Cholesterol and Statins

Should I just stop taking statins? I feel I should stop. A doc on the radio yesterday said they do not prevent heart attacks so why have I been prescribed them. I’m thinking I will just reduce fat intake which is pretty low in any case. I’ve lost half my body weight my last blood results show that I have normal liver function so no fatty liver any more. What I read and hear about statins is not very reassuring. I’m on 40mg a day. My husband who is overweight is only in 10mg. ☹️

 

You must, must, must make that decision for yourself. Take into account your full lipid profile, your familial history and your personal history. Read up on the articles/studies in this thread, watch some of the lectures and then have the discussion with your GP. Best wishes.

 

You have a very over reactive consultant in my opinion. Those levels are very similar to my last test. This is what NICE says:

1.3.7 Consider the possibility of familial hypercholesterolaemia and investigate as described in familial hypercholesterolaemia (NICE guideline CG71) if they have:

• a total cholesterol concentration more than 7.5 mmol/litre and
  
  
• a family history of premature coronary heart disease. [new 2014]
  

1.3.8 Arrange for specialist assessment of people with a total cholesterol concentration of more than 9.0 mmol/litre or a non‑HDL cholesterol concentration of more than 7.5 mmol/litre even in the absence of a first‑degree family history of premature coronary heart disease. [new 2014]

1.3.9 Refer for urgent specialist review if a person has a triglyceride concentration of more than 20 mmol/litre that is not a result of excess alcohol or poor glycaemic control. [new 2014]

 

Your levels don't sound nearly high enough for FH. I remember an endocrinologist telling me they don't think about FH until levels are above 9.0mmol.

 

Thanks to all who replied. I didn't think my levels were high enough either and nearly made a fuss but then thought, well why not go and maybe get some more specific tests. (Don't know exactly what they do but they said to fast as there would be a blood test).

 

Yes!!!!!!! Now if only I could remember what I was saying...…...

 

I can't say that I found this article compelling and it doesn't provide enough references to support its arguments but in the interests of seeing the other side here is a link to a Guardian article "Butter nonsense: the rise of the cholesterol deniers"

 

Yep, always good to see these articles. My LDL is most definitely not caused by butter etc though, I personally follow lowish carb, low fat.

 

Interesting! Thanks for sharing

 

@bulkbiker Thank you for kicking off this thread. Very informative. Will be sharing with hubby who was offered statins a few months into T2 diagnosis by the GP. He said “No thanks”. GP was not happy

He is now in remission, and stopped all meds from eating LCHF. His Doc thinks it’s all down to Metformin

 

when i suggested I should stop taking statins to the Nurse she said I would most probably be dead by now if I had not started taking them when told to ?? so what should I believe and do should I keep take them or should I stop take them//////////

 

Your choice. We cannot tell you what to do apart from looking at the evidence

 

Read and listen to all the links in this thread, then make up your own mind. We can't tell you one way or the other. All we can do is tell you if we would ever take them. Personally, I will never take them.