If you’re currently suffering from high cholesterol and are using some form of statin to help reduce your levels, you may want to think twice. Many people dive right onto these treatments, excited about the benefits they have to offer without even making themselves aware of the potential side effects…
Before we start, lets look at a few recent stats:
Studies have linked high cholesterol levels to being twice as likely to develop heart disease; the number one cause of death worldwide. And over 70% of men already have high cholesterol levels by the time they reach 35, and women by 45.
Statins are now the most commonly prescribed drugs in human history.
A recent survey of 500 GPs by the magazine Pulse revealed only half would personally take a statin or recommend them to a family member based on the new lower risk score.
US researchers estimate that for every 100 people without known heart disease who take statins for five years, 98 would see no benefit, and only one or two would avoid a heart attack that they might not have otherwise.
Like any drug, side effects are always there and it’s very helpful to know about them before starting a treatment. To help provide more information, let’s have a look at the top concerns that statin users should become aware of.
First, what exactly is High Cholesterol?
High cholesterol is a common health issue and It is important to realise that there are two types of cholesterol: HDL and LDL.
HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) is the high density lipoprotein and helps to remove fatty build up from your blood vessels by transporting it back to your liver for removal.
LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) is low density lipoprotein and this is the form of cholesterol that encourages fatty build up in your blood vessels. Over time this build up can narrow the arteries and can even break off and block smaller vessels.
Although your overall cholesterol reading is important, the ratio between ‘good’ HDL and ‘bad’ LDL is important.
What are Statins and how do they work?
Statins are prescription drugs that can lower your LDL and total cholesterol levels. They work by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol. Statins may also help your body reabsorb cholesterol that has built up in plaques on your artery walls, preventing further blockage in your blood vessels and heart attacks.
Statins include well-known medications such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and others.
Are there any risks or side effects to using Statins?
A recent peer review published by researchers in Ireland was recently quoted to say:
“It is beginning to dawn on some clinicians that contemporary treatments are not only failing to impact on our most prevalent diseases, but they may be causing more damage than good. A perfect example of such an issue is the statin saga.”
According to Dr Mercola who has studied Statins in depth, Statins may carry a wide range of potential side effects including:
Muscle Aches
Another problem that statin users may come into is muscle aches. About 10% of the people using these medications find that they have ongoing problems with muscle soreness and tension, and this is only amplified if the person is very active. Older adults who have less muscle mass to begin with may also notice similar effects.
Memory Loss
Another important side effect to note is that those who use this medication regularly may also suffer from some memory loss. This appears to be more prominent in those who are also suffering from muscle aches as well, so there seems to be a connection between the two symptoms.
Increased Risk Of Diabetes
One study stated that an extra two cases of type 2 diabetes will be evident in every 1000 individuals who were using a high dose of statin to treat their cholesterol.
This risk doesn’t appear to be as prominent in those using lower dosages (20-40 mg per day), so if you are currently using statins, it may be worthwhile to see if you can use a lower dose and combine that with smarter lifestyle cholesterol lowering strategies.
This is just a subset of potential risks, you can find out more at the Dr Mercola Statins risk page here.
The University of California is currently organising a wide statins side effect survey study and you can follow its progress here: https://www.statineffects.com/info/adverse_effects.htm
How to reduce the risk of side effects whilst taking prescription statins?
Statins deplete your body of CoQ10, which accounts for some of its devastating results. Therefore, if you take a statin, it is recommended to take supplemental CoQ10, or better, the reduced form called ubiquinol.
As a general guideline if you’re not ill, Dr. Sinatra from the heart md institude suggests taking 50-100 mg per day. If you’re over the age of 70, double that dose, or up to 200 mg per day. This is because your natural CoQ10 levels begin to drop after the age of 40, and by the age of 70, levels begin to precipitously drop.
Next you should be aware that grapefruit juice affects metabolism of most statins (but not pravastatin) and can markedly increase blood levels, so grapefruit juice may be best avoided while you are on statins.
Can you lower your heart disease risk and cholesterol levels naturally?
So, rather than turning to prescription statins to help reduce your cholesterol and potentially set yourself up to experience these issues, what can you do instead?
There are a number of natural ways that you can safely lower your cholesterol levels and promote better health.
These include:
- Getting at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise every day – even walking counts
- Participating in a regular strength training workout program at least 2-3 times per week
- Choosing fresh fruits and vegetables more often
- Limiting the consumption of highly processed foods full of refined flours and sugars
- Eating a diet based around fish rather than red meat
- Consuming plenty of foods rich in essential fatty acids such as walnuts, flaxseeds, and salmon
- Adding the odd glass of red wine to your diet
- Avoiding trans fats and other baked goods that are high in calories and saturated fats
- Making sure to keep your overall stress levels down
If you start using some of these tips immediately, you can naturally see improvements in your cholesterol level to the point where you may not even need your statin medication in the first place.
It should be noted however that it is important to always discuss potential changes to your medication and lifestyle with your doctor before starting to ensure optimal safety.
References:
http://www.thennt.com/nnt/statins-for-heart-disease-prevention-without-prior-heart-disease
http://www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/cardiac/statcalc.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-26432112
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/10/09/statin-cholesterol-lowering-drugs.aspx
http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/side-effects-of-statin-drugs?page=2
Leave A Comment