I've just had a consultation with the nurse at our doctors, this was to review blood tests taken a few weeks ago, ( these were a 6 month repeat due to slightly raised cholesterol levels ).
My reading, if I remember correctly was 5.6, but they now do a type of risk assessment that takes in age, lifestyle, weight, etc etc. this came out with a score of 12, which basically means 12 out of 100 people in a similar group as myself will go on to develop further symptoms, but also, 88 out of 100 won't!!
She has talked about statins and how beneficial they are, but I'm not sure about taking tablets for the sake of it, I know one side of the argument is, they can't do any harm, and actually might do you some good, but I'm worried that once on them that's it, and I'll be relying on them to much.
I now I can ask Dr Google, but I would rather get opinions from people that are, either on them, or, know about these sort of medications.
If I'm being honest, it's worrying me slightly knowing that I have this decision to make, should add that I'm 63, 6'3" tall and weigh 15.5stone, don't smoke, eat very healthily, ( but that does include rich food as well, but not ready meals or takeaways ), keep pretty active, my only real vice is red wine, and I do enjoy a couple of large glasses most nights.
We can't all be perfect, can we??
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
I've been taking them for nearly 10 years and believe they are a panacea. My cholesterol is now consistently very low no matter what I eat. The only disadvantage is that I can no longer have grapefruit. Get 6 months worth at a time for £50 to keep the cost down.
The doctor who prescribed them reckoned most of the population should be on them.
That is a QRISK score. So yes, statistically 12 people out of 100 in your position of age, health etc will have a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years. Taking a statin will reduce that - to how much is not exactly known all that well, there are some studies but I can't be arsed to look them up right now (sorry - maybe google statin NNT if you want to look). The cut off is usually 10 for recommendation of a statin.
There is absolutely no right or wrong answer here, which is why the nurse is sharing the decision making with you. GPs will recommend them because evidence shows it will reduce your chances of heart attack and stroke. So you have to weigh that against how adverse you are to taking a statin and doing a bit of research into side effects etc (most people don't have any).
Statins are just one way that you can reduce your risk, all the other stuff is additive as well - good clean diet, exercise, reduce stress etc.
Choice really is yours!
I've been on statins for a couple of years and my recent blood test came out at 5.6 too.
I think I was 9.6 before I started taking them.
2 years ago a blood test gave my total cholesterol at a level of 6.3 and I was recommended a daily 20mg dose, about the lowest dose I think. A recent test came back at 5.1 which wes good to hear, I altered nothing in my lifestlye / eating habits , except for a bit extra cardio at the gym 3 times a week, 15 mins instead of 5 , I find sweating an unattractive prospect but was told it was necessary . No reactions to the statins but they do need swallowing swiftly as they taste really unpleasant. I'm 185 lbs, 6 ft tall 32" waist, 44" chest and healthy, for the time being ......
I have been on statins since 2010 when my blood reading was 7.7. My last reading was 3.3 and I take a weak 20mg tablet once a day.
I am a 40 year old who exercises fairly regularly and eats relatively healthily too but have a combined cholesterol of 5.3 so have started take 20mg Atorvastatin earlier this year with no side effects. I am also a Type 1 Diabetic so after monitoring my cholesterol for a few years, my specialist decided it was time to start them. I am yet to take a further blood test but am feeling fine with them.
Hope this helps
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Sorry, I should have said that my specialist suggested I take statins to help minimise chances of cardio vascular issues, which I am at an increased risk of due to my condition.
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Just be careful, statins have been known to increase blood sugar levels, not in everyone, they did with me.Originally Posted by Mike2500
Prior to my MI my cholesterol was 3.9 and sugar 3.5 (old units)
After 3 months on 80mg Lipitor, my cholesterol was 1.8 and sugar 15(old units)
Last edited by chrisb; 16th November 2022 at 21:56.
I've been taking them for a few years. They made me feel a bit dizzy initially for a week or two, but my body soon adapted to them, so no real downside as far as I can tell.
Not for him as he is >60 and it’s prescribed.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
80mg Lipitor??? I am on 20! Blood sugar is fine too.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Surprised you needed them with cholesterol of 3.9, let alone 80mg. I started on 10mg and increased to 20mg.
BTW, is the dose of all statins equivalent - people saying they're on 10 of one or 20 of another - can they really be compared like this?
You can eat grapefruit with some variants I believe.
M
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Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?
I started on 10mg but was moved up to 20mg recently. The doc pointed out that 20mg is pretty much the routine starter point strength-wise anyway these days.
Statins have demonstrated cardiovascular benefits beyond just lipid lowering and are a mainstay of treatment post MI much like aspirin and other anti platelet drugs.
And you are correct the doses are not comparable between different drugs and so throwing out doses without naming the statin you are on is pretty useless and potentially dangerous if someone thinks they should be on the same dose!
A completely valid point, I have been on them for four years and they have lowered my cholesterol massively and I never had any side effects since starting them.
I believe the concern around statins stems from the early statins, of which there was only one type and caused some quite severe side effects in some people, namely debilitating joint pains. This resulted in many people believing that taking statins would give them the same side effects, however this is not the case.
Nowadays in the unlikely event that the statin prescribed to you gives you any side effects, the Doctor has the option of changing them to an alternative statin.
It is extremely unlikely that all statins available will give an individual side effects, we are now fortunate enough to have enough variety in statins to be able to find one that would work without any adverse reactions.
Thats my humble non medical opinion anyway.
Thought so - strange though that doses are usually round numbers....
Regardless of the dosage, I was recommended to take them with the evening meal as lying down soon after effectively mitigates any side effects (joints pain)
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Last edited by Tony; 17th November 2022 at 05:31.
I thought evening was recommended because the liver is most active at night making cholesterol.
80 mg Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is the dose prescribed by the CCU upon discharge.
Over a period of two years, the dose was reduced to 10mg, cholesterol is now 3.2 and blood sugar 40 hba1c although sometimes slipping up into pre diabetic range.
I have them now for 11 yrs in combination with Ezetimibe. That has worked wonderfully.
Sadly, I’m back in the hospital with severe cardio problems again. Certain medicin can do wonders but the body can ‘think’ differently
My mother was put on Statins (probably 20+ years ago) and suffered severe Liver problems as a result.
No-one seemed to know what it was initially, but in hospital they took her off them and she just got better, thankfully! The doctors did confirm that was the issue, btw.
Liver problems are a possible side-effect, but I've been on them (with Ezetimibe - I can never spell or pronounce that! - I suspect the Statins do next to nothing for me, though) for years and never had any issues.
M
Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?
I’ve just been out in them, in fact just finished my first box of 28 just yesterday.
My cholesterol level rose from 4.9 to 5.3 and the chance of heart issues rose from 10% to 16% so they told me I had to start popping the pills.
Have to honest, over the last few years I’ve not really been controlling my diet, hence the rise but am hoping that with control back in this time next year I’ll be back below the threshold.
I had a TIA 6 years ago with no cause identified in subsequent tests so they advised 20mg statins as a preventative measure, shopping with blood pressure and cholesterol pills despite neither being an issue.
I stopped taking the blood pressure pills but still monitor my bp from time to time and always fine. Had no side effects to date and I'd rather be pill free but without knowing what caused the TIA it seems insult risky to go against the medical advice.
For the record, I exercise regularly, am 57 with a BMI of 22. Never smoked etc.
Sorry to hear that Menno.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery mate.
Cheers,
Neil.
from my own experience , i was 7.5 total cholesterol at the time of my heart event in 2011, call a event as it was diagnosed too late to confirm it was a actual attack. put on asprin, and statins, over the next 4-5 years went through every make, every genuine and generic types , all had side effects with me , mainly joint paint and muscle pain sometimes debilitating, after a consultation with the consultant he recommended me to be put on a trail of self injections eppi pen style twice weekly( very new at the time)went through a rigours process to qualify as at that time the cost was £1000 a month to nhs, been on them since , no side effects as a result , cholesterol down to 2.1 total and steady, was able to go back playing squash , now with my son ( and still am at 66 hes 32! LOL). i have requested to go on the yearly one but still been studied/ assessed if i can, far better than taking the pill form of stain for me.
Whilst I appreciate that it is generally well known that high cholesterol and high blood pressure are bad for our health, I don't think the impact of just how serious it can be is fully appreciated by most people.
I am a healthy-eating, fit, active 51YO bloke, only 2-3kg over my ideal weight but do have moderately high BP and slightly high cholesterol. During an angiogram my LAD artery was found to be 95-99% blocked recently which was discovered after a heart attack which very nearly killed me. If my wife had not been right next to me and able to administer CPR, I would have died on the August bank holiday weekend while digging a hole to bury my beloved dog who died the day before.
OP, if you have high cholesterol and you cannot correct it with dietary modifications, then take the statins. My cholesterol has dropped from 6.6 to 3.5 in 2.5 months despite eating pretty much the same (healthy) diet I was eating beforehand.
Some people’s artery system is simply ‘built’ to hold plaque. Perhaps it’s not so smooth on the inside(?) Cholestorol is the main culprit but the genetic component is also very important.
I Started Atorvastatin yesterday, 20 mg once a day. I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Too early for any side effects yet.
I am aiming to do more exercise and change my eating habits.
Thank you to all for your comments, I will await my phone call from the nurse this week and discuss with her some of the points raised here, I will of course let you know the outcome, but I would say from the discussions on this thread that I will be starting statins in due course.
Hopefully, with the help of blood tests at regular intervals, and, any changes to my lifestyle that may be necessary to keep the levels low, ( I have re-started my daily walks/jogs, that lapsed due to other distractions ), I will survive a good few years yet!!!
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