Is it safe to take statins?

According to the latest research many of us are worrying unnecessarily about the side-effects of taking statins. Yours Doctor Trisha MacNair looks into the research to find out the facts

Statins – drugs used to lower levels of cholesterol in our blood, have been hailed as wonder drugs that can prevent heart attacks and strokes. But there has also been concern about their side-effects, too. However, a recent study has warned that many people worry unduly about side-effects, and this is deterring them from taking these lifesaving treatments. As a result, say the researchers, tens of thousands of people are dying unnecessarily. The research found that if people didn’t know they were taking statins they were no more likely than those taking a placebo to complain of sideeffects. But once they were told, reports of side-effects dramatically increased – muscle pain for example was reported 41 per cent more often. So simply knowing that you are taking statins could influence whether you perceive abnormal symptoms. It’s vital to ask how the benefits of any medicine you are prescribed compare to the risks. How helpful statins are for you depends not only on your cholesterol levels and other fats in your blood, but also whether you have additional health issues that increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, such as diabetes or being a smoker.

A study warns that the worry of side-effects is deterring many people from taking statins

There’s no doubt that lowering cholesterol could reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke. For every 1.0 mmol/L decrease in your total cholesterol levels, your chance of cardiovascular disease drops by about a third. But are statins the best drugs to use? About 65 in every 1,000 people with high cholesterol who don’t take a statin will have a heart attack within three to five years, and about 21 of these people will die. But among those who take them, this drops to around 47 heart attacks in every

If you’d rather not take statins it’s even more vital to keep yourself healthy

1,000 people, of whom 14 will die. These statistics strongly support the benefits, but what about the risks? Mild symptoms include nausea and indigestion, insomnia and nightmares and short-term memory loss, but some side-effects such as muscle pain or weakness can be more severe and could lead to muscle damage or a rare condition called Rhabdomyolysis. Some experts suggest taking a Coenzyme Q10 supplement to reduce your risk of muscle pain – but this is yet to be proved by research. If you would rather not take statins it’s even more important to keep your cardiovascular system healthy – eating a good diet, losing weight around your middle, getting regular exercise and not smoking. See your GP for advice.