I have high blood pressure and my dr wants me to take a statin. HbA1c is 41%.

[Gardengnome]

I do remember in a discussion on statins it being said that there have been no definitive studies that have shown statins to be of benefit to women at all. Not sure of the veracity of that statement but tend to believe it.

H

I do remember in a discussion on statins it being said that there have been no definitive studies that have shown statins to be of benefit to women at all. Not sure of the veracity of that statement but tend to believe it.

Hmmn .... I've just replied to you John and have somehow deleted it! Yes, I'm inclined to believe that statement too, it's just that since my other dr left I have to contend with one of those "Do as you are told, we know what is good for you" types now. However as I consider myself in good health I think I'll stand up to him and resist the statin.

 

[Gardengnome]

True.. but NICE also publish lots of stuff about Type 2 which a lot of us choose to ignore. The fact that they think that lowering cholesterol is a good thing, which is not a black and white issue, would make me question any of their recommendations on this subject. They are wrong on diabetes they could well be wrong on this as well.

That is so true. The meds set themselves up as Gods and expect us mere mortals to believe what they say without question. I have become such a sceptic since I realised that the NHS guidelines on the 'healthy eating plate' were so way off the mark. It has made me not want to believe at face value a thing they say.

 

[Mep]

I take Losartan for blood pressure and have done so for 3.5 years, it's just that when I go for the 6 month review they do these risk assessments [Qrisk] and the powers that be [NICE] say anyone over 10% should be on a statin. They reduced the figure from 20% about a year ago. Trouble is the Qrisk rises with every birthday so the same set of figure can give you a low risk at 50 yrs and a high risk at 74. Stands to reason that the older you get the more you are likely to die of all causes.

Statins have a bad press and big pharma refuses to acknowledge the muscle damage they can cause yet they refuse to disclose their data which is more to the point -I saw a Prof Collins on TV who is paid by big pharma saying muscle pain was all in the mind - that made me start to look into the question. What I have read - and there is plenty - makes me sceptical. I am of the opinion that we women need our cholesterol.

My cholesterol a year ago was: Total C.6.6 mmol; HDL 2.8; non hdl ch 3.8; ratio 2.4. The dr at the time was OK with these figures but I am due another test so expect to be bullied by a different dr. The HbA1c was 41% and I was dismissively told that would rise. I weigh 57 kilos and am 172 cm high. Is the cholesterol too high?

ah ok, not sure what the rules are there in UK.... but where I live my last total cholesterol was 6.8 and I got told diabetics have to be under 5.5 total and if over they're required to put us on meds if diet doesn't work to lower it. I have a restricted diet as it is and a very high risk of heart disease in my family.... all of them have high cholesterol as well. So I'm just not prepared to take the risk of having higher cholesterol, so agreed to start the statin.... only started it about July though and last check at pharmacy was total of 4.3 so it's working... I'm yet to get the lab test done though.

 

[Freema]

Furthermore, It is noted in some research that too little potassium reduces the making of insulin. Maybe a good thing for insulin resistant patients, further research is being done. Magnesium might be my downfall.

could also be that the insuline produced is of a worse quality, but who knows ?

here is som explanation of why pottassium helps lower blood pressure :
http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/microsites/salt/Home/Whypotassiumhelps

 

[ickihun]

could also be that the insuline produced is of a worse quality, but who knows ?

here is som explanation of why pottassium helps lower blood pressure :
http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/microsites/salt/Home/Whypotassiumhelps

I bought a lovely book. In middle of it. A magnesium one too.
I'll ask if gp willing to test my levels, tomorrow.

 

[Freema]

I bought a lovely book. In middle of it. A magnesium one too.
I'll ask if gp willing to test my levels, tomorrow.

hope you´ll get the best of help, sound interesting that book, maybe after reading it you can tell more of it here
http://www.prevention.com/health/how-to-lower-blood-pressure-naturally/slide/4

 

[Bluetit1802]

You also need to remember that your 18% risk isn't 18% of the whole population. It is 18% of the people that have identical criteria as you. So the actual risk of a CVD issue is considerably lower than 18%.

Our Q-risk score goes up quite a lot every birthday, which is sad but obvious!

 

[bulkbiker]

I tend to believe that too, it's just resisting the dr's bullying that can be so hard. Sometimes I think they get a bonus for every patient they manage to persuade onto a statin.

I have a nasty feeling they do...

 

[JohnEGreen]

It must be up to the individual after weighing the odds as to whether they take statins or not I was taking statins for a long time and did not suffer any of the side effects mentioned in the adverse comments, however I am not taking them at present because I don't trust them but will see what my future cholesterol levels are like and then look at it again.

 

[NoCrbs4Me]

The statin guidelines in the US now say all diabetics should be on statins, regardless of cholesterol levels:

"The American Diabetes Association is recommending a less stringent diastolic blood pressure target for people with diabetes and that all people with diabetes take either moderate or high doses of statins, in keeping with recent changes to guidelines for cardiovascular risk management..."

From:

http://www.diabetes.org/newsroom/pr...e-with-diabetes-to-prevent-heart-disease.html

Whenever a doctor or nurse suggests I should take statins, I just smile politely and say "no thank you".

 

[Energize]

Gardenknome said "Sometimes I think they get a bonus for every patient they manage to persuade onto a statin."
BulkBiker responded "I have a nasty feeling they do..."

Yes, I'm sure it was in the newspapers a long time back saying that doctors were getting a financial incentive when prescribing statins. I have the figure of £25 per patient in my mind but that could be totally wrong, of course.

On that basis, I don't feel their opinion can be unbiased, to be honest.

I've had a period of time on Atorvastatin (I requested not to have Simvastatin as father and brother had had this and both had unwanted side effect and consequently stopped them). I did develop pains and mood changes which disappeared once I stopped the statin. I've not accepted any offer of trying alternative statins but my cholestrol isn't far out anyway (without statins)

As already mentioned, it's your body and your choice. You sound as if you've done a lot of research and therefore I would suggest you are in a position to make a reasonable informed choice as much as anyone can.

Good luck

 

[sweetpea2016]

Hi. Can only tell you of my personal opinion. My GP put me on statin's some 5 years or so ago.
I reacted really badly to them with severe muscle pains. I already had chronic Fybromyalgia and Statin's made everything worse. I REFUSE TO TAKE STATINS.
Remember, it's your choice what you put in your body and you have the right to decline them if they are not for you.

 

[Daphne917]

I was on statins but stopped taking them due to side effects such as frequent hours of dizziness. However whilst on them my hba1c rose from 48 at diagnosis to 54 so I won't be taking them again!!

 

[K9ddo]

Hi I take atorvistatin not had any issues at all brought cholesterol down to normal