Curious what peoples’ thoughts are on the Statin machine for lack of a better label.
I recently observed my father’s absurd array of pills he takes on a daily basis, and I do not wish to become a slave to the pharmaceutical companies as I get older.
If the corona virus heist taught us anything, the health care and pharmaceutical industries cannot be trusted.
My primary care physician recently started to push me towards the future use of statins, but I’ve read and heard that they really only reduce your cholesterol numbers but don’t do anything to truly prevent heart disease.
Is it realistic to find Doctors who aren’t bought and paid for buy the pharmaceutical companies anymore? Are statins a legitimate prescription?
I have both High Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure.
I understand Cholesterol as a Liver function, so do you understand what my Liver is doing or are you just prescribing me a Statin?
I somnetimes have to alter my blood pressure medication pill schedule or become dizzy? So, If I fall over and crack my head on the granite countertop did my blood pressure matter?
Sure thing markm and there all in Instagram, Yea I really don’t know but I have a 2nd Generation Doc,I had his dad forever but he retired and now I have the son and when I talk my crazy talk sometimes he just smiles and has no comment ! MY cholesterol is always in check and I take a small dose (15mg) of a stain. I have A-FIB so I take meds for that and now I see all kinds of crazy shit about Lisinopril which is a heart med that helps with BP which I don’t have but it does other stuff also.
In this day and age I think you will be very lucky to find a Doc that will really give ya the real facts. My cousins wife goes to a Homeopathic Doc and while they don’t use or like big pharma or use meds from them,guess what there still selling ya stuff,$$$$
I’m on the generic of Crestor as of about 3 years ago. I’m 53. Unfortunately, genetics is an uphill battle for me with both my parents having high cholesterol and fatty liver on my dad’s side. I’m not in the best of shape but not the worst either. I’ve fought high cholesterol for years even being 5’ 10.5” and 190 lbs most of the time. At one point my cholesterol popped 370 with the bad very very high. For so long I refused to take medication. I worked out, ate right and got it down below 200 with no meds. But the older I get, it’s been hard to do fighting age and genetics.
So after one of my physicals three years ago it popped very high again. My general doc said, “dude you’ve got to get this under control, and you need to see a cardiologist.” Ok fine. The turning point for me was the first visit with the cardiologist. He came in nonchalantly after reading the basics of my chart. “High Cholesterol”. Ok fine. He said, “let’s look at your numbers.” He pulled them up and within seconds he turned looked at me with an honest look of fear on his face. Said, “you need to get on meds now or bad things are going to happen.” Scared the living fvck out of me and I said ok. My research indicated that, for the most part, statins aren’t terrible. But either way, I didn’t want to take the chance
Had my most recent physical about two months ago and I’m at 180 with good cholesterol good, and bad at a manageable level. My liver counts are good too.
So it has worked for me and I have very few side effects. Biggest being if I take it too late at night it can cause sleep issues. Haven’t really noticed much else. I’m committed to a better diet and exercise as well. I’ll never forget the reaction of my cardiologist that day.
I had that talk with a doctor I trusted over a decade ago. Need to make some changes or essentially you’re going to drop dead. I knew something was wrong (headaches, lethargic, overweight but not really eating that much), but avoided the doctor for years thinking eh, it’s nothing.
The key is finding a doctor you can relate to, talk with, trust….Otherwise all the questions above will never get answered. Dropped from 225 to 180, started walking more after meals, moving more during work, swimming in the pool at night, just moving was the biggest duh thing. I actually eat more now but better range of foods with less snacking.
Baseline numbers are all in the green, but liver numbers only stay that way without any alcohol. 1-2 beers a month at this point and I can feel it the next day, genetics suck.
They absolutely reduce risks of ASCVD, ACM, etc. The data for that is robust and extensive. They are not perfect drugs, life style changes can often accomplish similar and combined, very effective. It should be noted there are now various non statin cholesterol meds that are effective and have very low side effect profiles. Usual issues apply, such as costs, insurance willing to cover them, etc. If there’s a scam in pharma, it’s the costs and cost structures, which insurance, and hospitals are part of, while they all point fingers at each other as the reason.
Re your comment lifestyle change, my cholesterol was 212 - 214, declined statins, cut out seed oils, and most additives. Purchased organic products for the most and cholesterol 1 year later was 116, the other variables were well within normal limits as well, HDL, LDL etc.
If we reduce this to talking about diagnostic’s as someone who trained Mechanic’s for a bit over a decade.
Sometimes you get into a diagnostic “Rut” if you will and if you follow the flow chart you’ll be good, but if you assume and can “Shotgun Blast” a system by replace a major LRU.
I think perhaps the medical Industry has these Statin Drugs and they are a ““Shotgun Blast” of sorts and make quick order of dignostics.
Where Old Herbert took his time and researched it a bit and has his correct diagnostics and has taken the correct course of action.
My Dad was a Country Doctor and if you ever wanted his attention all you had to do is lift the hood of a Truck. We often compard working on vehicles and people.
Yea I really don’t know but I have a 2nd Generation Doc,I had his dad forever but he retired and now I have the son and when I talk my crazy talk sometimes he just smiles and has no comment ! MY cholesterol is always in check and I take a small dose (15mg) of a stain. I have A-FIB so I take meds for that and now I see all kinds of crazy shit about Lisinopril which is a heart med that helps with BP which I don’t have but it does other stuff also.