Cholesterol Awareness
Statins
Statins Side Effects
Statin drugs are sold under a variety of names including Lipitor (atorvastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Mevacor (lovastatin) and Pravachol (pravastatin) and several others. They work by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme that determines the speed of cholesterol absorption. Satins are some of the bestselling pharmaceuticals of all time. But the side effects of statins are rarely addressed. Recently though, the problems with statins have finally made their way onto the mainstream media. Please click on the link here to get the latest summary from BusinessWeek.
These side effects can show up right away or several months after the start of statin drug therapy. The most common is muscle pain and weakness. Some people experience fatigue, hair loss, neuropathy (tingling and pain in the hands and feet), plantar fascitis (heel spurs), and difficulty walking. Dizziness and confused thinking can be a problem too. Because the problems can occur months after the statin treatment begins, people do not always connect the two. Going on statin drug therapy means committing to staying on it for life. And did we mention it's expensive? Between $2.49 and $4.33 per pill. And you need to take one pill per day.
Cholesterol has many roles in human biochemistry. Every cell in our bodies has cholesterol because it's what makes cells waterproof. Without adequate cholesterol the cell membranes become leaky or porous. Too low of a cholesterol level can be a serious problem too.
The answer is balance. We believe a sensible person who has high cholesterol should first try a natural approach before turning to strong drugs. With moderate exercise, a healthy diet, no smoking, and a CLUE Bar a day, low cholesterol is attainable without expensive, potentially harmful statin drugs. CLUE Bars are a combination of cholesterol lowering foods that tastes like an oatmeal cookie. They’re delicious and you can eat as many as you want without side effects. CLUE Bars are safe for children and pregnant and nursing mothers.
"Unfortunately, the statins’ success in lowering cholesterol has led many people to believe they represent a cure-all for cholesterol and heart disease risk. They are not, however, a cure-all. To get at the truth about statins, we need to dig deeper.
The drug companies will tell you that the likelihood of side effects from statins is low: approximately 1-2% for serious muscle damage and liver dysfunction (usually represented as an increase in liver enzyme laboratory tests). Nevertheless, many physicians who prescribe these drugs and their patients who take them may tell you otherwise.
In many physicians’ practices (including my own), muscle aches and weakness occur in approximately 30% of patients who take statins."
- William Davis, M.D.