Statins

Anyone on statins and did you have any side effects? My cholesterol has come back as 5.2 which Dr. says is a bit high and suggested I go on statins but am very reluctant as I still do not think the long term effects are known. I have good diet but weakness is milk chocolate and cake - will try and cut those out first to see if it lowers. Already use Soya milk, eat loads of fish, particularly trout and salmon , and have a Flora proactive drink every day plus get plenty of exercise.

Re: Statins

My cholesterol level is similar to yours Buttercup and the recommended guideline level for cholesterol is always being reduced. I made a bargain with my GP and said I would try to get my level down in the next 6 months. I am not sure about taking Statins as my good cholesterol was fine and the other was only borderline. The people I know who are on Statins don't seem to have sidelines and it is supposed to be safe - but it is still a drug and generally I try not to take anything unless I really have to.

Re: Statins

Diet is the key - and like you I would try to avoid drugs wherever possible.

Cut that cake and chocolate out!!

Re: Statins

Easy to say Azz, but if you are a chocoholic like me its very hard. The cake I can do but chocolate .....

Re: Statins

Yes, send it to me!

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No way Mags - if I don't get my chocolate I am not nice to know Anyway, I have been told by a very reliable source (my sister-in-law) that it may not be the chocolate (and I really want to believe her )

Re: Statins

I was the worst chocoholic going

But it is actually easy to give up. Once you give up _all_ artificially flavoured/sweetened things your taste buds adjust and go back to their normal thresholds. Things like nuts/fruit taste so good again

Re: Statins

But Azz, nuts and fruits always taste good to me (as well as chocolate)

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I`ve been on the highest dose for the last three years with no side effects at all. I`m not overweight, eat very little fat and get a lot of exercise but mine was 7. My two sisters are also on it and neither of them are overweight but our mother died of a heart attack in her 50s so I think it must be genetic.

Re: Statins

My GP thought I should consider going onto Statins as my "bad" cholesterol level was "borderline" and that "borderline" was based on current revised guidelines which had lowered the criteria for prescribing Statins - These revised guidelines meant I just fell into the new criteria - not because my level had changed - they just widened the net.

I said I would prefer to wait and as I have to go for regular reviews, for something else, I said I would think after another blood test six months on.

Now, very recently, I notice in the press that research is indicating that Statins are considered not to be of benefit in many of the cases where they have been routinely prescribed.

I am fairly cynical and wonder if this is going to end in another change of policy/criteria now that economies (including prescribing ones) are being made to cope with overspending and cuts in budgets.