For those on the fence about statins, here's a good current thread on our sister site, The British Heart Association website. (See below).
One difference between their group and ours, is that their group is where many of our members end up when we drop the ball and end up cardiovascular disease (CAD)! That's how I ended up there.
And part of dropping that ball is not taking statins when needed.
And did you know that statins can be associated with a lower incidence of atrial fibrillation, as well as lowering the stroke risk? That in addition to lowering the risk for CAD.
It's great that many of here have not been touched with CAD. But instead of getting complacent, try to get ahead of the curve and understand and do something about any cardiac risk factors -- and for many, the cornerstone is taking statins.
Thanks for posting this Jim. I’m on the fence. I didn’t like the side effects which for me was energy loss. Im reading some Malcolm Kendrick who is against what he sees as widespread over-prescription then my aim is to balance this with sensible posts like yours and a meeting with my GP 😊
Whilst I’m totally in favour of people using diet and lifestyle to improve their health, for some people these changes won’t be enough to shift the needle. It might help to an extent, in which case they might only need a lower dose of statin and that way could avoid the possibility of side effects that they might experience on a higher dose. The numbers won’t change just by wishful thinking.
I worry about the link between dementia as a result of not enough lipids,as our brain is 60% fat.I take them ,reluctantly, as parents and grandparents had CVD. ( cardio vascular disease)
Still on the fence but considering getting off, as I have awful muscular pains especially in my legs,which greatly impacts my ability to exercise ( surely an important part of CVD avoidance?)
Despite the fact my cholesterol blood levels are normal, I eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and I am not overweight. After CT scan I was prescribed statins in July this year.
Apparently, as we age our arteries build up deposits of plaque. Statins help prevent further build up.
In addition, there is a high incidence of CVD in my family.
I have encountered no side effects, blood tests show no adverse effects on my liver.
On thyroxin statins taken should be limited at 20mg Avostatin.
I did lots of reading before that. 5 is a god number and take off your good fats and you are good to go.
I made up my mind no Thanks and my Chemist sides with No to.
We can't take this and that to prevent for risks. I say stick to the anti-co.agulants they are a better orevention than statins unless you top very high chloresterol.
My stroke due to thyroid papillary cancer causing AF is behind me.AF caused the stroke when I was taking no meds.
Joy: Statins make money for some so they are pushed.
. Anticoagulants also make a lot of money and so do cancer drugs and dentists live in big houses electrophysiologist even bigger houses. Should we then not take thinners and let our teeth rot?
The whole idea that statins are pushed because of the money is part of the statin denier conspiracy movement. I prefer to make my decisions based on science and not on media doctors using questionable science and often making their statin money from books, views and supplements.
My Dentist lives in a house he built out of haystacks! Still not completedly covered although he has 4 children all grown up now.
I feel a statin is a add on.
Are add ons necessary. NO.
Like you I get information from my various memberships to research including Radcliffe Research, I make my decision.
At the moment all the tests on me - extra CT Scan with iodine, PET with iodine infusion, another CT Scan with iodine 6 mths later and a Pituitary MRI - all clear lead to unnecessary iodine, radiation etc.
I feel the iodine intake is simply decreasing size of what is there. So the result is no increase.
Calcification in me points to cancer. So I think why not remove at least the 2 lymph nodes under suspicion. Meanwhile my trustworthy Surgeon leaves to retire. But he's young compared with others. Worked at least 20 years in my base hospital.
I have told him that the next 6 mthly CT Scan with iodine will show no increase, go back on to ultra-sound checks wll continue to show the calcifications.
It's me who refused r.a.iodine treatment post thyroidectomy because I don't want masses of iodine treatment to kill thyroid cancer left. Side effects damage to oesophagus, parathyroid, leukaemia, loss of voice etc.
Right from the start I have said remove... it points to 2 rogue lymph nodes left during surgery. I am almost 5 years down the track from my thyroidectomy. The other 19mm x 9mm reduced to 19mm x 8mm still remains a mystery.
I wish people would realise that social media doctors are not THEIR doctor. They don’t have that individual’s details in front of them and they are not responsible for the health outcomes of any of their fans and followers. They provide the bait. The purpose of their followers is to provide them with the clicks (and the profits). It’s easy to make “controversial” statements because it makes people click (which is monetised). 🤷🏻♀️
One important test is rarely done, and that is Lp(a), Lipoprotein (a). This is a cholesterol-like substance which can contribute a great deal to forming of atherosclerosis. It's not treatable, in that there is as yet no med available*, but incredibly it is rarely tested for. I believe everybody being tested for LDL / HDL / triglycerides should also be tested for Lp(a), at least once. It is unlikely to ever change so a single test lasts pretty much for life.
Years ago I had the usual cholesterol tests and my levels were slightly high but marginal and my GP and I agreed not to start me on statins. It was only years later, after an aortic dissection more than likely contributed to by a PAU (penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer) on my aorta, that my consultant also did an Lp(a) test and found my level was 205, where concern begins at 30! Had my GP done an Lp(a), that would have radically changed the view on whether I needed statins (other meds are also available) and it's possible my PAU would not have occurred and ditto I may have been saved the drastic trauma of an emergency dissection and 7 years of hell since. As I said, there's no treatment for Lp(a), but it's compensated for by looking to get your other cholesterol levels well down.
I'm now on secondary protection of 20 mg Atorvastatin and 10 mg Ezetimibe, which in combination are doing a good job on my standard cholesterol levels, plus he recommended CoQ10 100 mg to minimise any leg weakness due to the statin.
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(*there's conflicting information and trials on use of NAC to bring Lp(a) level down)
Absolutely on the lp(a) ( pronounced L P little a) test. And as you say, it only has to be done once because it doesn't change due to diet. lifestyle, meds etc.. hopefully that will be changing early next year as drugs to lower lp(a) will be coming out of trial at least in the United States. One more test is the. Hs-CRP test which measures inflammation and can be lowered with dietary, medical or lifestyle intervention.
Another very important test is the CAC calcium score. Much more accurate than a stress test or echo, less radiation than a CT angiogram and less invasive than a angiogram the Cath Lab. It can be a great indirect indicator of how much plaque are in your veins. I recommend this test to anyone with any history of CAD or suspicion. Over 40 and perhaps even younger if you have a history of diabetes or are high risk. Cliff-- given your high Lp(a) score, this is a test you should really consider. If I had taken the CAC scan. six years ago, I wouldn't of ended up in the Cath Lab with stents. But unfortunately, my dumb EX Cardiologist talk me out of it because I was asymptomatic at the time.
Jim, in my experience CAD happens well before consideration of statin usage.As in my case, heart artery problem probably started in my 40s or early 50s.
Nobody notices CAD until some symptoms are evident.
In my case, I requested an Angiogram to my GP who then referred me to a cardiologist who agreed when he heard I was having trouble running/cycling up hills. Result was 2 stents.
You are correct in getting ahead of the curve but my msg is know your body and look for unusual indicators. And don't hold back talking with your GP.
Even earlier than 40 for some, which is why cholesterol checks should be done far earlier. By the age people are commonly prescribed statins, the plaque is already present. Also testing for FH at an earlier age too. Reading that thread on BHF was certainly an eye opener.
Covid jabs & associated precautions have coloured my judgement regarding heavily 'researched' and promoted drugs in general.
I have no doubt there is some benefit in statins (my partner is on one after a mild stroke) but I don't follow 'its easy just take one pill a day' but rather hang onto there being much more benefit in old fashioned exercise, improved diet & less stress 🤞🙏.
Very interesting. I started off taking 10mg statin about 17 years ago, I did not have any bad side effects, but after a couple of years my reading had gone down to about 2.5 - my doctor was not happy with that at all as she considered cholesterol is vital, especially for the brain. She cut my dose in half and my reading settled at 4- which made her happy. So I have been taking 5mg for 15years and my annual 'starved' test is consitently 4.
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