Are statins dangerous?
What?
We all know the infamous saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’, and there is some truth to this. As healthcare professionals we always encourage you to maintain a balanced diet and have at least 20 minutes of exercise a day.
We know that this dramatically reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes, as well as reducing cholesterol (fat) levels in your blood.
But sometimes making lifestyle adjustments isn’t enough to reduce your cholesterol. For many of you (especially those who live with conditions that keep cholesterol levels up, e.g. familial hypercholesterolemia), your doctor may recommend statins. Statins are medications that lower cholesterol levels in your body.
We’re not here to dish out medical advice, or tell you to take statins, but merely lay out the facts.
Why (is this an issue)?
Questions about the side effects of statins have recently come into public debate. Here are three common questions:
Will taking statins cause diabetes?
No. Research shows that statins do not induce (bring on) diabetes in someone who isn’t already pre-diabetic (nearing diabetes). The benefits of reducing heart attacks and strokes in someone who has pre-diabetes or diabetes greatly outweigh the mild increase in blood sugar.
Will I develop memory loss?
No. Scientists from John Hopkins University (in the USA) have reviewed many studies on statins and can confirm that they do not cause memory loss. If anything, long-term use of statins might have a beneficial effect on the brain, as they help prevent strokes and keep the arteries of the brain healthy.
It is very important to understand that some treatments work straight away, and some work later. For example, unblocking a blocked artery can immediately improve chest pain, and this can be felt by the patient as it happens.
However, taking a tablet such as a statin for many years, which doesn’t make you feel better straight away, requires a different way of thinking. Why?
Even though statins do their job properly, you won’t feel any different, despite being less likely to suffer from heart disease in years to come. Heart disease is the number one killer worldwide.
Will I get muscle pain?
Yes, you might experience muscle pain. You should discuss this with your doctor, because in rare cases it can be a sign of kidney failure (called ‘rhabdomyolysis’, fortunately usually reversible). Do not suddenly stop taking statins without seeking medical advice.
How (will this affect you)?
- One-third of people who already have heart disease will live nearly six years longer than they would have by not taking a statin. But 9 out of 10 patients won’t really get a significant benefit. And one patient out of the ten will get a huge benefit. This is confusing, we know. But keep reading.
- You may think taking statins is pointless and that is a very reasonable stance to take. But imagine, if you enter the lottery with these odds in the UK .. we know the UK national lottery has about a 1 in 14 billion chance of winning the jackpot, statins have a 1 in 10 chance of winning 6 or more years of life.
- Statins have a real, beneficial effect but it’s a small-moderate correction one that occurs over many years. Yes, over a year, the reduction in risk is very small. But that’s not a particularly useful way to look at a chronic disease – as over 10 or 20 years, it can add up to a lot.
The bottom line
As healthcare professionals, our work is evidence-based (based on research and scientific consensus) and we try our best to give you up-to-date, correct information so that we can make the right decisions about your health. Always consult your doctor before deciding to take any medication – your doctor is the best person to help predict your risk of heart attacks and strokes, and give recommendations.
On another note, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has announced a new ‘NHS cholesterol-busting jab to save thousands of lives’. It has been estimated that this jab could prevent 55,000 heart attacks and strokes, saving 30,000 lives within the next decade.
Exciting times ahead!
As always, best wishes from myHSN.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/la…
https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journa…
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056…
https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/ex…
*myHSN does not replace medical advice of your healthcare provider, and as always, if you are unwell or need medical attention, please dial 111, or 999 in an emergency*
