Statins: Heart disease drug speeds up ageing process, warns new research

Sunday Express (UK) ^ | Sunday, Sept 27, 2015 | By LUCY JOHNSTON

[Swordmaker]

Fears are growing over the side effects of cholesterol-lowering pills

Scientists have found the heart disease drug badly affects our stem cells, the internal medical system which repairs damage to our bodies and protects us from muscle and joint pain as well as memory loss. 

Last night experts warned patients to “think very carefully” before taking statins as a preventative medicine. 

A GP expert in the field said: “They just make many patients feel years older. Side effects mimic the ageing process.” 

The new research by scientists at Tulane University in New Orleans has reignited the debate about statin side effects which many doctors say have been played down. 

They include memory loss, muscle pain, diabetes, cataracts, liver dysfunction, diabetes, fatigue and memory loss. Millions of Britons currently take statins to combat the risks of heart attacks

Professor Reza Izadpanah, a stem cell biologist and lead author of the research published in the American Journal of Physiology, said: “Our study shows statins may speed up the ageing process. 

“People who use statins as a preventative medicine for heath should think again as our research shows they may have general unwanted effects on the body which could include muscle pain, nerve problems and joint problems.” 

"This research reinforces what has long been suspected. The side effects of statins mimic the ageing process." —Dr Malcolm Kendrick, GP

The scientists who treated stem cells with statins under laboratory conditions found that after a few weeks the cholesterol-busting treatment had a dramatic effect. 

Statins prevented stem cells from performing their main functions, to reproduce and replicate other cells in the body to carry out repairs. 

The researchers found the statins prevented stem cells from generating new bone and cartilage. 

They also found they increased ageing. 

Professor Izadpanah said: “People at high risk of heart disease can reduce this risk by taking statins. However, considering the adverse effects of these drugs and their association with so many side effects, it is crucial people are fully aware of the risks before they take the treatment.” Vanessa Redgrave survives severe heart attack thanks to answer...

Dr Malcolm Kendrick, a GP in Macclesfield, Cheshire, who has studied heart health and statins, said: “Statins just make many patients feel years older. This research reinforces what has long been suspected. The side effects of statins mimic the ageing process.

“I observe patients on statins slowing down. Some are not affected, for some it is a relatively subtle process, but for many it is a serious side effect and one which disturbingly helps us confirm what we have long suspected.” The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says the findings could save lives

Millions of Britons currently take statins to combat the risks of heart attacks, but a 10-year NHS plan has already been introduced to prescribe the drug to low-risk patients with only a 10 per cent chance of a heart attack within a decade. 

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence claims this could save thousands of lives. 

But critics say much of the trials data has never been made public and more work is needed to ensure routine use is not harmful.

[txmissy]

Bfl

[traderrob6]

Figures.

[Swordmaker]

The author is suffering from either short term memory loss or script stutter.

I saw that. . . I was wondering if he wanted to repeat diabetes again or not. . . maybe again as well. Oops, he forgot again . . . to do it. . .

[lafroste]

I tried it again, it says the document does not exist on the server. I have no idea why that’s happening.

[sfl109415]

I’ve been on statins for at least 20+ years. Currently taking Lipitor and Zetia in order to keep my number around 225. My LDL is still high which is bad but my HDL has always been high which is good.

But my type of hereditary cholesterol problem never responded to niacin, oat bran, Questran or anything else. Without a statin my total number was over 600. Even with statins I wasn’t able to break below the 300 barrier for 10 years until Zetia came out and that was added in addition to my statin which got me as close to 200 as I will ever get.

At this point a new doctor tried to move me from 40 to 80 mg of Lipitor because he wanted it below 200. I refused and said I’m maxed out on the dosage of what I am comfortably taking. The numbers will just be what they are.

What I would like to ask if anyone who takes statins if they feel CoQ10 taken with statins has helped with some of the side effects. I have never taken it but just wondered. I have heard that it works well but have never tried it.

[Swordmaker]

I’m 89 and don’t take statins. Am i at risk?

My HDL is 38mg/dl
My LDL is 98mg/dl

Only of living longer. . . Your LDL is good, but your HDL is in the risk range for both men and women.

[sfl109415]

Could I ask you what your numbers were before and after the Red Rice Yeast? I’m curious because I had a friend who told me that worked very well.

[Swordmaker]

There's HDL and LDL Cholesterol. LDL is the "good" cholesterol, HDL is the "bad." I have high HDL and low LDL. Low LDL is often (but not always) due to a sedentary lifestyle like too much sitting at a desk doing a job vs. getting at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.

LDL (Bad) v. HDL (Good) Cholesterol

LDL cholesterol is considered the “bad” cholesterol because it contributes to plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can clog arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, heart attack or stroke can result. Another condition called peripheral artery disease can develop when plaque buildup narrows an artery supplying blood to the legs.

HDL cholesterol is considered “good” cholesterol because it helps remove LDL cholesterol from the arteries. Experts believe HDL acts as a scavenger, carrying LDL cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is broken down and passed from the body. One-fourth to one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by HDL. A healthy level of HDL cholesterol may also protect against heart attack and stroke, while low levels of HDL cholesterol have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease.

[aquila48]

Bookmark

[SE Mom]

Thanks for your time and information. Just went and bkmkd your original post from 2011. Wow!

Last year I had symptoms of a heart attack, which it wasn’t, thankfully, but the ER doc said something that struck me as odd at the time. He said, one thing I could do to keep my heart healthy is brush with baking soda. I thought he was ....goofy! Maybe not, eh?

[varina davis]

save

[berdie]

later

[higgmeister]

A GP expert in the field said: “They just make many patients feel years older. Side effects mimic the ageing process.”

Wait a minute! Aging affects the aging process. This article is a bunch of humbug and balderdash.

[Chances Are]

How do you do that? Do you mix it with water and make a paste, or what?

What do you think of mixing it with Hydrogen Peroxide, as a tooth whitener?

CA....

[RichardW]

I think this is a lot of hogwash. I’ve been taking them for 17 years now and I’m not losing my marbles nor aging noticeably.

These charlatans are pushing some magical formula to reverse the aging process. I’d read the fine print.

[Swordmaker]

And forty or more years of flawed dietary advice.

BINGO!

THIS is still HORRIBLY WRONG!

• One slice of whole wheat bread = 11.5 grams of carbs, an English muffin is 55.1, both are one serving. . . 6-11 servings of that many carbs per day = 69 — 606.1 grams of carbs

• averaged carbs in a serving of vegatables = 10. . . 3-5 servings = 30 — 50 grams of carbs

• Depending on the fruit, they can be from 3 to 25 grams per serving, for example small pear is 25, an medium apple is 21, a small banana is 23.5, a ¼ cup of strawberries is 3. . . so. . . anywhere from 6 — 100 grams of carbs

• AAAAHHH cheese. . . 0.1 - 1.9 carbs. . . 0.2 — 5.7 grams of carbs

• AAHHHHH Meat, poultry, fish ZERO grams of carbs

• AAAAHHH FATS, OILS, etc. ZERO grams of carbs

• Sweets. . . use artificial sweeteners ZERO grams of carbs

Minimum carbs on their stupid pyramid = 105.2 grams. I would GAIN weight on that intake of carbs. . . and it would be a horrible diet. I survive on 40 to 60 grams of carbs per day and under 1000 calories per day.

Maximum carbs on their stupid pyramid = 761.8 grams. Everyone would gain weight on that constant diet of carbs.

They have no clue what they are talking about. . .

[LouAvul]

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[Swordmaker]

Odd. . . works for me, I was just on the page . . . try this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2769347/posts

[Swordmaker]

Odd. . . works for me, I was just on the page . . . try this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2769347/posts

AH, I see what happened. . . I just examined the page code for this thread and the link is corrupted because when I pasted the link, I failed to notice the paste put in the TITLE of the article instead of the actual URL. My bad. Sorry about that. . .

[mom of young patriots]

Statins are clearly being over-prescribed, but there are some people here who are in the target group that the drug was developed for and it is working.

It is similar with antidepressants. Some people find relief with them that can’t get it any other way. But it is also true that there are many people on them who’s doctors should have taken a little more time with the diagnosis. I have a hormone specialist who is a respected expert in her field. She has written books on the topic of women’s hormones and she said that, far too often, doctors will put women on antidepressants who have hormone imbalances that can be corrected with estrogen, testosterone, thyroid hormones and similar treatments. Instead these poor ladies are suffering with horrendous side effects of “happy pills” that are very bad for them.

It is similar for men. Doctors need to be starting with the least problematic treatment and working up. How about testing levels of B vitamins in a depressed/anxious patient? Ask about diet and other supplements. Even synthetic fragrances in deodorant, soaps and shampoos can make sensitive people feel sick and cause mood swings. Instead, they start with the big ammo that provides the most revenue for the drug companies and the least amount of effort in terms of their 15 minute per patient diagnosis.

And don’t even get me started on those acid blockers. There are a small number of people who need those too, but when proton pump inhibitors are mis-prescribed, they can have negative effects on the digestive tract and overall health. If anyone is curious, I recommend Dr. Wright’s book “Why Stomach Acid is Good for You”.

The bottom line is that the patient needs to take an active role in their own health. Question your doctor’s decisions if they sound too flippant. They are not gods and they can fall prey to the lure of big pharmaceutical companies. Trust but verify.