Hi I’m a fit 57 year old (lots of cycling) mild hypertensive , BP medicated and under control . BMI 21.6 only 10 stone ,Cholesterol 5.9 , Q risk 11.6 %. Doc wants me to take statins , my father had heart attack at 7O . On the surface seems like a silver bullet to ensure the same doesn’t happen to me but struggling with the decision as I read lots of posts on here about side effects, also read lots of benefits to what perhaps is a super drug ensuring heart health in the Autumn of your youth . Have I got anything to loose or everything to gain ???
Statins: Hi I’m a fit 57 year old (lots... - British Heart Fou...
Statins
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Manishboy
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You've got everything to gain.
There are a tiny percentage of patients (about one in ten thousand) who suffer serious muscle problems from statins, This percentage holds true for all doses up to and including 40mg, the risk suddenly grows tenfold to about one in a thousand for the maximum 80mg dose. That is why 80mg is only prescribed for the very highest risk patients and those with serious lipid problems.
Statins can virtually halve your heart attack risk, but in addition they also deliver two other very useful benefits. Firstly they reduce the background inflammation which can be the root cause for atherosclerosis or cardiac heart disease, and secondly they tend to stabilise the plaque that is almost certainly already present in your arteries (it doesn't matter how virtuous your lifestyle, as a middle aged western male the odds are overwhelming that you have at least minor plaque traces).
This plaque stabilising benefit may be even more important than cholesterol reduction. The fact is that over half of heart attacks happen to people with less than 50% arterial blockage, but there are plenty of people on this forum with arterial blockage well over 90%, who were virtually disabled by angina, but have never had a heart attack. The difference in these two groups is chiefly down to the relative stability of their arterial plaque.
Anyhow, follow your doctor's advice and give statins a try. Most people have no side effects, but if you're one of the unlucky minority you can always change the brand of statin, reduce the dose, or if the worst comes to the worst simply stop taking them...after all it's a free country, no one can medicate you with statins against your will!
Good luck!
Thanks Chappychap. I wondered why the incident figures were so low for leg pains with statins, when we get so many reports here.They were surely more than 1:10,000? I see why now.
One in ten thousand? I cannot agree with that statistic. I meet people all the time who have problems.
The 1:10,000 statistic comes from the British Heart Foundation. I first heard it in one of their excellent "Alive & Ticking" on-line lectures that was streamed in August of this year. The subject of this particular lecture was Statins, and they assembled some of the most eminent cardiologists and researchers in the country to share their knowledge and wisdom.
If you want to learn more you can watch the BHF lecture here,
youtube.com/watch?v=om7PnTd...
Another interesting statistic from the same lecture was this. There was a large trial conducted to try and better understand statin side effects, Half the group were given statins, the other half were given placebos. About 8% of the statin group complained of muscle aches, but here's the fascinating part, the same 8% of the placebo group also complained of muscle aches. Maybe we're just all so suspicious of statins that we're overly vigilant in looking for muscle aches, or perhaps it's because statins are generally prescribed to the middle aged and elderly, where muscle aches are naturally more prevalent?
Please tell that to my stomach😃
I don't have a problem with cholesterol but even so my cardiologist had me on 10mg for years. then an angiogram I had earlier this year showed 85% blockage in the main LAD artery and I was given elective surgery to have a couple of stents put in.Afterwards my dose of statin the best being atorvastatin or lipitor was increased to 80mg as you say it can actually remove plaque build up.
I was reluctant to take such a high dose I had read all about memory loss and muscle pain but my cardiologist assured me that this was a tiny risk and sent me a lot of information to reassure me that high dose statins were safe indeed he took the same dose himself.
If anyone wants to see the reports I'd be happy to send a copy just PM me.
Janet
Hi I would be very interested in seeing those reports as I don’t have high cholesterol and am unconvinced about taking statins. Gill33cannon@gmail.com. That’s very kind of you x
Have I missed something? I didnt think anyone has said statins can remove plaque build up? Just stabilise it. But correct me if I’m wrong.
Yes it can help remove plaque build up in the arteries
There have been several clinical studies — many of them done at Cleveland Clinic — that show statins can reverse plaque buildup. Two statins in particular, atorvastatin, which is sold under the brand name Lipitor, and rosuvastatin, which is sold under the brand name Crestor, are the strongest statins
Statins stabilise plaque and helps prevent further progression.
This BHF article clearly states that plaque , atherosclerosis cannot be reversed.
bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
The NHS information says
'There are not currently any treatments that can reverse atherosclerosis'
nhs.uk/conditions/atheroscl...
I thought that was the case……tho’ of course I did want to be wrong! Thanks for confirming,
Several studies, including Jupiter, found that plaque volume is reduced when taking statins.This reduction is normally in the 1 - 2% range and is due to the statins reducing the amount of necrotic core of the plaque.
Is this reduction in volume actually reversal?
Maybe, maybe not but no studies have ever shown plaque to be completely removed once it is present.
That is my understanding too.
Approx 10% of heart attacks occur without blockages due to non obstructive coronary artery disease.
Heart disease is complex.
Can you please provide the research to support this view?
The information on the Cleveland website says
'Clinical studies using ultrasound in the coronary arteries have shown that when you are on high doses of these medicines, even if you have plaque buildup already, you can stabilize the plaque on statin therapy.'
The further build of plaque is prevented but not reversed.
If you'd like to pm me I can send you my cardiologists data that he sent me regarding statins and how they can help absorb plaque. America is probably the leading country for heart disease prevention and they support this as well.
I live in New Zealand and that is also the information.
You read the evidence from all over the world not Google and make your choices.
I've had 2 stents and my cardiologist persuaded me that the right statin would help reduce the plaque in the arteries he lectures all over the world he knows what he's talking about I choose to believe in him.
Can I ask you to share this information with the whole forum please?
Many of the forum members like to read research articles themselves so we often share research articles openly on the forum.
Sure happy to share and I have already shared the knowledge i have with a couple of people on here
If you pm me i can send it to you or anyone who would like what I have to share there is too much to post on here so I'd need your email..
I would prefer if it was openly shared on the forum.
Too many pages to post sorry
Has your Cardiologist published their data in a recognised peer reviewed medical journal ?
If not, it is difficult to confirm that this data is accurate.
Well these are peer reviewed papers and excerpts from the US guidelines so the question is where are you getting your information from.
Then please give the links to these peer reviewed articles.
I relay on the information on the BHF website. The British Heart Foundation is one of the biggest independent funders of cardiovascular research studies.
It is respected throughout the world.
I also refer to the information provided by the NHS, including the research provided by the Medical Reseatch Council, the National institute of Healthcare Research and the European Society of Cardiology.
I will also look to the American Heart Association and peer reviewed articles.
It’s a very significant change to the established view, so peer-reviewed refs are really important. I’m with Milkfairy. Best to put just these refs openly on the Forum here, it’s not necessary to post the full texts.
I agree with Chappychap and Thatwasunexpected. My experience may be helpful. My cholesterol level was always at the high end of normal (ie 4.5-5.5). My diet has always been OK and no matter what I did with my diet my cholesterol level didn't change much. When I was 60 my QRisk was 9.9% ie. I had a 9.9% chance of a cardiovascular "event" in the next 10 years. This seemed rather high to me but my GP refused to put me on statins. 7 years later I got severe angina and couldn't walk more than a quarter of a mile on the flat. I needed a triple bypass (which was done last October). How I wish my GP had put me on statins 7 years previously!
Wow yes your experience is very helpful indeed I’ve been the same for a while hovering as you say but occasionally low I’m convinced I could reduce my Cholesterol and probably already have loosing weight, reducing alcohol and cutting out junk food all of which I absolutely revelled in during Covid probably giving me my current reading but the damage may already be done /hereditary and this is what I’m afraid of if I don’t try statins that have been offered only to reduce my Q risk and Cholesterol, I don’t have any heart worries yet my health path may follow a similar story to yours .Regards Manishboy
Diet, exercise, lifestyle, stress and genes all play a part and there's no predicting what will happen. You may turn out to be a lucky one. Your BMI is certainly better than mine and your cycling has to be positive too. Like you, I had no heart worries at any time. I have had a blood pressure monitor for over 25 years and my BP was/is always in the normal range. But angina hit me suddenly and severely and an angiogram showed substantial blockages of my coronary arteries. If I were in your shoes I'd take the statins and see how you get on.
I've been on Atorvastatin since a totally unexpected NSTEMI in December followed by my CABGX2 in January. No discernible side effects - my memory was already shot to bits due to lockdown! I exercise at least 30 mins x 5 days a week plus walk up to 10 miles a day at weekends. As others have said, taking them is a no brainer, but reversible if you really really can't tolerate them.
So good to see the positive replies with regard to Statins now could we hope for the same for Bisoprolol !!!
Stay Well Stay Safe
True story, my friend in his 70s decided not to take statins as his blood work etc was marginal. A few years later, whilst visiting family in Australia he kept getting indigestion when walking up gentle slopes. Off to the medical centre, then to hospital as an emergency for a stent...and statins.
Perhaps try them and see how you get on? There are different ones so if one doesn’t suit the chances are another one will.
Hi I’m 68 and had an AVR OHS in January this year and doing well.
At my 6 week check up my surgeon put me on Atrovastatin 20mg as my cholesterol was high at 6.3. Then at my 3 Month check up decided to stop them as I had stiff leg muscles in the mornings and bowel urgency at times.
GP telephoned for a medication review and suggested I try a lower dose of 10 mg Atrovastatin. She said it would be advisable to be on a statin.
My cholesterol is now 4.6 and I have no issues with legs aches. Memory? It’s always been pretty selective! Haha!
Full list of meds is Asprin 75mg disp, Bisoprolol 1.25, Omeprozole 20mg and Atrovastatin 10mg.
Chugging along nicely and doing the Anglesey Coastal Path Walk whenever I can get over there. 7-11 miles. Also walking at least three times a week at home here in West Yorkshire 2-5 miles.
Feeling now that I am protected against what I can’t see or feel that’s happening to my arteries or heart valves. I was a perfectly fit 66 yr old when I was diagnosed. Complete shock that I had a severe aortic valve stenosis.
I’m happy on my new level of statins.
❤️Maisie❤️
MilkfairyHeart Star
What we need is independent peer reviewed research articles to support the information on the Cleveland website.
Dr Google's Consultanting room isn't always accurate.
There is some evidence that suggests that statins can combined with other life style changes and very controlled management of diabetes, weight, high blood pressure etc can ' reduce' plaque build up.
This reduction is difficult to measure. It is done by ultrasound, the measurement could be effected by the skill of the person performing the test, the equipment used and the analysis of the readings.
It maybe difficult to get consistent results.
What is important is how well the blood flows through the coronary arteries, not necessarily the severity of the blockage by plaque.
Approx 10% of heart attacks occur in people with unobstructed coronary arteries.
Perhaps a more effective way to evaluate the benefits of statins, is to see if they reduce the number of heart attacks, strokes and major cardiac events.
Which they appear to do.
So is the issue in the wording? Reducing plaque, vs reducing build up of plaque?
I am not sure, there seems to be conflicting interpretations of the research.
It would be good to have some clarity on the issue, though.
Not much I can add to this other than my personal experience with statins. I have been taking 40mg Atorvastatin daily for nearly 2 years now and never had any issues with them.
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