The Drs: Dangers Of Taking A Statin
The Doctors revealed that one in four middle-aged adults take a statin to lower cholesterol and promote heart health. Now, a growing number of doctors are questioning if it’s a good idea to have so many people on the medication. A big controversy is brewing over the benefits of statins because an increased number of people are complaining about a large number of negative side effects ranging from muscle and joint pain, to extreme fatigue and diarrhea. Many doctors are wondering if it’s really worth it to put their patients on the drug.
The Doctors discussed the controversy surrounding cholesterol-lowering statins and whether they’re being over-prescribed. (Rob Byron / Shutterstock.com)
The Doctors made a point to say that statins do a great job in the right patient with helping to prevent heart disease. Dr Travis Stork said he believes a lot of the controversy is coming from some of the new guidelines, particularly one that says if you’re over the age of 40 and you have a 7.5% chance of heart attack in the next 10 years, that all those people should go on statins.
The Drs: Statin Controversy
Dr Rachael Ross shared that the American Heart Association is saying that 33 million Americans should be on statins, which is twice the amount that are already taking the drug. Dr Oscar Garfein, a cardiologist, said he started in cardiology at the “start of the modern era of cardiology” and he knows that statins have been a game-changer. He shared that he takes care of people now who have had heart attacks 40 years ago at the age of 50.
Dr Garfein said there are multiple effects of statins and it’s not just about lowering cholesterol. Dr Jennifer Ashton said it’s appropriate to talk about the possible risks or side effects of a certain medication, but if you don’t have bad cholesterol, don’t smoke, don’t have a family history, aren’t diabetic, and have normal blood pressure, don’t take a statin. She said it has to be a balance of risk versus benefit.
The Drs: Over-Prescribing Medicine?
Dr Stork said in our country, it’s not uncommon for a patient to be on 15-20 medications. He said medicine needs to be individualized and people need to figure out what their risk reduction is. He said he believes in statins, but ironically, Oxford University looked at people in the U.K., half of which took a statin while the other half ate an apple a day. They had the same risk reduction in heart attacks.
Dr Jennifer Ashton pointed out that part of what elevates our cholesterol is genetic. However, Dr Stork said sometimes medication is all that works.
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