The StatinsSideEffects.net Web Site (the “Site”) is an online information service provided by Statins Side Effects (“StatinsSideEffects.net “), subject to your compliance with the terms and conditions set forth below.

Please read this disclaimer carefully before accessing or using the site. By accessing or using the site, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions set forth below. If you do not wish to be bound by these terms and conditions, you may not access or use the site. StatinsSideEffects.net may modify this agreement at any time, and such modifications shall be effective immediately upon posting of the modified agreement on the site. You agree to review the agreement periodically to be aware of such modifications and your continued access or use of the site shall be deemed your conclusive acceptance of the modified agreement.

1. Medical Disclaimer

All the content of the Statins Side Effects website or any email/SMS communication from Statins Side Effects, such as text, images, documents, health risk assessment, weight loss diet, weight loss tips, fitness calculators and other material contained on the Website ("Content") are for informational purposes only.

The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment for any medical condition. Results are not intended as a substitute for medical/health care. Always seek professional medical care and the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health or medical condition. You should always consult your physician before starting a diet or fitness regimen.

We try to provide helpful and accurate information on the website, but we cannot verify, endorse or vouch for the information, services or recommendations available through the website. StatinsSideEffects.net doesn't guarantee the correctness and accuracy of any content on the website. StatinsSideEffects.net assumes no liability or responsibility for damage or injury to persons or property arising from use of any products, services, information, idea, instructions or material contained in the content provided on this website. We are not responsible for any health problems that may result from training programs, products, or events you learn about through the website. If you engage in any exercise program you receive through the website you agree that you do so at your own risk and are voluntarily participating in these activities.

If you suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or call for emergency medical help immediately. StatinsSideEffects.net does not personally recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, techniques, drugs, treatments, medications, articles, abstracts, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned or discussed on any of its website or links. Reliance on any information provided by StatinsSideEffects.net, others appearing on the website at the invitation of StatinsSideEffects.net, or other visitors to the website is solely at your own risk.

This website does not provide medical advice or diagnosis. We are not healthcare professionals or providers.

Indemnity

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold StatinsSideEffects.net, its officers, directors, employees, service providers, agents, licensers, and suppliers harmless from and against any claims, actions or demands, liabilities, and settlements, including without limitation reasonable legal and accounting fees resulting from or alleged to result from your violation of these terms of use.

2. Copyright, Licenses and Idea Submissions.

The entire contents of the site are protected by international copyright and trademark laws. The owner of the copyrights and trademarks are StatinsSideEffects.net, its affiliates or other third party licensors. YOU MAY NOT MODIFY, COPY, REPRODUCE, REPUBLISH, UPLOAD, POST, TRANSMIT, OR DISTRIBUTE, IN ANY MANNER, THE MATERIAL ON THE SITE, INCLUDING TEXT, GRAPHICS, CODE AND/OR SOFTWARE. You may print and download portions of material from the different areas of the site solely for your own non-commercial use provided that you agree not to change or delete any copyright or proprietary notices from the materials. You agree to grant to StatinsSideEffects.net a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual license, with the right to sub-license, to reproduce, distribute, transmit, create derivative works of, publicly display and publicly perform any materials and other information (including, without limitation, ideas contained therein for new or improved products and services) you submit to any public areas of the site (such as bulletin boards, forums and newsgroups) or by e-mail to StatinsSideEffects.net by all means and in any media now known or hereafter developed. You also grant to StatinsSideEffects.net the right to use your name in connection with the submitted materials and other information as well as in connection with all advertising, marketing and promotional material related thereto. You agree that you shall have no recourse against StatinsSideEffects.net for any alleged or actual infringement or misappropriation of any proprietary right in your communications to StatinsSideEffects.net.

TrafficServer 1.01 TRADEMARKS.

Publications, products, content or services referenced herein or on the Site are the exclusive trademarks or servicemarks of StatinsSideEffects.net. Other product and company names mentioned in the site may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

3. Use of the Site

You understand that, except for information, products or services clearly identified as being supplied by StatinsSideEffects.net, StatinsSideEffects.net does not operate, control or endorse any information, products or services on the Internet in any way. Except for StatinsSideEffects.net- identified information, products or services, all information, products and services offered through the site or on the internet generally are offered by third parties, that are not affiliated with StatinsSideEffects.net You also understand that StatinsSideEffects.net cannot and does not guarantee or warrant that files available for downloading through the Site will be free of infection or viruses, worms, Trojan horses or other code that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. You are responsible for implementing sufficient procedures and checkpoints to satisfy your particular requirements for accuracy of data input and output, and for maintaining a means external to the site for the reconstruction of any lost data.

YOU ASSUME TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY AND RISK FOR YOUR USE OF THE SITE AND THE INTERNET. StatinsSideEffects.net PROVIDES THE SITE AND RELATED INFORMATION "AS IS" AND DOES NOT MAKE ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS OR ENDORSEMENTS WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF TITLE OR NONINFRINGEMENT, OR THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE) WITH REGARD TO THE SERVICE, ANY MERCHANDISE INFORMATION OR SERVICE PROVIDED THROUGH THE SERVICE OR ON THE INTERNET GENERALLY, AND StatinsSideEffects.net SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY COST OR DAMAGE ARISING EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM ANY SUCH TRANSACTION. IT IS SOLELY YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EVALUATE THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS AND USEFULNESS OF ALL OPINIONS, ADVICE, SERVICES, MERCHANDISE AND OTHER INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH THE SERVICE OR ON THE INTERNET GENERALLY. StatinsSideEffects.net DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE OR THAT DEFECTS IN THE SERVICE WILL BE CORRECTED.

YOU UNDERSTAND FURTHER THAT THE PURE NATURE OF THE INTERNET CONTAINS UNEDITED MATERIALS SOME OF WHICH ARE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT OR MAY BE OFFENSIVE TO YOU. YOUR ACCESS TO SUCH MATERIALS IS AT YOUR RISK. StatinsSideEffects.net HAS NO CONTROL OVER AND ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER FOR SUCH MATERIALS.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

IN NO EVENT WILL StatinsSideEffects.net BE LIABLE FOR (I) ANY INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INDIRECT DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF PROGRAMS OR INFORMATION, AND THE LIKE) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, OR ANY INFORMATION, OR TRANSACTIONS PROVIDED ON THE SERVICE, OR DOWNLOADED FROM THE SERVICE, OR ANY DELAY OF SUCH INFORMATION OR SERVICE. EVEN IF StatinsSideEffects.net OR ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, OR (II) ANY CLAIM ATTRIBUTABLE TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR OTHER INACCURACIES IN THE SERVICE AND/OR MATERIALS OR INFORMATION DOWNLOADED THROUGH THE SERVICE. BECAUSE SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IN SUCH STATES, StatinsSideEffects.net LIABILITY IS LIMITED TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

StatinsSideEffects.net makes no representations whatsoever about any other web site which you may access through this one or which may link to this Site. When you access a non-StatinsSideEffects.net web site, please understand that it is independent from StatinsSideEffects.net, and that StatinsSideEffects.net has no control over the content on that web site. In addition, a link to StatinsSideEffects.net web site does not mean that StatinsSideEffects.net endorses or accepts any responsibility for the content, or the use, of such web site.

4. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless StatinsSideEffects.net, its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, suppliers and any third party information providers to the service from and against all losses, expenses, damages and costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, resulting from any violation of this Agreement (including negligent or wrongful conduct) by you or any other person accessing the service.

5. Third Party Rights

The provisions of paragraphs 2 (Use of the Service), and 3 (Indemnification) are for the benefit of StatinsSideEffects.net and its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, suppliers, and any third party information providers to the service. Each of these individuals or entities shall have the right to assert and enforce those provisions directly against you on its own behalf.

6. Term; Termination

This Agreement may be terminated by either party without notice at any time for any reason. The provisions of paragraphs 1 (Copyright, Licenses and Idea Submissions), 2 (Use of the Service), 3 (Indemnification), 4 (Third Party Rights) and 6 (Miscellaneous) shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

7. Miscellaneous

This Agreement shall all be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom applicable to agreements made and to be performed in the United Kingdom. You agree that any legal action or proceeding between StatinsSideEffects.net and you for any purpose concerning this Agreement or the parties' obligations hereunder shall be brought exclusively in a federal or state court of competent jurisdiction sitting in the United Kingdom. Any cause of action or claim you may have with respect to the Service must be commenced within one (1) year after the claim or cause of action arises or such claim or cause of action is barred. StatinsSideEffects.net failure to insist upon or enforce strict performance of any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any provision or right. Neither the course of conduct between the parties nor trade practice shall act to modify any provision of this Agreement.

StatinsSideEffects.net may assign its rights and duties under this Agreement to any party at any time without notice to you.

Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE.© StatinsSideEffects.net, All rights reserved.

Natural methods to lower high cholesterol levels should always be preferred to taking prescribed drugs such as statins. There are documented side effects of statins that patients should be aware of before embarking on a statin therapy course.

For some people natural cholesterol reduction may not be an option, especially if their condition is particularly dangerous, but for many others there are much safer ways to treat the problem.

The aim of reducing cholesterol in the body is to lower the bad LDL levels and raise the good HDL cholesterol levels. This can be achieved over a sustained period of time by a change of lifestyle including diet and exercise habits.

It is important to incorporate some exercise and fitness into your week. Exercise increases the amount of healthy HDL in the blood supply, thereby increasing the amount of cholesterol being transported back for removal from your body.

Another way to help lower bad LDL levels is to introduce certain cholesterol lowering foods into your diet. Here are some of the best food sources you can include with your everyday meals:

Soluble Fiber

Soluble fiber helps prevent cholesterol from being absorbed into the body’s intestines. It is probably the easiest adjustment to make because it is found in so many foods such as oatmeal, fruit and vegetables, beans – especially kidney beans, prunes and barley.

Omega-3

Fish is great for getting enough omega-3 fatty acids. It is high in antioxidants and cholesterol lowering properties. If you can’t stomach fish, try taking a fish oil supplement. Two servings of fish a week is the USDA’s recommended intake.

Plant Sterols

Plant sterols contain natural cholesterol-reducing properties which lower your bad, or LDL cholesterol level. As with fiber, it helps prevent cholesterol from being absorbed into the bloodstream. Find plant sterols in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and oils such as vegetable oil and some butters. Also found in vegetables, corn, soy, whole grains, avocados and sunflower seeds.

Nuts

Include a variety of nuts in your diet, like hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios, almonds and pine nuts. A handful a day is enough to help reduce those bad LDL levels.

Other forms of natural herbs and supplements believed to help reduce LDL cholesterol include:

• Vitamin E and C
• Green Tea
• Licorice Extract
• Extra Virgin Oil

If you already live a lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a healthy, balanced diet and you still have high LDL cholesterol levels, then you should speak to your physician about alternative methods like statins.

Heart Attacks And Cholesterol

Although statins have no adverse reactions to the majority of patients, there will always be a tiny minority that does experience some side effects. The most common of these side effects being digestive problems, which usually diminish over time.

A more comprehensive report on statins side effects can be read on our home page.

Another side effect that has been documented and studied over the years is that of statins and memory loss. Although this condition is extremely rare, it can be serious when it does occur and patients should be aware of the possibilities..

If you do some research on the internet regarding the relationship of statins and memory loss, you will find many conflicting arguments. Some studies have actually indicated some statins actually help with memory.

A recent study in France discovered that lower levels of HDL – ‘good cholesterol’ is correlated with declining memory and dementia, in which case taking statins would tend to help with cognitive skills. It is thought that HDL helps memory with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Statins act in the same fashion which would therefore aid a person’s memory, or at least slow the decline in memory loss.

The Mayo Clinic’s website says that there is no evidence that links statin use with memory loss or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Without any substantial findings and identifiable links between statins and memory loss, it is difficult to form a case for the to be banned.

I suspect that as with any type of drug, a tiny number of people may react badly to it and suffer various side effects. Statin is no different and the potential benefits to the people who need to take them as a life saving drug, certainly outweigh the tiny risks they pose.

It’s quite unusual to read an article about the potential dangers of eating or drinking grapefruit whilst taking a prescribed drug like Statins. Unfortunately some statins and grapefruit just don’t mix and at worse could be lethal.

Grapefruit contains a compound called bergamottin which interacts with specific enzyme systems within your body such as P-glycoprotein and cytochrome P-450. Okay, I might have lost you there with all the medical terms! But just know that these enzyme systems have the job of breaking down statins and other drugs into more usable chemicals which get transported around your body.

When you eat or drink grapefruit around the same time that you take your statin, the components in the grapefruit do not allow these enzyme systems to break down the drug. This means that much more medication than intended reaches the bloodstream.

It can be a very dangerous situation and may cause a variety of health problems, such as liver damage or a rare condition called rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle and kidney damage). Visit our main page for more information about rhabdomyolysis and other statins side effects.

It only takes a small amount of grapefruit to cause an increase of statins into the blood system. Just 1 glass or 1 grapefruit is enough to have an impact.

Not All Statins Are Affected

Up to now, research has only discovered the following statins to be significantly affected by grapefruit interaction:

• atorvastatin (Lipitor)
• lovastatin (Mevacor)
• simvastatin (Zocor)

Other statins do not seem to demonstrate the same, profound effect with grapefruit as seen with the other statins. These would include:

• rosuvastatin (Crestor)
• pravastatin (Pravachol)
• fluvastatin (Lescol)

Some scientists think that this may be due to the fact that these statins are not broken down by the same enzymes. Therefore, if you are taking simvastatin, atorvastatin, or lovastatin, you should avoid taking any form of grapefruit products.

Although the studies concerning grapefruit interactions with pravastatin, fluvastatin, or rosuvastatin were not as significant, it would probably be safe if you did not consume grapefruit a few hours before or after taking this medication, or avoid grapefruit altogether if you are taking other medications that may interact with grapefruit.

One of the more common side effects of statins, is muscle aches and pains. Statins and muscle pain has been the subject of various studies and reports over the years. Depending on which report or study you read, you’re opinion and understanding may be quite different.

There is certainly a link between statins and muscle pain and it is a side effect you should be aware of. The muscle pain and/or weakness are also referred to as ‘statin myopathy’ or ‘muscle myopathy’. Muscle myopathy simply means ‘muscle disease’ and ranges from mild myalgias, or muscle pains, to a life-threatening condition known as rhabdomyolysis.

Rhabdomyolysis causes skeletal muscle damage and releases myoglobin into the bloodstream. The myoglobin can cause severe kidney failure or even death if it is not properly treated. Although it is a serious condition, it is extremely rare and will affect less than 1 in 10,000 people who take statins.

In 2002 and 2008, the FDA issued warnings about the increased risk of rhabdomylosis when statins are used in combination with heart medication containing amiodarone. In 2001, the statin-based drug Baycol was removed from the market due to its links with rhabdomyolysis.

The chances of experiencing muscle pain and tiredness while on statins increases the older you become, with higher doses and while taking other medications that may interact with statins. These symptoms will usually appear within the first few months of initiating statin therapy and normally disappear once the course is complete.

Conclusion

It seems like there is an approximate risk of between 1 and 5 percent or 1 in 1,000 of developing varying degrees of muscle pain. If you do happen to develop pains or weaknesses, then the severity, in most cases will more than likely be a ‘discomfort’ rather than severe pain.

It is something to take into account and be aware of and seek further medical advice if you do experience any such symptoms whilst taking statins.

We understand that privacy online is important to users of our Site, especially when conducting business.
This statement governs our privacy policies with respect to those users of the Site ("Visitors") who visit without
transacting business and Visitors who register to transact business on the Site and make use of the various services offered by StatinsSideEffects.net (collectively, "Services") ("Authorized Customers").

"Personally Identifiable Information"
refers to any information that identifies or can be used to identify, contact, or locate the person to whom such information pertains, including, but not limited to, name, address, phone number, fax number, email address, financial profiles, social security number, and credit card information. Personally Identifiable Information does not include information that is collected anonymously (that is, without identification of the individual user)
or demographic information not connected to an identified individual.

What Personally Identifiable Information is collected?
We may collect basic user profile information from all of our Visitors. We collect the following additional information from our Authorized Customers: the names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of Authorized Customers, the nature and size of the business, and the nature and size of the advertising inventory that the Authorized Customer intends to purchase or sell.

What organizations are collecting the information?
In addition to our direct collection of information, our third party service vendors (such as credit card companies, clearinghouses and banks) who may provide such services as credit, insurance, and escrow services may collect this information from our Visitors and Authorized Customers. We do not control how these third parties use such information, but we do ask them to disclose how they use personal information provided to them from Visitors and Authorized Customers. Some of these third parties may be intermediaries that act solely as links in the distribution chain, and do not store, retain, or use the information given to them.

How does the Site use Personally Identifiable Information?
We use Personally Identifiable Information to customize the Site, to make appropriate service offerings, and to fulfill buying and selling requests on the Site. We may email Visitors and Authorized Customers about research or purchase and selling opportunities on the Site or information related to the subject matter of the Site. We may also use Personally Identifiable Information to contact Visitors and Authorized Customers in response to specific inquiries, or to provide requested information.

With whom may the information may be shared?
Personally Identifiable Information about Authorized Customers may be shared with other Authorized Customers who wish to evaluate potential transactions with other Authorized Customers. We may share aggregated information about our Visitors, including the demographics of our Visitors and Authorized Customers, with our affiliated agencies and third party vendors. We also offer the opportunity to "opt out" of receiving information or being contacted by us or by any agency acting on our behalf.

How is Personally Identifiable Information stored?
Personally Identifiable Information collected by StatinsSideEffects.net is securely stored and is not accessible to third parties or employees of StatinsSideEffects.net except for use as indicated above.

What choices are available to Visitors regarding collection, use and distribution of the information?
Visitors and Authorized Customers may opt out of receiving unsolicited information from or being contacted by us and/or our vendors and affiliated agencies by responding to emails as instructed, or by contacting us at support[at]statinssideeffects[dot]net

Are Cookies Used on the Site?
Cookies are used for a variety of reasons. We use Cookies to obtain information about the preferences of our Visitors and the services they select. We also use Cookies for security purposes to protect our Authorized Customers. For example, if an Authorized Customer is logged on and the site is unused for more than 10 minutes, we will automatically log the Authorized Customer off.

Third Party Vendors

• Google, as a third-party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on your site.
• Google's use of the DART cookie enables it and its partners to serve ads to your users based on their visit to your sites and/or other sites on the Internet.
• Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy.

How does StatinsSideEffects.net use login information?

StatinsSideEffects.net uses login information, including, but not limited to, IP addresses, ISPs, and browser types, to analyze trends, administer the Site, track a user's movement and use, and gather broad demographic information.

What partners or service providers have access to Personally Identifiable Information from Visitors and/or Authorized Customers on the Site?
StatinsSideEffects.net has entered into and will continue to enter into partnerships and other affiliations with a number of vendors.
Such vendors may have access to certain Personally Identifiable Information on a need to know basis for evaluating Authorized Customers for service eligibility.
Our privacy policy does not cover their collection or use of this information.

Disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information to comply with law. We will disclose Personally Identifiable Information in order to comply with a court order or subpoena or a request from a law enforcement agency to release information. We will also disclose Personally Identifiable Information when reasonably necessary to protect the safety of our Visitors and Authorized Customers.

How does the Site keep Personally Identifiable Information secure?
All of our employees are familiar with our security policy and practices. The Personally Identifiable Information of our Visitors and Authorized Customers is only accessible to a limited number of qualified employees who are given a password in order to gain access to the information. We audit our security systems and processes on a regular basis. Sensitive information, such as credit card numbers or social security numbers, is protected by encryption protocols, in place to protect information sent over the Internet. While we take commercially reasonable measures to maintain a secure site, electronic communications and databases are subject to errors, tampering and break-ins, and we cannot guarantee or warrant that such events will not take place and we will not be liable to Visitors or Authorized Customers for any such occurrences.

How can Visitors correct any inaccuracies in Personally Identifiable Information?
Visitors and Authorized Customers may contact us to update Personally Identifiable Information about them or to correct any inaccuracies by emailing us at support[at]statinssideeffects[dot]net

Can a Visitor delete or deactivate Personally Identifiable Information collected by the Site?
We provide Visitors and Authorized Customers with a mechanism to delete/deactivate Personally Identifiable Information from the Site's database by contacting support[at]statinssideeffects[dot]net. However, because of backups and records of deletions, it may be impossible to delete a Visitor's entry without retaining some residual information. An individual who requests to have Personally Identifiable Information deactivated will have this information functionally deleted, and we will not sell, transfer, or use Personally Identifiable Information relating to that individual in any way moving forward.

What happens if the Privacy Policy Changes?
We will let our Visitors and Authorized Customers know about changes to our privacy policy by posting such changes on the Site. However, if we are changing our privacy policy in a manner that might cause disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information that a Visitor or Authorized Customer has previously requested not be disclosed, we will contact such Visitor or Authorized Customer to allow such Visitor or Authorized Customer to prevent such disclosure.

Links:

This web site contains links to other web sites. Please note that when you click on one of these links, you are moving to another web site. We encourage you to read the privacy statements of these linked sites as their privacy policies may differ from ours.

© StatinsSideEffects.net All rights reserved.

Unauthorized duplication or publication of any materials from this Site is expressly prohibited.

If you have any comments or question regarding anything written on our site, please contact us.

Welcome to Statins Side Effects

Here you will find out the facts about the worlds most prescribed drugs - Statins, including the benefits and possible risks/side effects.

When you research cholesterol lowering drugs and come across the drug Statin, you also see lots of articles and reports about statins side effects. There are even books and magazine columns written by doctors and medical professionals that aggressively publicize the potential side effects.

As with any prescribed drug, you need to be certain in your own mind that taking it is an absolute must. Naturally you begin with speaking to your doctor and between the 2 of you, it is decided whether you would benefit from taking it.

In today’s society it almost seems like the norm to be taking some sort of drug or pill. From regular vitamin supplements to possibly more risky prescribed drugs.

However, despite the website name, I am not here to write purely about statins side effects and tell you how bad I think it is. I believe it is important to understand both the benefits and side effects before making up your mind.

This report is written for anyone looking for a balanced view-point and is perhaps considering taking Statins for a medical condition they have. If this is you, then I hope you find my article worth while. I have also written it in laymen’s terms so it’s simple to understand.

What Are Statins?

Statin is a substance used in a number of common cholesterol reducing drugs including:

• Lipitor (atorvastatin)
• Lescol (fluvastatin)
• Mevacor (lovastatin)
• Pravachol (pravastatin)
• Zocor (simvastatin)
• Crestor (rosuvastatin)

A seventh statin, Baycol (cerivastatin), was removed from the market in 2001 because of potentially serious side effects.

Statin is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs and accounts for billions of dollars in combined sales worldwide.

How Do Statins Work?

The drug works by limiting the Liver’s ability to produce cholesterol. Statins cause a significant reduction in LDL "bad" cholesterol levels and a small increase in levels of HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol).

There is no disputing the facts that Statin does exactly that. It has an almost immediate effect and after about 6 weeks onwards, will have a long-term effect.

Benefits of Statins

Statins benefit people with high cholesterol levels or borderline high cholesterol and other risk factors for heart attack and stroke like diabetes or heart disease. Amongst other benefits recent studies have found that Statins may also benefit people with Rheumatoid Arthritis and to help lower blood pressure.

Heart disease remains the world’s second biggest killer after cancer and it is understandable why Statins have become so popular. It has now become the worlds most commonly prescribed drug.

Statins Side Effects

As with any drug, there lies the possibility of side effects. People have adverse reactions to all manner of substances and their symptoms range from minor irritation to death. So why should this particular drug be any different and are the risks greater than the benefits?

1. Digestive Problems

Statins have been known to cause digestive problems such as nausea, gas, a bloated feeling, and diarrhea or constipation. However this is rare and usually the patient already has some sort of gastrointestinal problem.

2. Liver Dysfunction

Liver problems are without doubt the biggest cause for concern for Statins side effects. Statin drugs have been shown to raise the amounts of Liver enzymes. (Liver enzymes are protein that is released into the blood stream when damage or disease occurs in the liver).

The doses of Statin taken by a patient directly links to the probability of developing liver enzyme elevation. The higher the dose, the more chance of higher levels of liver enzymes. This elevation also increases in older people and in those taking other medications that might interact with statins and also raise liver enzymes.

Under normal doses, less than one percent of patients are likely to develop these symptoms. However, it is important that your doctor monitors liver enzyme levels before and during the taking of Statin drugs.

Although there have been reports of liver failure and hepatitis associated with statins and elevated liver enzymes, these occurrences are rare. Current studies have not been able to establish a definite link between statin use and liver disease. If for some reason your liver enzymes do become elevated, they are restored back to normal once the statin is stopped.

3. Muscle Pain and Weakness

Muscle symptoms such as pain and weakness, are another reason many people stay clear of taking Statins. Symptoms or (myopathies) range from mild muscle pains, to a potentially life-threatening condition known as rhabdomyolysis. It is currently estimated that the most common myopathy associated with statin use, myalgia, only occurs in about one person out of every 1,000 people taking statins.

The chance of experiencing myopathies while on statins increases as you get older, with higher doses and while taking other medications that may interact with statins. These symptoms will usually appear within four months of taking statins.

Rhabdomyolysis, another myopathy that can occur with statin use, is characterized by profound muscle pain, weakness, significantly increased amounts of creatinine phosphokinase in the body, and bloody urine (due to muscle breakdown and the release of myoglobin in the body).

Although this condition is deadly if not properly treated, it also extremely rare. Rhabdomyolysis occurs in one person out of 10,000 individuals taking statins.

Alternative Remedies to Statins

Statins work by reducing the levels of bad cholesterol in our bodies. However by incorporating simple changes in our diet we can achieve the same effect without cutting off the body’s vital supply of cholesterol and subjecting ourselves to possible, unpleasant side effects:

• Avoid trans fats, known to contribute to increased bad cholesterol. In the supermarket, read the label to find foods that are trans free.
• Avoid refined sugars, especially fructose, known to stimulate clumping of the blood platelets.
• Eat fish and Omega-3 fatty acids. Doctors recommend eating at least two servings of fish a week. The highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids are in mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon. However, to maintain the heart-healthy benefits of fish, bake or grill it. If you don't like fish, you can also get omega-3 fatty acids from foods like ground flaxseed or canola oil.

There are plenty of online resources that provide dozens of healthy foods and recipes to help lower cholesterol levels naturally and safely.

Conclusion

It’s important to understand that high cholesterol levels are only one of a number of risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Before you decide to take a course of Statin drugs you should consider the following indicators:

• Family history of high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease
• Lifestyle
• Blood pressure
• Age
• General health
• Presence of diabetes
• Excess weight
• Smoking
• Peripheral vascular disease — narrowing of the arteries in your neck, arms or legs

If the only risk factor you have is high cholesterol, you may not need medication because your risk of heart attack and stroke is probably already low and a simple change in lifestyle will naturally lower your cholesterol levels.

There's no doubt that the statin debate will continue for now, especially when there's so much conflicting evidence. Depending on what report you read or in the cases below, what video or news item you watch. Common sense would suggest you take advantage of all the natural ways to reduce LDL cholesterol levels before resorting to prescribed drugs.

Cholesterol Lowering Drugs - No Benefit to Those Without Heart Disease

If you have any experiences with taking Statins, Statins side effects, or would like to share anything with us, please drop your comments below.

Peter