Statins: The new Viagra?

MOVE over, Viagra – the new bedroom booster could be statins.

Viagra has long been prescribed for men in need. But now experts say statins could also help them beat erectile dysfunction.

A study in Greece showed statins, which cut cholesterol, helped improve impotence problems in men.

The findings, announced at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Rome, showed a 43 per cent boost in erections – about half the improvement patients would expect to see from Viagra.

Millions worldwide take statins to help cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes. But there is much debate on whether its disadvantages outweigh the benefits. Here, two experts weigh up the pros and cons.

British Heart Foundation medical director and cardiologist Prof Peter Weissberg, below, says: “The evidence for the benefits of statins is probably stronger than for any other class of drug.”

“Rather than treat a symptom, you are taking the drug to prevent a future heart attack or stroke. You feel no benefit, so if you suffer side effects you may stop.

“For those at high risk, if they stop taking their statins they may die as a consequence.

“Figures show that in 2014 in the UK, 108,000 people died of a heart attack or a stroke. “Statins aren’t given out like smarties. We assess someone’s risk and if they have a greater than one in ten chance of a heart attack or stroke in the next ten years, doctors can offer them a statin, along with advice on lifestyle changes.

“If the chance is less, it’s suggested doctors shouldn’t need to give them a statin. Like every drug there can be side effects but these are usually minor and not life threatening. Muscle pains is the most common complaint.

“Most of the people taking statins are relatively elderly. I’m 65 and I ache when I get up in the morning. That’s part of life when you’re this age. I’m sure people would also rather put up with the odd ache if the drug is reducing their risk of a heart attack or stroke – and potentially saving their life.”

Consultant cardiologist and co-producer of The Big Fat Fix, Dr Aseem Malhotra:

“I’m not against statins in principle but the majority of people won’t benefit at all in terms of preventing a heart attack or stroke.

“If you’ve had a heart attack and you take a statin a day for five years, it hash as a one in 83 chance of preventing you dy dyingying early, which is a marginal benefitfit t in the risk of death. There is an even smaller chance for those at only a low risk that it will prevent a non-fatal heart attack or stroke. “That is one in 140. Also consider that an apple a day has an equivalent risk reduction for cardiovascular disease as a statin. Evidence als also suggests one in 100 people will develop type 2 diabetes from t taking statins. “I see patients in my clinic all the time suffering from the side effects – up to one in five w will at some point experience a sid sided effect that interferes with qua quality of life. “M “Most commonly these are muscle achesac but also joint pain, forgetfulness fulness, sto stomach upset and, curiously, erectile dysfunction. Yet pills are simply doled out. “In those who have had a heart attack, a Mediterranean diet is almost three times more powerful a lifesaving tool. “Lifestyle changes have more impact than statins, whether you are at high or low risk – as revealed in my documentary The Big Fat Fix.” See thebigfatfix.com.