Statins - the miracle drug

[mantra]

There seem to be so many people on statins - a medication to lower their cholestral and blood pressure without changing their lifestyle habits. Obviously it's fantastic that people can just pop a pill and their illness will disappear, but all drugs have to alter something else unnaturally in another part of your body to be effective. Studies are showing that statins are causing diabetes and dementia in otherwise healthy people.

What's the greater risk - to tolerate some health problems or cure them at the expense of creating other health issues which might end up being a lot worse?

THOUSANDS of Australians could be taken off cholesterol-lowering medications because of mounting evidence they increase the risk of diabetes and dementia.

Australian health authorities are reviewing their advice after US regulators announced statins will now carry warnings they could increase the risk of diabetes and cognitive impairment.

Statins are the most commonly prescribed drugs in Australia, with about 2 million people thought to be taking them to reduce their heart disease risk.

The president of the Australasian Society for Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists, David Le Couteur, said Australia had one of the highest rates of statin use in the world, and people who were not at high risk of heart disease needed to reconsider using them.

He said doctors and other health practitioners should focus on lifestyle interventions for people with high cholesterol but without other risks such as previous heart attacks, high blood pressure and smoking.

Despite statins being linked to diabetes, he said people with the condition should still use them as diabetes itself put them at risk of heart disease. "If you have diabetes that's even more reason to be on statins," he said.

Statins have long been touted as a miracle drug, with some doctors and researchers pushing for their use in all older people. But Professor Le Couteur said that was unwise. "Unfortunately the history of medicine is chequered with hopes that have turned out to be dashed and even caused harm," he said.

The evidence showing a link with cognitive impairment was not as strong as the links with diabetes, but if a patient developed symptoms he would consider taking them off the drugs.

But the director of the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Garry Jennings, said people should not stop taking statins.

"I hope that pretty much everyone who is on a statin in Australia is on it for a very good reason, although there might be a few lower-risk people on the fringe," he said. "Statins work and there have been tens of thousands of people in trials … the overall benefit is clear.''

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/m ... z1no58toVB

[Gouty Gus]

In the States the FDA manipulated the cost of an old and common drug (Colchicine) used to treat gout from USD 6 to USD 90 for a 30 day supply. It gets more interesting: Gout is becoming more and more common because of the over-consumption of diuretics. So you have Medicine giving the public gout and increasing the cost of the medication nearly twenty times and, as a result, profits are huge.

[Outlaw Yogi]

Saw a (conspiratoial) article years ago claiming statins were somehow harmful for the heart, but I didn't take much notice, nor even care if it was true or not.

[Jovial Monk]

Most cholesterol is genetic not lifestyle.

[Neferti]

Most cholesterol is genetic not lifestyle.

Wow, something we agree about, Monk!!!

When first having one's cholesterol checked, way back in the '80's, mine came up at 6.3. The Dr gave me a sheet listing stuff I should "avoid" ......... about the only thing on that sheet that I actually used regularly was "full cream milk" (i.e. normal milk) so I changed to Lite Milk. Went back in 6 months and I still had 6.3. Some years later, had it tested again and it was 6.1. I still got told to cut out "chocolate, eggs, blah blah" which I rarely eat but I decided to cut out red meat and only ate chicken for 6 months (boring) and next test was 5.7 ....... then went back to normal eating and it was back to 6.1 or 6.3. I think it is hereditary. My sisters all have about 6.1-6.3 and I have no idea what they eat, they live in Melbourne. It is only when it gets to over 7.0+ that they can even do anything about it. It is a bloody nonsense. I think. We will all die from something. Calcified arteries is one of those things. If you are way overweight (which I am not, I am considered "underweight") and talk about FOOD constantly, then you have a problem with your weight and I doubt cholesterol levels has much to do with it.

[Outlaw Yogi]

I always have full cream milk.
What many if not most people fail to realise is if you don't get enough cholesterol (essential for the immune system) from your diet, your liver makes it.
Problem is the liver makes the soft 'n gooey low density cholesterol that sticks to artery walls rather than the hard 'n solid high density cholesterol which just bounces off artery walls.

As for weight control, the most important factor is thyroid function. If you don't get enough iodine, zinc and iron the thyroid plays up. I'll guarantee most diabetes is thyroid induced.

[mantra]

It's interesting how we have our own ways of trying to keep healthy with all these different combinations of food. We should have some faith in our instincts.

I didn't even know what statins were until recently when I heard them being talked about. Unfortunately with most prescription medication there are side effects. Some can tolerate them, others' can't.

I would prefer to try a few simple, more natural remedies before I opted for chemicals.

[AiA in Atlanta]

Woman I work with takes statins and it seems to do odd things to her mind and mood. Knew a man who was fired from his job because of the side effects of the smoking cessation drug Chantrix.

[mantra]

Chantrix is considered a mind altering drug by some. I've known 3 people who have tried it and it's affected them mentally, although apparently if you're able to complete the course - you can successfully give up smoking.

[mellie]

Those on statins should take CoQ10.