statins

Don't worry, loads of people on here myself included are taking statins, I too am in my 40s and have been taking them for several years even though my cholesterol is not high it is recommended that I take the statins to prevent it becoming high! It seems that everyone with any ongoing condition are taking statins.

Hi, I'm late 40s and have also been put on 40mg a day of statins. I think GP said it is policy to put over 40s with diabetes automatically on statins. My cholesterol result was 6 middle of September.

Nik

I'm 28 and my doctor is talking about it. There is still controversy about whether a high 'cholesterol' level is bad for your heart; see Diet Delusion by Gary Taubes or The Great Cholesterol Con by Dr Malcolm Kendrick.

Doctors talk about cholesterol levels, but in fact its not cholesterol they measure, its lipoproteins - LDLs and HDLs. That they refer to lipoproteins as cholesterol implies to me that they are still clinging on to the idea that cholesterol is bad for you. There are many studies involving hundreds of thousands offir people that contradict the cholesterol and lipoprotein hypothesis.

The cholesterol hypothesis has been, from what I've read, been discredited. The best thing you can do to reduce risk of heart disease is to exercise, not smoke and not worry about 'cholesterol'.

I urge you to read the books above, the one by Kendrick is very readable; Taubes is more comprehensive.

I'm 59 and was told I needed statins and ACE inhibitors for blood pressure when my diabetes was diagnosed. I questioned why I was supposed to need them and my GP said because my cholesterol was high at 6.00 but she didn't give me my HDL or LDL readings. They seem to prescribe them as a matter of course because diabetics supposedly have a higher risk of cardiac problems. My last few ECGs have been fine and my blood pressure is normal and as I don't particularly like the sound of some of the side effects because I have a history of allergies to chemicals, I refused them.

Also, I wanted to see how Metformin affected me before even thinking about adding any more meds to my diet. I agree with Sam above, best to read up on things.

foxy123 said:

hi everyone im wondering if anyone else is being told they need to take statin for their cholestrol not sure im even spelling it right im 45 years old and been told as a diabetic my choletrol is to high this has really upset me as the only people i know who take statins are in their sixties or older ive heard some bad things about statins and im scared they could shorten my life or bring on heart attack .Is their anyone else in my age group taking them or anyone else who has been taking them for many years . IM feeling like im getting old before my time

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I don't take statins myself but have two family members that do and have taken them for several years without any problems, the British Heart Foundation is a good place to read about cardiovascular health, should you choose you can contact them and talk with a Cardiac Nurse, here is their website:

http://www.bhf.org.uk/#&panel1-4