Posted on 09/26/2015 6:30:32 PM PDT by Swordmaker
Fears are growing over the side effects of cholesterol-lowering pills
Scientists have found the heart disease drug badly affects our stem cells, the internal medical system which repairs damage to our bodies and protects us from muscle and joint pain as well as memory loss.
Last night experts warned patients to “think very carefully” before taking statins as a preventative medicine.
A GP expert in the field said: “They just make many patients feel years older. Side effects mimic the ageing process.”
The new research by scientists at Tulane University in New Orleans has reignited the debate about statin side effects which many doctors say have been played down.
They include memory loss, muscle pain, diabetes, cataracts, liver dysfunction, diabetes, fatigue and memory loss. Millions of Britons currently take statins to combat the risks of heart attacks
Professor Reza Izadpanah, a stem cell biologist and lead author of the research published in the American Journal of Physiology, said: “Our study shows statins may speed up the ageing process.
“People who use statins as a preventative medicine for heath should think again as our research shows they may have general unwanted effects on the body which could include muscle pain, nerve problems and joint problems.”
"This research reinforces what has long been suspected. The side effects of statins mimic the ageing process." —Dr Malcolm Kendrick, GP
The scientists who treated stem cells with statins under laboratory conditions found that after a few weeks the cholesterol-busting treatment had a dramatic effect.
Statins prevented stem cells from performing their main functions, to reproduce and replicate other cells in the body to carry out repairs.
The researchers found the statins prevented stem cells from generating new bone and cartilage.
They also found they increased ageing.
Professor Izadpanah said: “People at high risk of heart disease can reduce this risk by taking statins. However, considering the adverse effects of these drugs and their association with so many side effects, it is crucial people are fully aware of the risks before they take the treatment.” Vanessa Redgrave survives severe heart attack thanks to answer...
Dr Malcolm Kendrick, a GP in Macclesfield, Cheshire, who has studied heart health and statins, said: “Statins just make many patients feel years older. This research reinforces what has long been suspected. The side effects of statins mimic the ageing process.
“I observe patients on statins slowing down. Some are not affected, for some it is a relatively subtle process, but for many it is a serious side effect and one which disturbingly helps us confirm what we have long suspected.” The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says the findings could save lives
Millions of Britons currently take statins to combat the risks of heart attacks, but a 10-year NHS plan has already been introduced to prescribe the drug to low-risk patients with only a 10 per cent chance of a heart attack within a decade.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence claims this could save thousands of lives.
But critics say much of the trials data has never been made public and more work is needed to ensure routine use is not harmful.
I do have a constant runny nose and a persistent cough from some of my other meds. However, the benefits far outweigh the annoyances.
We all have to make up our own minds about what's best for us.
My better half had been on statins and CoQ10 for nine years when we went to a cardiologist and had him run some tests to see if there was any heart damage. And there was.
He told us that statins cause muscle damage. CoQ10 only helps to minimize the progression.
No more statins for us.
It might prevent a heart attack caused by plaque buildup in the arteries. That said, there’s little doubt it comes at a cost to the muscles.
My cholesterol level is over 500 without statins. This isn’t because I’m fat, I’m 5’8” and weigh 122. It isn’t because I eat fat. I don’t eat red meat, only poultry and fish.
It’s because of a genetic problem...my liver doesn’t metabolize cholesterol as it should. Before taking statins, I had a calcium screening test. High is 400, my score was 1,400. Because of this, I had to undergo 3 heart catherizations and have 4 stents.
I take 40 mg. of Crestor daily, along with fish oil, ubiquinol and other healthy heart supplements. My cholesterol is now around 200.
I’ve taken statins since 2008. Lipator gave me leg cramps. No problems with the Crestor.
Niacin is also an alternative to statins. My IDC doc was on statins and he came up lame. ‘Found Niacin instead. I’m trying it now.
My sister was prescribed statins for cholesterol and was on it for 3 years. She was diagnosed with Dementia this year...would that they would find proof of the connection!
Same here. My cholesterol is now perfectly normal, and my good to bad cholesterol ratio is great. My doctor never tries to prescribe statins anymore.
However, I think Red Yeast Rice is really a naturally occurring station.
What I don't understand is the heart is a muscle and how come one can get terrible muscle problems - wouldn't it affect the heart? I do not take them now but did take CoQ10 but it didn't help. I do not handle most drugs very well anyway....I would be a good guinea pig for new drugs - I get all the side effects. :)
Marked for reading.
Niacin worked for me, it got my numbers where the doc wanted them. Crestor made my whole body hurt.
I ignored my doctor and took Slow Niacin instead and my numbers improved so my doc said keep on doing what you’re doing but, he would not give me a refund.
Not reccomending to ignore doctor but, just saying.
The author must has early signs of short-term memory loss, or possibly short-term memory loss.
The author is suffering from either short term memory loss or script stutter.
” prevention of heart attack and stroke in those over 65. Who to believe???”
I’m 89 and don’t take statins. Am i at risk?
My HDL is 38mg/dl
My LDL is 98mg/dl
I only take a BP pill if Systolic is above 120
And that’s not very often.
That’s the extent of my Presciptions
Have not had a cold or flu in the last 14 years.
I do take supplements, but those are by my choice.
The problem as I see it is that the connection between heart disease and cholesterol was always based on a mere hunch. . . and no studies anywhere have ever made the connection beyond that original hunch. Medical science has built a house of card around that hunch which has resulted in billions of dollars of profits in big pharma.
There is certainly no connection between dietary cholesterol intake and blood serum cholesterol or dietary fat intake. We make our OWN cholesterol and our own fat, these are steps in the Krebs cycle in which carbohydrates, including sugar, are converted to glycogen and excess is later converted to fat for storage. Cholesterol is the transport mechanism, and is also one of the primary building blocks of our brain structure.
I thought many doctors recommend taking CoQ10 in addition to cholesterol drugs like Lipitor and Crestor? Mine certainly did.
I also take 2,000mg of MegaRed Fish Oil daily.
Marked for reading.
10 years ago a dr cousin told me never to take statins. I talked MY dr into letting me work on diet and exercise and lowered mine to acceptable level in 8 weeks.
Hubby was on statins for YEARS when I started questioning why. finally read all the small print with his script and found that protocol indicated use to drop cholesterol by 30% or more. For “perfect” cholesterol, that means a level of 270 or more before prescription. Thankfully we moved to TX and away from his doctor as she didn’t want a patient with equal voice in care.
Just this last March, we both had full body scans (the kind where WE decided we wanted it) - found out we both have some cholesterol in our abdominal aorta which is 10 times the size of the cardiac aorta. and NONE in our cardia aortas. Now, we just point to the report. Best FSA money ever spent!
I’ve been on statins for two months now. Bad cholesterol has gone from 250 to 170. No side effects that I can tell. Taking Coq10 too.
There's HDL and LDL Cholesterol. LDL is the "good" cholesterol, HDL is the "bad." I have high HDL and low LDL. Low LDL is often (but not always) due to a sedentary lifestyle like too much sitting at a desk doing a job vs. getting at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.
My LDL came right up as I started bicycling and getting more active. My LDL went down as I did more exercise, took 2,000mg of fish oil daily and took Lipitor. I'm considering getting off the Lipitor after reading this article.
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