Posted on 09/21/2022 7:27:07 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
About 40 million adults in the United States regularly take statins.
However, many of them don't stand to benefit from these drugs based on research from David Diamond.
Diamond and his co-authors reviewed literature from medical trials. They then narrowed their review to look at study participants with elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL), the so-called "bad cholesterol," which can be reduced with a statin. Some individuals with high LDL also had high triglycerides (fat in the blood) and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good cholesterol," which put them at the highest risk of having a heart attack.
But others with high LDL were very different. They had low triglycerides and high HDL, which meant they were healthier. People with optimal triglycerides and HDL levels typically exercise, have low blood pressure and low blood sugar, and are at a low risk of a heart attack.
Their findings showed LDL alone has "a very weak association" with heart disease and stroke. Their review went further, showing that when people with high LDL and optimal triglycerides and HDL were given a statin, there was no benefit.
The authors say their review also challenges the long-held contention that low-carb diets, which are often high in saturated (animal) fat, contribute to heart disease. That contention has persisted for nearly 50 years, dating to when cardiologist Robert Atkins was challenged about the potential dangers of his high-fat Atkins diet before a U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Nutrition and Human Needs in 1973.
"High blood pressure, obesity, smoking and high blood sugar are the primary drivers of heart disease," Diamond said. "Cholesterol is an innocent bystander, and saturated fat in the diet has been undeservedly demonized."
"Certain statins have been linked to cognitive impairment because they interfere with the brain's ability to produce cholesterol," Diamond said.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
“Statins show some benefit and some detriment for people. It appears low carb dieters don’t really need statins, if their health is otherwise good.”
Most people who don’t blindly believe their doctors* already know the above.
*since doctors have to blindly believe their bosses
Bkmk.
“”Certain statins have been linked to cognitive impairment because they interfere with the brain’s ability to produce cholesterol,” Diamond said.”
That’s a serious concern, or should be.
I’m glad to see its acknowledged.
Bump for later
I took Lipitor and began having really odd short term memory issues. I told my cardiologist and he immediately switched me to Crestor.
Much better now.
And just like THAT, the careers of the authors sublimated like dry ice.
Bkmk
Interesting. Thanks for the case study.
I could never prove it, but it is likely that my health event which I describe in my book was precipitated - or, at a minimum, complicated - by my then-ignorant statin exposure which was ceased a mere year prior to said event (which included in the effects 5 years of severe cognitive impairment; I have since recovered and am sharper than my youth).
I remain convinced that I’d have died by now had I not quit the damned pills and fired my so-called ‘doctor’.
Irony: Had I not been rear-ended, I never would have discovered the tailspin that was my health at the time.
I truly believe that I owe my longer, healthy life to a teenager applying makeup in her rearview mirror.
Found this website in researching on my own: (https://spacedoc.com/#).
Saved my life, fired the Dr. (should have sued him), and still suffering from memory loss to an extent. It was so bad that at the peak I went on a 3 week overseas trip, and would never have known I had been if I hadn't been shown the pictures.
Stay away from statins, and Lipitor specifically!
“Yer messin’ wit da boss’s money, Davey. Nevah mess wit da boss’s money!” :)
Okay, now I’m really confused about statins, which I take daily.
my diet is definitely high protein and very low carbs. Turns out, I really don’t care for carbs much. I really don’t like pasta at all, except for the occasional mac and cheese. In fact I can’t think of any carbs that I enjoy other than that. I’m at the right weight for my BMI and I maintain it easily.
In your opinion, should I be taking this statin they put me on?
Statins seem to be an anti-inflammatory, which can help people with damaged arteries. They can be very helpful for some people. They are not needed JUST because of high cholesterol. I had a doctor try to prescribe them for me because my TOTAL cholesterol was 195 - with all other indicators good! But I have a friend who has had a stroke and he MAY be helped.
He’ll take them without question, though, because he doesn’t believe in questioning anything a doctor says.
;>(
“In your opinion, should I be taking this statin they put me on?”
I would NEVER give medical advice to a stranger...
.
.
.
...on the other hand, if you told me that you stopped taking them, I can’t say I’d call you an idiot, either.
.
I appreciate that. I think I was doing just fine before they put me on them. My last lab work showed my LDL was low, and my HDL was slightly high. All good numbers according to my doc. Everything fine. But she still wanted me to start taking a statin. I think I might be better off without them after reading this article.
Again, thanks for the advice. I’m going to look into it some more before I make a decision whether to stop or not.
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