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.

What happens if you don't take statins?

For, whereas the rare cases of myopathy [muscle pain] and any muscle-related symptoms that are attributed to statin therapy generally resolve rapidly when treatment is stopped, the heart attacks or strokes that may occur if statin therapy is stopped unnecessarily can be devastating.”

Are statins really worth taking?

Research has shown that statins are highly effective in reducing the risk of fatal heart attack and stroke.

Can I avoid taking statins?

It's possible for some people to stop taking statins safely, but it can be especially risky for others. For instance, if you have a history of heart attack or stroke, it's not recommended that you stop taking these drugs. This is because you're more likely to have another such problem when you discontinue statins.

Is cholesterol medication really necessary?

How it's treated: Most people with high LDL cholesterol not caused by genetics don't treat it with medications at first. Instead, you can try eating a heart-healthy diet, getting more exercise, quitting smoking, and losing weight if you're overweight. If those steps don't work, you may need medication.

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

Why do doctors push statins?

Statins are the go-to treatment option for lowering cholesterol levels and risk of cardiovascular complications, like heart attack and stroke. Statins work by slowing down cholesterol production and enabling the liver to remove low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or “bad cholesterol,” from the bloodstream.

What is the best natural alternative to statins?

What can I take instead of statins to lower cholesterol?

How can I lower my cholesterol without taking statins?

Are statins a con?

In fact, Collins told The Guardian his own research revealed serious side effects from statins affected only one in 10,000 and there was a small risk of getting diabetes. Collins' view was that because of media scaremongering, patients at high risk would stop taking the pill, leading to many deaths.

Do statins do more harm than good?

Researchers warn that unless a patient is at high risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, statins may cause more harm than good'.

Should you take statins if you have normal cholesterol?

Statin drugs reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol, the type that puts you at risk for cardiovascular disease. But even if your cholesterol is not particularly high, it could still be smart to consider starting a statin.

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.

At what age are statins not recommended?

Adults age 75 and older may not need statins.

Their doctors usually prescribe statins to prevent heart disease. But for older people, there is no clear evidence that high cholesterol leads to heart disease or death.

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.

What is the fastest way to lower cholesterol without medication?

What are the warning signs of high cholesterol?

What is a natural supplement for high cholesterol?

Niacin. Niacin is a B vitamin. Doctors sometimes suggest it for patients with high cholesterol or heart concerns. It increases the level of good cholesterol and reduces triglycerides, another fat that can clog arteries.

What is better than a statin?

Statins are a group of medications that lower a specific type of cholesterol level in your blood. The best alternatives to statins are PCSK9 inhibitors, fibric acid derivatives or fibrates, bile acid sequestrants, selective absorption inhibitors, nicotinic acid or niacin, and omega-3 fatty acids and fatty-acid esters.

Do statins cause problems?

While statins are highly effective and safe for most people, they have been linked to muscle pain, digestive problems and mental fuzziness in some people who take them and may rarely cause liver damage.

Do doctors make money prescribing statins?

Of the 2,444 doctors in the Medicare prescribing database, almost 37 percent received industry payments. Researchers found that physicians who didn't receive industry money prescribed brand-name statins at a rate of almost 18 percent. Those who did take money prescribed brand-name drugs at a rate of almost 23 percent.

How many people over 65 are on statins?

Many Americans take statins. No surprise there. But half of men, ages to 65 to 74, and 39% of women, ages 75 and older—that's pretty stunning. Combine the 45+ age groups and both genders, and it comes out that one in four Americans, ages 45 and older, are taking a statin.

Do the French take statins?

Nevertheless, seven million French patients take statins, often for longer periods than they do in other countries, at a cost of €2bn a year to the state.

What happens if you don't take cholesterol medicine?

Stopping your statin has been linked to increased risk for cardiovascular events (like heart attack) and death in patients with coronary artery disease.

Do healthy people take statins?

The answer: men 50 or older and women 60 or older with relatively low cholesterol but with other factors that put them at high risk of heart disease should discuss statin therapy with their doctors, especially if they have high CRP levels.