Cholesterol

Can I just clarify that statins are often prescribed for people with high blood pressure but low cholesterol as they are protective against strokes and heart attacks because amongst other benefits they can stabilise the plaque in arteries. Strokes are dreadful as are heart attacks, sometimes there's nothing we can do to avoid being ill but I do believe in taking my doctor's advice.

foxie48

Can I just clarify that statins are often prescribed for people with high blood pressure but low cholesterol as they are protective against strokes and heart attacks because amongst other benefits they can stabilise the plaque in arteries. Strokes are dreadful as are heart attacks, sometimes there's nothing we can do to avoid being ill but I do believe in taking my doctor's advice.

“Some studies have shown” that statins may be offered to people with high BP is what I am reading.

Can I just say that my husband has had very high blood pressure for DECADES and seen countless GPs, Consultants (NHS and Private) and never once has he been offered statins. I am sure they would have added a statin to his cocktail of 8 BP meds he already takes if they thought it would help.

Primrose my post was not aimed at you or your situation I just wanted to clarify that statins can be offered to people with high blood pressure and low cholesterol. I am genuinely very sad for your husband's illness, having had a family member suffer a life changing stroke I know how difficult it is for the family. None of us know if taking statins will prevent us becoming ill but I work on the basis that knowledge is power, it enables us to make informed decisions. I do hope your husband makes a good recovery. My BIL lived for 20 years despite the expectation that he would not survive once he came off life support, sadly his QOL was extremely poor and he required 24 hour care.

"If you have have high cholesterol, not taking statins won't reduce the risk of dementia, it will elevate the chance of it as the small blood vessels in your brain become harder so things don't work so well."

Latest research suggests that statins have a protective effect
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39822593/

Can I just say that my husband has had very high blood pressure for DECADES and seen countless GPs, Consultants (NHS and Private) and never once has he been offered statins. I am sure they would have added a statin to his cocktail of 8 BP meds he already takes if they thought it would help.

I have had very high BP for 40+ years. I have lived in London, Devon, France and seen many cardiologists, privately, and had mris, all sorts of blood tests etc. My cholesterol levels are always low for my age, statins were never offered by any of the experts, though all of a sudden, for no apparent reason, I recently received a surgery letter to say "they" - I'm guessing computer - think statins might be a good idea, if I wanted to.

I'll stick with this tonight. 🍷

I tried to login to the NHS website to look at my blood results janeainsworth but because I'm in Scotland and we have NHS Scotland they don't seem to offer the same service.
I'll try my medical practice.

escaped NICE guidelines have lowered the threshold for offering statins. It used to be a 10% or higher risk of CVD in the next ten years, but it is now recommending a lower risk for some people. I have no idea why your GP thinks you're at risk but I would imagine your age and high BP would push you over 10%, even if you are healthy in every other way.

This is the QRISK calculator, so you can work it out for yourself:

www.qrisk.org/

PS. Cholesterol levels do tend to increase with age, then decrease. Obviously, a 20 year old with a total cholesterol of 6 would be more worrying than a 80 year old with a total cholesterol of 6. That's not because it's more acceptable for the 80 year old but because he/she is more likely to die of other causes within 10 years than the 20 year old, so the difference made by statins is less. It doesn't mean older people shouldn't be treated, if that's what they want.

escaped sante

Nice one!

Dad came off statins and started taking vitamin B3 (niacin) as per a naturopath. It lowered his cholesterol. DH also started vitamin B3 for his high cholesterol and his levels are now at an acceptable level - to the surprise of his GP who wanted him to go on statins too.

I can't advocate it, naturally, as I'm not a GP or specialist. Each person is different, has a different medical history, etc. You can listen to your GP and take his/her advice or ask him if you can try to lower your levels by diet or other means, and get your levels checked again in 3 to 6 months - and take things from there.

I hope you find a solution.💐

foxie48

Primrose my post was not aimed at you or your situation I just wanted to clarify that statins can be offered to people with high blood pressure and low cholesterol. I am genuinely very sad for your husband's illness, having had a family member suffer a life changing stroke I know how difficult it is for the family. None of us know if taking statins will prevent us becoming ill but I work on the basis that knowledge is power, it enables us to make informed decisions. I do hope your husband makes a good recovery. My BIL lived for 20 years despite the expectation that he would not survive once he came off life support, sadly his QOL was extremely poor and he required 24 hour care.

Thank you. I didn’t think it was aimed at me. No probs.

My husband has never had high cholesterol but he does have Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) so he is on statins. His blood pressure is borderline high so he has to take something for that too. He is a man who has never taken a tablet in his life that he really didn't need to but after his research, he chose to take statins.

There is so much misinformation out there about statins! Please make your decision based on the benefits for your health, their bhenefits really do outweigh the reports of cramps abd other reported issues , the BHF Web site has some excellent information www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/drug-cabinet/statins
Due to a heart attack I'm on the highest dose of the strongest statin and I've had no side effects,apart from my cholesterol is now down to 3.0 I slso watch my diet - slmost no dairy or meat. I want to live well and healthily!

There are cholesterol reducing tablets you can buy online. They have worked for me combining them with Benecol

DollyTubb

There is so much misinformation out there about statins! Please make your decision based on the benefits for your health, their bhenefits really do outweigh the reports of cramps abd other reported issues , the BHF Web site has some excellent information www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/drug-cabinet/statins
Due to a heart attack I'm on the highest dose of the strongest statin and I've had no side effects,apart from my cholesterol is now down to 3.0 I slso watch my diet - slmost no dairy or meat. I want to live well and healthily!

With your medical history I understand but a lot of people are on them unnecessarily.

A neighbour of mine was early 80s, fit as a fiddle. Walked miles, did all her third acre garden as she lived alone, drove a ride on mower, all her own decorating etc. she was called in for a check up and they put her on statins as they said she had high cholesterol.

Within days she dare not be more than a few steps from the toilet. She also felt very tired and she ached. The Dr changed to another statin and that made her feel so ill she could not get out of bed. The third statin she tried she began to think she had dementia as she was so forgetful and confused.

She told the Dr she had given them a fair trial but she was coming off them as what is the point of taking pills that make you feel worse. She lives alone with no family whatsoever so it was vital that she was fit and healthy.

She lived well into her 90s with no heart attacks or strokes.

I know plenty of others like her.

Primrose53 Your friend did the right thing - tried statins and the said "enough is enough". Anecdotal evidence shouldn't put other people off. Almost all the peer-reviewed research (and there has been tons of it) shows that statins are beneficial and that relatively few people have side effects.

I don't know what criteria you're using for claiming that people take statins unnecessarily.

Magpielottie

There are cholesterol reducing tablets you can buy online. They have worked for me combining them with Benecol

Do they contain Niacin (Vit B3)? If so, and you're thinking of taking them, read up about the dangers of Niacin.

Most people get enough Niacin from their diets, but the people selling them online do make a nice profit.

I reacted badly to statins, so I was given a different drug, Ezetimbe, which apparently lowers cholesterol but in a different way. It seems to work and without the awful side effects of avarstatin.

After a recent lung cancer scan, I was obviously relieved to find that I did not have cancer but apparently I have calcium in the veins around my heart so I’ve been put on a statin..
And it also revealed that I had COPD,as an ex-smoker who used to smoke 20 cigarettes a day for 45 years. I’m not at all surprised that my lungs have taken a battering just relieved I don’t have to take a “puffer”at the moment, I do get a little breathless sometimes, but think I have gotten away lightly compared to what could’ve been found and let’s be fair could still be found in the future…

I like porridge. Is it made with semi skinned milk.

I have been taking statins for a while, found one that suits me. Had cholesterol tested recently and it was lower than I have ever seen it, under 4.
I read somewhere that someone was taking a statin on alternate days. I have messaged my GP to ask about this but can't get an appointment until 8 July
In the meantime I have started myself on this regime!
Has anyone had experience like this?

Yes, I take Rovastatin 5mg on alternate days and this works OK for me, my cholesterol is down from 7.6 to 5.1, so will continue this way.