Full Answer
What are the pros and cons of taking a statin?
What are the pros and cons of statins?
- Statin benefits. Statins are drugs that reduce cholesterol. ...
- Statin side effects. Statins can be a beneficial treatment for many people. ...
- Complications. ...
- Things to consider. ...
- Other ways to lower cholesterol. ...
- Alternative medications. ...
- Summary. ...
What are the benefits of taking a statin?
- The Current Paradigm. Atherosclerosis does not affect all of us, and does not affect all those struck by it to the same extent or at similar age.
- Expected Benefits of Statin Use. ...
- Remaining Uncertainties. ...
- The Road Forward. ...
- Footnotes. ...
Are Statins worth the risk?
Statins are worth it for people who already have cardiovascular disease. Statins are also worth it for people who are at high risk for getting cardiovascular disease in the future. Statins are not worth it for people at low risk of cardiovascular disease.
Why statins are dangerous?
They Cause Muscle Damage Surprisingly, one of the most common side effects of statins is muscle pain, soreness, and weakness. It can even lead to a dangerous condition called rhabdomyolysis, which is a breakdown of muscle tissue.
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What are the downsides to statins?
Side effects can vary between different statins, but common side effects include:headache.dizziness.feeling sick.feeling unusually tired or physically weak.digestive system problems, such as constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion or farting.muscle pain.sleep problems.low blood platelet count.
Is taking statins worth the risk?
Research has shown that statins are highly effective in reducing the risk of fatal heart attack and stroke.
What are the pros and cons of statins?
Statins are a group of drugs that can reduce high cholesterol, lowering the risk of atherosclerosis and heart problems. Statins typically cause mild side effects, if any, but these drugs can, rarely, cause significant, and even life threatening, adverse effects.
What are the positive side effects of statins?
The Mayo Clinic reports that, in addition to inhibiting cholesterol synthesis, statins may encourage the body to reabsorb existing cholesterol. Experts believe statins reduce serum LDL levels and prevent plaque build-up in artery walls, thus protecting against blocked blood vessels and heart attack.
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.
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.
How can I lower my cholesterol without taking statins?
AdvertisementReduce saturated fats. Saturated fats, found primarily in red meat and full-fat dairy products, raise your total cholesterol. ... Eliminate trans fats. ... Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. ... Increase soluble fiber. ... Add whey protein.
Do statins cause rapid aging?
Statins may slow human aging by protecting against telomere shortening: A feature of senescent cells. Summary: Not only do statins extend lives by lowering cholesterol levels and reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease, but new research suggests that they may extend lifespans as well.
What level of cholesterol requires statins?
But the statin question changed a bit when the American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) updated their guidelines. Now the only people who automatically get a statin based only on their LDL are those whose number is very high (190 mg/dL or higher).
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.
Do statins make you gain weight?
As with many medications, statins may cause side effects, including digestive problems, muscle pain and weakness, and cognitive dysfunction. Another side effect that's been linked to statins is weight gain.
What is the best statin with least side effects?
In the analysis of 135 previous studies, which included nearly 250,000 people combined, researchers found that the drugs simvastatin (Zocor) and pravastatin (Pravachol) had the fewest side effects in this class of medications. They also found that lower doses produced fewer side effects in general.
What Are Statin Side Effects?
One of the most common complaints of people taking statins is muscle pain. You may feel this pain as a soreness, tiredness or weakness in your musc...
Who's at Risk of Developing Statin Side Effects?
Not everyone who takes a statin will have side effects, but some people may be at a greater risk than are others. Risk factors include: 1. Taking m...
Drugs and Food That Interact With Statins
Grapefruit juice contains a chemical that can interfere with the enzymes that break down (metabolize) the statins in your digestive system. While y...
What Causes Statin Side Effects?
It's unclear what causes statin side effects, especially muscle pain.Statins work by slowing your body's production of cholesterol. Your body produ...
How to Relieve Statin Side Effects
To relieve statin side effects, your doctor may recommend several options. Discuss these steps with your doctor before trying them: 1. Take a brief...
Weigh The Risks and Benefits
Although statin side effects can be annoying, consider the benefits of taking a statin before you decide to stop taking your medication. Remember t...