Should I be afraid to take statins?

There is no reason to be afraid of taking statins if you are at high risk for heart attack or stroke. What's really scary is the amount of inaccurate information out there that keeps so many people from getting the protection they need!


Why am I afraid to take statins?

People often fear statins for three main reasons: Because of their perceived side effects. Due to a misunderstanding of how they work. They underestimate the risk of not taking them when necessary.

Should I or shouldn't I take statins?

Statins should be taken with caution if you're at an increased risk of developing a rare side effect called myopathy, which is where the tissues of your muscles become damaged and painful. Severe myopathy (rhabdomyolysis) can lead to kidney damage. Things that can increase this risk include: being over 70 years old.


Are statins worth the risk?

If you have high cholesterol and are at high risk for cardiovascular disease, you should consider statins. That's because the benefits of statins greatly outweigh the risks. Statins reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events like heart attack or stroke by up to 25%, and death by 10%.

Why do people not want to take statin drugs?

Fear of side effects and perceived side effects are the most common reasons for declining or discontinuing statin therapy. Willingness to take a statin is high, among both patients who have declined statin therapy and those who have never been offered one.


Study Confirms What Many Patients Taking Statins Have Said for Years | NBC Nightly News



What happens if you refuse to take statins?

Some 8.5% of them had a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke, within four years – versus 7.6% of those who continued taking statins. And 6.6% of patients who stopped taking statins died of all causes, versus 5.4% of those who kept taking them.

Why do doctors push statins?

Because many factors are involved, your cholesterol numbers may be considered normal and yet you may still be found to be at an elevated risk for heart problems. As a result, statin medications are now used to lower the risk of heart disease and heart events in most anyone found to be at high risk.

Can you get off statins once you start?

If you're taking a statin medication to lower your cholesterol, you will need to keep taking your prescription, or your cholesterol will likely go back up. Stopping your statin can put you at risk of having heart disease and other preventable health problems like stroke and heart attack from high cholesterol.


Are there alternatives to statins?

There are many non-statin medications your doctor might prescribe: Bile acid-binding resins, like cholestyramine (Locholest, Prevalite, Questran), colesevelam (WelChol), and colestipol (Colestid) stick to cholesterol-rich bile acids in your intestines and lower your LDL levels.

How can I lower my cholesterol without statins?

A few changes in your diet can reduce cholesterol and improve your heart health:
  1. Reduce saturated fats. Saturated fats, found primarily in red meat and full-fat dairy products, raise your total cholesterol. ...
  2. Eliminate trans fats. ...
  3. Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. ...
  4. Increase soluble fiber. ...
  5. Add whey protein.


Do most people tolerate statins?

In monitoring people taking statins for decades, we've found that they're safe and most people tolerate them well without any problems. But still, these misconceptions persist.”


What percentage of people have problems with statins?

World's largest study shows less than 10% suffer side-effects caused by the drug. As many as one in two patients stop taking statins, reduce the dose or take them irregularly because they believe the cholesterol-lowering drugs cause muscle pain and other side-effects.

Can some people not tolerate statins?

Yes. Studies show that about 5 percent to 10 percent of people are unable to tolerate statins, largely because of muscle aches and related side effects, including potential muscle damage.

What reduces cholesterol quickly naturally?

Oatmeal, oat bran and high-fiber foods

Soluble fiber is also found in such foods as kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, apples and pears. Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. Five to 10 grams or more of soluble fiber a day decreases your LDL cholesterol.


What is the best cholesterol medicine that is not a statin?

But if a statin alone isn't an option, other medications and supplements are also available. Ezetimibe, fibrates like gemfibrozil, and bile acid sequestrants like cholestyramine are top examples.

What is the mildest statin to take?

According to a research review people who take simvastatin (Zocor) or pravastatin (Pravachol) may experience fewer side effects.

At what cholesterol level is medication required?

Your health care team may prescribe medicine if: You have already had a heart attack or stroke or have peripheral arterial disease. Your LDL cholesterol level is 190 mg/dL or higher. You are 40–75 years old and have diabetes and an LDL cholesterol level of 70 mg/dL or higher.


How high should cholesterol be before taking statins?

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

The most important thing your doctor will keep in mind when thinking about statin treatment is your long-term risk of a heart attack or stroke. If your risk is very low, you probably won't need a statin, unless your LDL is above 190 mg/dL (4.92 mmol/L).

Are doctors over prescribing statins?

But while they've proven to be effective for some patients, new research suggests that the medical community is overprescribing statins and should instead only use them for people who are at an increased risk.

Do statins increase the risk of dementia?

In total, a pooled analysis of 36 studies found that statins were associated with a decreased risk of dementia (OR 0.80 (CI 0.75-0.86). For Alzheimer's disease, the association with statins based on 21 studies, was also reduced (OR 0.68 (CI 0.56-0.81).


What are the pros and cons of taking a statin?

By reducing blood cholesterol levels, statins also lower the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and chest pain, also called angina.
...
Minor side effects can include:
  • pins-and-needles sensations.
  • bloating.
  • a rash.
  • a headache.
  • nausea.
  • abdominal pain.
  • diarrhea.


What can you do to avoid taking statins?

Can Lifestyle Change Prevent the Need for a Statin?
  1. Regular, moderately strenuous exercise most days of the week (with doctor approval)
  2. Avoid trans fats in the diet.
  3. Watch portion sizes.
  4. Keep well hydrated with water.
  5. Reduce stress.
  6. Get regular, complete nights of sleep.
  7. Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.


Why do statins make me feel ill?

Statin intolerance occurs when a person develops side effects from statin use. There are different symptoms you may experience. The most common is muscle pains or cramps, also called myalgias. You may experience muscle inflammation and an elevated marker of muscle injury called creatine kinase.


Can you still have a stroke if you are on statins?

Conclusion— In patients with a history of cerebrovascular disease, statins clearly decrease the risk of ischemic stroke. However, this beneficial effect is partly lost by an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
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