Statins

margaretclare

Low fat is a bit of a myth as well.

Statins DO have side-effects. Hair loss is one. I didn't know about dissolving muscle - this is something I can do without, have noticed arm muscles are much weaker. Also if you lose muscle, weight loss becomes much more difficult because muscle uses up energy - ask any weight-lifter!

meer53

I was prescribed statins by a consultant after a series of checks for chest pains. There is a history of heart disease in my family and i have high blood pressure, however my cholesterol is within the normal range.
After reading about possible side effects i have decided not to take them. I've weighed up the pros and cons and there are definately more cons than pros ! Not for me thank you

murphydog999

A friend of mine had an 'MOT' a while back (at a private clinic) and he was advised that he needed statins after his cholesterol levels were high. On checking with his own doctor, and having done a bit of research, he was shown an 8 page report why he shouldn't be taking statins! Considering the prescription/pill culture in this country, that was quite refreshing.

By the way, he didn't, he's fine.

kaya

There isn't actually any proof that high fat foods=high chollesterol=heart disease , it's based on models just like man made global warming theories, Its also interesting that the "goalposts" regarding what constitutes high chollesterol keep getting lower all the time, a few years back 7 was considered normal now I think it's around 5 , statins do lower chollesterol ( at a cost) but there isn't any solid evidence that lowering chollesterol reduces heart disease( heart disease is the common term used by the medical profession but covers so many different types of heart problems) , I figured that if my arteries were clogging up with fatty chollesterol deposits as the test Indicates then common sense dictates I would see an abnormalitie in my blood pressure so I purchased a blood pressure monitor , unsurprisingly my blood pressure absolutely fine :-)

peachyprice

Interesting thread.

I had an MOT in January, eveything was fine, except my cholesterol, which is 6.2. Doc said to do more exercise, adjust diet, go back in 6 months and if it's still the same I may have to have medication.

Now, I'm guessing the medication she is talking about is statins? I know I'm no expert but everthing else is fine, blood pressure perfect, zero family history of heart disease, don't smoke, rarely drin, surely these statins are going to do me more harm that a slightly higher cholesteral level, no?

Pennylane

peachyprice wrote: »

Interesting thread.

I had an MOT in January, eveything was fine, except my cholesterol, which is 6.2. Doc said to do more exercise, adjust diet, go back in 6 months and if it's still the same I may have to have medication.

Now, I'm guessing the medication she is talking about is statins? I know I'm no expert but everthing else is fine, blood pressure perfect, zero family history of heart disease, don't smoke, rarely drin, surely these statins are going to do me more harm that a slightly higher cholesteral level, no?

Yes, it will be statins. Try all you can (diet, exercise etc) to get it down. Oats are very good. I use oatbran to make porridge for breakfast every day with some fresh fruit on top and I know that's made a huge difference.

My CRA (Cardiovascular disease risk assessment) is now just 7% as my cholesterol levels are now in the normal range. They were up at around 9 some years ago so I'm well pleased. Especially when I think I could have spent all those years on statins unnecessarily.:)

GlynD

I've been on statins for about 9 years since I was diagnosed diabetic. I get them on a monthly prescription.

Pennylane

murphydog999 wrote: »

A friend of mine had an 'MOT' a while back (at a private clinic) and he was advised that he needed statins after his cholesterol levels were high. On checking with his own doctor, and having done a bit of research, he was shown an 8 page report why he shouldn't be taking statins! Considering the prescription/pill culture in this country, that was quite refreshing.

By the way, he didn't, he's fine.

That is very refreshing! GP practices are paid around £120 for each patient they get on statins so it was definitely worth their while.

Last time I saw a GP they didn't mention statins and for years all the other GPs had been trying to get me to go on them. So I said "does it say on the computer that I refused statins?"

"Yes" he said "but some of us are now looking at the overall picture and you don't smoke, you eat healthily, you don't drink etc so your only risk is high cholesterol so I wouldn't try and persuade you to go on them."

daska

If you want to start thinking about using diet to improve your cholesterol/ triglyceride levels etc then I would suggest you watch this (right to the end!)

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=eREuZEdMAVo&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DeREuZEdMAVo&gl=GB

Bettie

I have two months of prescription for 40 mg statin at a time. I was put on them when the hospital discovered i had had a stroke. There is history of stroke and heart attack in my family. They said no amount of diet change would lower my cholesterol to "safer" levels. ( wonder if they were telling fibs?) The tablets have lowered it significantly. I have been a vegetarian for 30 + years but did tend to eat too much fried food and dairy.