Do cardiologists take statins?

What a Cardiologist Wants You to Know. About 35 million people take statins in the United States, but research says only 55% of those who are recommended to take a statin are taking one.
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Do doctors take statins?

A doctor may recommend taking statins if either: you have been diagnosed with a form of CVD. your personal and family medical history suggests you're likely to develop CVD at some point over the next 10 years and lifestyle measures have not reduced this risk.
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Why you should not take statins?

Very rarely, statins can cause life-threatening muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis (rab-doe-my-OL-ih-sis). Rhabdomyolysis can cause severe muscle pain, liver damage, kidney failure and death. The risk of very serious side effects is extremely low, and calculated in a few cases per million people taking statins.
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Who should not be prescribed a statin?

being over 70 years old. having a history of liver disease. regularly drinking large quantities of alcohol. having a history of muscle-related side effects when taking a statin or fibrate (another type of medicine for high cholesterol)
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Who needs to take statins?

Providers prescribe statins for people who: Have high cholesterol (LDL above 190 mg/dL) that exercise and diet changes couldn't reduce. Had a stroke, heart attack or peripheral artery disease. Have diabetes and an LDL of at least 70 mg/dL and are 40 to 75 years old.
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Study Confirms What Many Patients Taking Statins Have Said for Years | NBC Nightly News



Are statins worth the risk?

Research has shown that statins are highly effective in reducing the risk of fatal heart attack and stroke.
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What can you take instead of statins?

7 cholesterol-lowering alternatives to statins
  • Fibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis. ...
  • Plant stanols and sterols. ...
  • Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins. ...
  • Niacin. ...
  • Policosanol. ...
  • Red yeast rice extract (RYRE) ...
  • Natural products.
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How can I lower my cholesterol without taking statins?

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  1. Eat heart-healthy foods. A few changes in your diet can reduce cholesterol and improve your heart health: ...
  2. Exercise on most days of the week and increase your physical activity. Exercise can improve cholesterol. ...
  3. Quit smoking. ...
  4. Lose weight. ...
  5. Drink alcohol only in moderation.
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Is there a natural substitute for statins?

Natural alternatives to statins include soy products like tofu and edamame. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 35 million Americans have high LDL, also known as bad cholesterol. This greatly increases your risk for heart disease and stroke.
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Do statins clear the arteries of plaque?

Statins help lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, in the blood. They draw cholesterol out of plaque and stabilize plaque, Blaha says.
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Do we really need statins?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends low- to moderate-dose statins in adults ages 40 to 75 who have one or more risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease and at least a 1 in 10 chance of having a cardiosvascular disease event in the next 10 years.
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Do statins shorten your life?

A controversial new study found that high cholesterol does not shorten life span and that statins are essentially a “waste of time,” according to one of the researchers. Previous studies have linked statins with an increased risk of diabetes.
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What percentage of the population take statins?

The use of statins increased from 18% to 26%. By 2011–2012, 93% of adults using a cholesterol-lowering medication used a statin. Cholesterol-lowering medication use increased with age, from 17% of adults aged 40–59 to 48% of adults aged 75 and over.
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Why are doctors increasingly prescribing statins for their patients?

Many people are at low risk for heart attack or stroke and do not need to take a statin. Statins are intended to be used by people at high risk of heart disease. They are the ones who derive significant benefit.
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What level of cholesterol requires statins?

people with an LDL level of 190 mg/dL or higher. people between 40 and 75 years of age who have type 2 diabetes. people between 40 and 75 years of age who have a 10-year risk of heart disease that is 7.5 percent or higher.
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Are statins the best choice for me?

You should think carefully about taking a statin at the same time as starting those lifestyle changes. Statins are generally recommended for people who have CVD (such as people with angina or who have had a heart attack). But ultimately, the choice is yours.
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What is the fastest way to lower cholesterol without medication?

9 Ways To Lower Your Cholesterol Without Medication
  1. Limit unhealthy fats. Your body already makes all the saturated fat it needs and eating too much more can raise your cholesterol. ...
  2. Get your omega-3s. ...
  3. Eat more fiber. ...
  4. Cut back on added sugar. ...
  5. Limit alcohol. ...
  6. Quit smoking. ...
  7. Exercise on most days. ...
  8. Develop healthy sleep habits.
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What is the fastest way to lower cholesterol naturally?

10 Natural Ways to Lower Your Cholesterol Levels
  1. Basics.
  2. Eat monounsaturated fats.
  3. Use polyunsaturated fats.
  4. Avoid trans fats.
  5. Eat soluble fiber.
  6. Exercise.
  7. Keep a healthy weight.
  8. Don't smoke.
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What is the new cholesterol drug that is not a statin?

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors and bempedoic acid (BDA) are some of the newer non-statin medications available within the United States (US) for the management of cholesterol.
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Are bananas good for cholesterol?

Fruits like avocados and apples, and citrus fruits like oranges and bananas can help lower cholesterol.
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Can you stop taking statins Once you start?

Therefore, most people who begin taking a statin medication will likely take it for the rest of their lives. If you've been taking statins and would like to stop, you'll need to do so with your doctor's guidance. This is because it can be dangerous to stop taking statins.
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What are the warning signs of high cholesterol?

What are the warning signs of high cholesterol?
  • Nausea.
  • Numbness.
  • Slurred speech.
  • Extreme fatigue.
  • Chest pain or angina.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Numbness or coldness in extremities.
  • High blood pressure.
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Are statins The only treatment for high cholesterol?

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.
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What is the safest statin drug?

Simvastatin and pravastatin had the best safety profile, according to this review. Overall, the researchers found a 9 percent increased risk of type 2 diabetes in people taking statins.
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What foods have natural statins?

There's some evidence that the following are effective when it comes to reducing cholesterol levels.
  • Red yeast rice. Red yeast rice is a product of the yeast that grows on rice. ...
  • Psyllium. Psyllium is an herb that's often used to treat constipation because it contains large amounts of fiber. ...
  • Fenugreek. ...
  • Fish oil.
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