72 year old 5 year health check

I have just received a letter asking me to attend for an annual blood check. This will be a first for me so unsure what this is about.
As to 11% Q risk I would definitely ask a few more questions. It’s only 1% over the acceptable 10% .

My optician discovered I had not had any standard checks done and she was concerned as blood pressure can affect eyesight. Summoned to have blood pressure and standard checks done. Nurse did blood pressure, checked weight and took blood. Two weeks later was requested to see GP, quite worried at this. All the tests were good and GP said even if cholesterol was bad statins woujd not be prescribed at my age - 79. GP discovered I'd had none of the yearly tests usually notified to patients by GP practice from 70 - 75. In fact nothing for 15 years. I can request a birthday check every year and she recommended this. So, even if I was clogged with cholesterol statins would not be prescribed. May be different if you are on statins at an earlier age.

Foxie48, thats interesting and good to hear that a lot of the stories of side effects are exaggerated. It is the side effects that worry me especially the aching legs as I already have severe pain with knee osteoarthritis

Why the drugs your GP gives you may not work, by a top expert
You see a doctor, they write you a prescription and you are on the road to recovery, right? No. In his new book, pharmacist Dr Nick Barber suggests the reality is that many drugs, from aspirin to statins, don’t work for many of us ...

There was an article in The Times this weekend about the book by Dr Nick Barber and the NICE predictions of percentage of people who will have a heart attack/stroke in the next 10 years. It's worth trying to access the article or look for the book. Sorry, I can't do links.

.
The Times
www.thetimes.com › ... › Health & Fitness

OLLYgr

Foxie48, thats interesting and good to hear that a lot of the stories of side effects are exaggerated. It is the side effects that worry me especially the aching legs as I already have severe pain with knee osteoarthritis

I have arthritis in both knees and taking statins has not affected it as far as I can tell and no other side effects happened. I hope that helps.

I read that it's important to take Co Enzyme Q 10 with statins. If I do have to go onto them I'll do that. As a worrier even if they don't do anything I'll have the placebo effect.

Yesterday I had a discussion with my GP at my instigation which resulted in a prescription for statins. My Qrisk score is 11% my total cholesterol is 5 and I’m 62. I decided to request statins because most cholesterol is made in the liver so diet does not have an effect on it plus statins also reduce inflammation in artery walls and stabilise existing fatty plaques making them less likely to cause blood clots.
I am not concerned about potential side effects, the majority of people don’t get them and if I do then I can stop statins or try a different type. A stroke, on the other hand is likely to have permanent, life limiting/changing effects so I believe in prevention if possible. To me it’s like getting a vaccination, it reduces although does not eliminate a known risk.

It's all confusing. My QRISK score was 10.6. The practice pharmacist recommended statins.
I was reluctant as I know can cause muscle aches etc.
Anyway as test was done just after Xmas and I had enjoyed cheeses, cakes etc that I would try reducing fat,band using benecol spread and yoghurt. No cheese, etc
Test redone 3 months later and cholesterol reduced, no further action needed.
Glad I tried diet first.

Nuffield Department of Population Health
www.ndph.ox.ac.uk ›

This site has much useful and objective information about statins.

Grandmama

Nuffield Department of Population Health
www.ndph.ox.ac.uk ›

This site has much useful and objective information about statins.

An excellent site for unbiased scientific information.

Statins are extremely dangerous - my husband was prescribed them and after taking them for a couple of weeks he was left unable to find the correct word, forgetful, tired all the time, looked poorly etc.

I spent some time researching - Gps are paid for prescribing them.

They stop cholesterol getting to your brain - cholesterol is VITAL for brain function. My husband stopped taking them and went back to normal.

If you go back a few years the acceptable cholesterol AND blood pressure targets were higher than they are now - changed to get you on medication for both.

Well people don't keep pharmaceuticals in business.

Leopard79

Statins are extremely dangerous - my husband was prescribed them and after taking them for a couple of weeks he was left unable to find the correct word, forgetful, tired all the time, looked poorly etc.

I spent some time researching - Gps are paid for prescribing them.

They stop cholesterol getting to your brain - cholesterol is VITAL for brain function. My husband stopped taking them and went back to normal.

If you go back a few years the acceptable cholesterol AND blood pressure targets were higher than they are now - changed to get you on medication for both.

Well people don't keep pharmaceuticals in business.

I think that’s why you need to take Co enzyme Q10 with them? I’m really loathe to take something for one problem that will affect my whole body: especially as I’ll be on them for life. I’d be happier taking blood thinners of some kind if I was at risk of a stroke. I’m beginning to wish that I hadn’t asked for a blood test now! I felt ok beforehand and now I’m worried about everything!

Blood thinners would reduce your risk of a thrombolytic stroke but can increase your risk of a haemorrhagic stroke. A very small minority of patients taking statins can experience temporary brain fog which reverses when the medication is stopped.

Calendargirl

petra

Yes, I wonder how many people are prescribed statins, but never take them?

My sister was prescribed them a couple of years ago, for her cholesterol. She takes them religiously. I asked her what her cholesterol is now. She has no idea. I don’t think she has ever been called in to update her.

I’m surprised that your sister hasn’t been called back for an annual review Calendargirl. I have a review every year just before my birthday as does my OH, 2 appointments, one to give blood and one for the follow up review.
If she hasn’t been called back for a review then perhaps a call to her surgery would be advisable, just so they can check that the statin dose she is on is doing its job.

Leopard79

Gps are paid for prescribing them.

Not true.

GPs participate in the ⁠Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), which awards points and funding to GP practices for hitting preventative healthcare targets. These targets can include identifying high-risk patients (like those with diabetes or hypertension) and offering cholesterol-lowering treatments to prevent heart attacks and strokes. While these targets help fund the practice's staff and operations, the money goes directly to the medical practice - not into the GP’s personal pocket.

Just to add to Dickens post and to clarify yet again. GPs do not get paid for prescribing statins or any other drug. If you disagree with this, please provide your evidence.

Dickens

Leopard79

Gps are paid for prescribing them.

Not true.

GPs participate in the ⁠Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), which awards points and funding to GP practices for hitting preventative healthcare targets. These targets can include identifying high-risk patients (like those with diabetes or hypertension) and offering cholesterol-lowering treatments to prevent heart attacks and strokes. While these targets help fund the practice's staff and operations, ^the money goes directly to the medical practice - not into the GP’s personal pocket.^

Medical practices DO get targets to hit with financial incentives - which are then shared out amongst the partners of the practice - so YES GPs DO get financial incentives to over prescribe.

Leopard79 GP practices get paid for hitting targets and GPs get paid from what NHS money is earned by the practice, however, the GOF targets do not require a GP to prescribe and drug, statin or otherwise, a GP gets the funding for testing and advising the patient so a patient who does not require any medication counts exactly the same as a patient who would benefit from a prescription. If you disagree with this, please find evidence to back up your view as I would be interested to see it.
AI Overview " GPs in the UK do not receive direct, per-prescription financial kickbacks for prescribing statins. However, under the NHS, GP practices can earn broader incentive points through the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) for managing cardiovascular disease and keeping up-to-date registers, which indirectly funds the practice as a whole."