[AmericaUnited]

Anyone who takes this crap needs to have their head examined. I know that sounds harsh but seriously, why take this garbage that does nothing but manage some phony numbers, while also doing significant harm to other body systems?

10 years from now, the whole cholesterol thing and it treatment will seem as barbaric and crude as having leechs suck blood out of you to do blood letting.

[blam]

"Anyone who takes this crap needs to have their head examined. I know that sounds harsh but seriously, why take this garbage that does nothing but manage some phony numbers, while also doing significant harm to other body systems?"

I'm a new-comer to your 'camp'.

[chesty_puller]

Anyone who takes this crap needs to have their head examined

And you are an arrogant fool.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

This is one of the reasons I avoid doctors. I wouldn't take a statin drug for anything. It's just too suspicious that medical doctors can NEVER find a case where a natural therapy might be worth trying before they resort to drugs.

I know of a man in a wheelchair because of statin drugs. There are those who claim cholesterol levels aren't even a cause of heart disease.

I've read time and again statins rob the body of CoEnzyme Q10. I bet there are almost no doctors who bother to prescribe that. Why not?

[Uncle Miltie]

My bad cholesterol declined from about 187 to about 111 on the lowest dose of Zocor.

I feel great.

I think I'll stick with the pills, thanks.

[dangerdoc]

Here's the dirty secret about statins.....

Doctors prescribe them because people want them. People know they should exercises, not smoke, cut back on fat and processed carbohydrates, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, watch their weight, use alcohol in moderation and watch their blood pressure.

Other than a few exceptions, they show up at their doctor's office after years of neglecting their bodies. Most have no real intentions of changing their lifestyle and expect their doctor to do something for them. Of course the doctor reaches for the script pad, it is the tool he has and the meds do show benefits.

I have an unusual job. I have the opportunity to counsel people on healthy living and follow them year after year. Guess what, people in general are set in their ways. Although my field is preventive medicine, I have realized over the years that as a whole, my specialty is relatively irrelevant. I am very thankful that big pharmaceutical is out there creating newer and better medicines. You are right, the medicines we have now will look primitive in the future, but then again, doesn't everything.

Here is the current understanding of cardiovascular disease. About 40% can be explained by known risk factors, 60% is either unexplained or currently being elucidated by research that is ongoing. Although 60% of Cardiovascular disease is not explained by traditional risk factors, the statins have been shown to decrease recurrence of myocardial infarction.

If you don't want your doctor prescribing you statins, don't show up overweight, poorly nourished, out-of-shape, smoking and asking him to do something.

Of course if you were born with bad genes, you can either accept your programmed expiration date or do all the things you should for a healthy heart and work with your doctor to try to keep your arteries healthy.