Telegraph: Statins for all over-50s to reduce heart deaths

Re: Telegraph: Statins for all over-50s to reduce heart deat

Yes - like you I would rather run a very low statistical risk than suffer the debilitating complications.

Re: Telegraph: Statins for all over-50s to reduce heart deat

I know what I'm betting on too, Stephen! You should be fine. Though I've heard that if you limit your fat intake for the 24 hours pre-cholesterol-test, it lowers the amount in your blood.

Also no alcohol for 24 hours previously, as that increases your triglycerides!

I don't know if either is correct . Both rather defeat the purpose, I would have thought.

Viv 8)

Re: Telegraph: Statins for all over-50s to reduce heart deat

Nurses seem to feel empowered by pushing health-by-numbers drugs onto healthy people. I don't have a cholesterol problem or a kidney problem or a blood pressure problem but the practice nurse wanted to give me all three.

Re: Telegraph: Statins for all over-50s to reduce heart deat

Artichoke said:

Nurses seem to feel empowered by pushing health-by-numbers drugs onto healthy people. I don't have a cholesterol problem or a kidney problem or a blood pressure problem but the practice nurse wanted to give me all three.

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Its called preventative medicine Arti, no one has Polio or Mumps Measles or Rubella when they are given drugs as children (inoculations) to prevent them. No one can force any drug on you that you dont want so you have to make the decision whether you feel the odds are good or not. weigh up the pros and cons, do some research, talk to your doctor perhaps and then make your decision as to whether you take all, some or none of them.

I have had high BP since before diabetes came along and was prescribed Amlodipine and another drug to help lower my BP, when I saw a cardiologist after being diagnosed with diabetes he changed the Amlodipine to Ramipril as it is proved to help protect the kidneys from the damage diabetes can cause to them, I only take a small dose of 2.5mg and am happy to do so even though my kidney function is fine.

The NHS are between a rock and a hard place it seems, they are castigated when they do nothing and slated when they do something. Personally I quite like a choice, at least these drugs are available to us should we wish to use them.

Re: Telegraph: Statins for all over-50s to reduce heart deat

Sid Bonkers said:

he changed the Amlodipine to Ramipril as it is proved to help protect the kidneys from the damage diabetes can cause to them, I only take a small dose of 2.5mg and am happy to do so even though my kidney function is fine.

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Yes I remember Dillinger saying a few weeks back that he was given Ramipril 10 years ago to help protect the kidneys, I might be wrong but don't all bp drugs ending in ....prill also help to protect the kidneys?

Re: Telegraph: Statins for all over-50s to reduce heart deat

I believe Ramipril is an ACE inhibitor so I would guess that any ACE inhibitor may have the same effect but I have no knowledge of whether they all end in 'prill' but I'm guessing your right :thumbup:

Re: Telegraph: Statins for all over-50s to reduce heart deat

Thanks Sid

Re: Telegraph: Statins for all over-50s to reduce heart deat

Artichoke said:

Nurses seem to feel empowered by pushing health-by-numbers drugs onto healthy people. I don't have a cholesterol problem or a kidney problem or a blood pressure problem but the practice nurse wanted to give me all three.

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I'm not sure I agree with nurses feeling empowered. My DSN has never suggested any medication to me, it was my GP who offered me Metformin and Simvastatin. I decided to take both, and then see how things went. When offered I was in such a daze over being diagnosed as diabetic, and also I have huge trust and faith in my GP, who has never once let me down (not even since diabetes diagnosis). I have my HbA1c test June 27, and once I know all the results of that will decide what to do statin wise. I want to remain on Metformin, for the protective benefits, but as for statins, I will sit and discuss my results, and statins with him once we know what we are dealing with.

Re: Telegraph: Statins for all over-50s to reduce heart deat

We were discussing health during our tennis club tea break & statins came to the fore. Severl had had problems with side effects, & though it better to give them up in the interests of better health now, rather than health problems now caused by a drug which might give benefits years down the line. Five of the 8 of us are over 60, & still playing good tennis, so our basic health is OK.

It seems as if statins are the primary defence tool for a variety of problems. But when your primary tool is a hammer, you see every problem as a nail.

Re: Telegraph: Statins for all over-50s to reduce heart deat

The more I hear about them the less I like the idea of them (came across this from somewhere, can't remember how....apologies if someone on here posted it!!).....

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/06/fda-warning-on-statins.aspx

My Mum was okay on Simvastin for a couple of years or so then by 5 years she was struggling to walk and lift things, a couple of years after stopping them she is nearly back to the fit person she used to be and her brain fog has pretty much cleared.

I've refused to take them and both my Diabetic Nurse and my Doctor, so far are honouring my decision despite my total cholesterol being high, although the ratio and HDL are good.

Regards
Angie