defibrillator implant and for now cannot drive.
Brilliant Drs at the sharp end saved my quality of life twice. I wish I had been on medications much earlier so preventative effects may have worked.
I take statins, Edoxaban anticoagulant and Bisoprolol heart regulator medication in the hope they will all prevent another event. It's not a given they will work including the defibrillator (ICD) but wouldn't I be foolish to second guess my chances and throw sand I the face of the highly trained Drs. They're not all perfect, but they have a duty to protect life. And you are not your husbands Dr.
Listen to the Zoe podcast on cholesterol. Actually there might be two. In them the latest research findings on reducing cholesterol using nutrition are discussed.
My cholesterol averaged 5.7. Then a couple of years ago I had a one off bad AF bout during a heatwave. As a precautionary measure I was given an angiogram which detected borderline raised calcium levels in my arteries with one slightly unstable element. That was a shock as I am slim and fit with no other comorbidities and did not expect to have heart disease. (Likely genetic) On statins now to stabilise residual calcium deposits so less likely they will break off and cause a clot. Absolutely no side effects. Friends who are also on statins have no problems with them. Lots of superstition around statins. My heart consultant insists that even with mild heart disease…. Statins are highly recommended.
Please read UK Cardiology Consultant Dr Aseem Malhotra talking about Statins. Read him, not newspaper articles about him. He has been vilified for simply saying his evidence based advice about statins.
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Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Feel free to stop reading now and what follows is only my view borne of my background on the industry and my having a conspiracy believing brother. 
Only out of hospital
AF in the family
Bored out of my mind!
Omeprazole and Atorvastatin interactions? 
