@ Pats, well, long story short, my mother had a sudden and fatal heart attack some 16 years ago. I will admit to freaking out (I was the one who found her, and called ambulance, she was still alive at this point - but I never saw her alive again), and started having mild panic attacks. Went to the doc who, I think to humour me sent me for stress tests which because of my severe lower back problems were inconclusive. And they also arranged for a 24 hour blood pressure monitor as because of worry etc the readings were all over the place. Anyway all came back either border line of inconclusive, so 'as a precaution' he prescribed statins (now I think of it as being prescribed regular doses of paracetamol 'just in case' I get a head ache) . But at no point was it EVER suggested, or was I EVER recalled for regular blood tests!! It is only more recently, since experiencing all the various side effects, and being advised by an elderly neighbour and others about these, plus reading up on the things, that I realised they were probably causing more harm than good. Result, long discussion with new doc (we had moved since first prescribed), quick blood test which showed my good lipids were very good and bad ones borderline, that it was decided to try without for a few months. When I returned after three months without, even my doctor noticed the difference in me and subsequent bloods showed same results. So NO MORE poison in my system v six monthly blood tests? No contest.