Statins, cell energy production and official benefit charts
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- Official benefit charts for statins regularly put my patients off taking them. They did not think the risks and benefits of statins measured up in their favour. Statins impact energy production in mitochondria in several different ways including by inhibiting the mevolanate pathway which leads to the creation of cholesterol (reducing cholesterol up regulates LDL liver receptors and reduces LDL blood levels), but also to the creation of Coenzyme Q10, a key cofactor for energy production in the mitochondria of cells throughout your entire body. I discuss statin side effects including tiredness, weakness and muscle aches and pains, then go through charts regarding the benefits of statins in primary prevention to reduce risk of heart attack and stroke over the next 10 years.
Complete guide to nutrition: • The Victorian era diet...
Sleep and artificial light: • Artificial light is DE...
Stress reduction: • 5 ways to reduce stres...
Buy The Concise Nutrition and Lifestyle Guide: www.bosanqueth... (available worldwide via Amazon).
The pictograms in this video were made by me to give the impression of the sort of pictograms my computer showed patients (using SystmOne). The risks have been calculated using the Qrisk3 calculator (www.qrisk.org) and the figures given for the benefits of statins have been double checked against those provided by NICE in 2023 with modelling based on high-intensity statin effect. Benefits for other Qrisk scores are also available (www.nice.org.u....
References / Further Reading:
How statins lower LDL: www.ncbi.nlm.n...
Co-enzyme Q10: www.ncbi.nlm.n...
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
Effects of statins on mitochondrial pathways: www.ncbi.nlm.n...
Statin Safety and SEs: www.ncbi.nlm.n...
Statin Intolerance, muscle problems, and excluding patient’s from trials: www.ncbi.nlm.n...
pubmed.ncbi.nl...
pubmed.ncbi.nl...
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
Cholesterol confusion and statin controversy: www.ncbi.nlm.n...
Statins muscle energy metabolism: pubmed.ncbi.nl...
Statins exertion fatigue: jamanetwork.co...
Clinical trials vs real world: academic.oup.c...
Statins cognitive impairment: www.ncbi.nlm.n...
Statins and testosterone: www.sciencedir...
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
Statins increase life by 4 days: www.ncbi.nlm.n...
No improvement in mortality for primary prevention: www.ncbi.nlm.n...
Statins and tendinopathy: journals.sagep...
Statins, K2, vascular calcification, heart failure: www.tandfonlin...
onlinelibrary....
nutritionandme...
Statin-Associated Cardiomyopathy (heart failure): www.ncbi.nlm.n...
Statins and lipid bilayers: www.ncbi.nlm.n...
Statins and myelin: www.ncbi.nlm.n...
Statins used more for primary prevention: bmjopen.bmj.co...
Consider statins for those with a 10 year risk less than 10%: www.nice.org.u...
NHS Statin side effects: www.nhs.uk/con...
My doctor told me my chokesterol numbers were way off and advised statins. I expressed concern that statins harm the liver. She said well I would be more concerned about liver harm if you were a drinker. I took them for one month went back and she said my test now showed a problem with my liver. Western medicine sucks. You are responsible for your own health.
I have liver issues and I don't drink! Your doctor knows nothing. You should go to a different practice
@@cashkitty3472If you drink soda with HFCS, the fructose is causing NAFLD (non-alcohol fattly liver disease). Even juice, which practically pure sugar, is no good for you.
Then your doctor will try to give you another pill to fix your liver. I know because my husband believed his doctors and for every side effect they gave him a pill. They finally killed him
Big Pharma know exactly what they are doing!
I used strong tumeric pills for arthritis and they cleaned up my liver.
Abuse of statins formed the first crack in my absolute respect for and obedience to doctors. Years ago I was on an expensive statin when I lost my job, so I didn't refill the prescription. (That's when I realized the source of my brain fog.) My doctor saw my blood test and asked, so I told him I needed to save money till I find a job. He didn't care. He heartlessly said if I don't take the statin he wouldn't be my doctor. So I left him and found another. I've never taken a statin since.
Even before that though I was alarmed. While on the statin, I had to go into his office every three months for a blood test to see if it was damaging my liver. I think back in horror that I was subjected to a substance that needed to be closely monitored to see if it was harming me. But those extra office visits were lucrative for him. I now realize I was preyed upon for profit.
THAT Dr is a narcissist! Obviously learned the lessons from Big Pharma well, make em sick, but don't kill em off! Dead patients do not pay.
I absolutely refuse statins. My daughter in law works at a physical therapy offoce and she has seen the damage statins do to the tendons especially the Achilles tendon.
I was simply told I needed them after a blood test - no other information was given. I took them for about 6 months, had muscle pain, did some research and simply stopped them. Never taken them since...
I am 77 years old lady, with no cardiac issues. A totally unknown doctor over a phone appointment told me that I should take statins or the new injectable cholesterol lowering medication. I have not had any blood tests for over two years. When I expressed my reluctance to taking these drugs, I was told quite severely that it would be my fault if I suffered a stroke or a heart attack.
In my medical notes after this consultation, my response was described as ‘refusal’. My fasting triglycerides were 1.2 and my cholesterol:HDL was 2.3. When I explained that after suffering Cauda Equina syndrome in 2022, the doctor had never heard of it. My current disability following CE includes bowel and bladder dysfunction and I require regular injections of anaesthetic and steroids into my L3/L4 nerve roots to control my pain and spasms and hence cholesterol lowering is not in my interests. Sad to be treated with such lack of care and compassion. Thank you for this excellent video and I will be watching your other videos.😂
Because doctors get rewarded if not people take statins that's why. They offered it to my mother who is healthy and a size 8. It's ridiculous
Thanks for your comment. That is shocking service. I do not understand why health care professionals get so riled up / aggressive towards those they are supposed to be supporting.
How did you develop Cauda Equina Syndrome?
@@drphilipbosanquetI think it’s just a genuine psychological response. To be a Dr you have been through a lot to learn the role and I think in most this transpires into a sort of dominance and demands respect attitude once fully licensed.
Similar with politicians, I’m sure most go in to it with a good heart for change but soon the system gets them and they turn in to the bloated elitist politicians we know.
Healthy is not being a size. Correctly interpreted numbers say a lot. The medical field has let us down on that.
This presentation was very informative and accurate. Good on your mum for staying fit.
We can’t outrun a bad diet … it will show up in bloodwork.
I am a 66 year old female. approx. 2 years ago after a blood test the doctor found my total cholesterol and LDL were far too high and immediately prescribed a statin. I asked about side effects. His answer: I have taken them for 20 years (he is obese, by the way) and there are no side effects. I asked about alternative solutions and he said: if you do not take the statins you can expect a heart attack or stroke very soon. Apart from some palpitations from time to time for which the cardiologist had found no reason, I had no prior history of heart problems, but was quite intimidated by what he said and started taking the statins. After three months I was so weak that during my morning gymnastics I was no longer able to do any push-ups (having been at around 20 before) and every muscle ached so much that I could hardly move from the sofa to the stove to put on new fire wood. I discussed this with my cardiologist and stopped taking the statins. He recommended that after four weeks I should go to my doctor again and have another type of statin prescirbed. At this discussion with the doctor (not the fat one) we decided that I should make strict changes to my lifestyle and no longer take the statins. I lost 15 kg, am on a nearly vegan diet, do gymnastics and 5 km walks every day. My cholesterol went from 314 to 220, LDL from 250 to 123, HDL from 49 to 93. Triglycerides from 150 to 55. I will certainly never go back on statins again. And I am very angry that the first doctor did not even mention the possibility of lifestyle change versus medication.
You described the same effects i had.im 47.
My husband was told he needed statins but didn’t want to take them. The doctor offered no alternative so my husband asked the practice nurse for advice and she discussed lifestyle and diet changes. They worked and he has never taken statins! He feels much better and lost weight too.
Bless that PN! 🙏
Nice one, that is the way to go. Feeling better and weight loss - not going to get that with statins.
I had a 70 old female client that started taking statins. Within a few weeks she said she had horrible stomach issues, nausea and felt weak and poisoned. Within two weeks of stopping them she felt mostly better. Co Q10 helped her energy levels after another couple of weeks.
@@drphilipbosanquetLDL (APOB) is causally related to CDV risk. Are you sugesting not to reduce lifetime exposure to high LDL???
Nice but probably only a temporary advantage. The nurse would have no real knowledge on nutrition. Still better than statins obviously.
Two doctors tried to get me on statins , first I did what they wanted, after a lot of pain I said no. At 76 I still do not take statins .
Thankyou so much i am going to stop taking my statins i have gone from a healthy 70 year old to a tired wreck
Consider lower dose and tracking your numbers before just stopping. His quieter message is lifestyle changes are required instead.
When you research further into the great cholesterol hoax, you will find an industry built upon very flawed research. Once an industry gets built up around a theory then powerful money interests are hardwired to protect and magnify those profit models. That's all the cholesterol mafia is: a huge profit scheme which siphons off people's wealth and health to the mercenary medico-pharma cartel.
By all means stop all statins immediately while also taking a serious, life-saving look at the alternative (non-pharma funded) medical research and expertise.
I was given a men's health check at 65, and the only thing wrong was my "high cholesterol". Needless to say I was told I should take Statins. I refused as I was very concerned about side effects, esp muscle aches. I asked what lifestyle changes could I do to lower the so called "bad cholesterol" and was given a load of leaflets on how good Statins were for my health. I took up cycling instead, and I am hugely fitter and healthier in all aspects of my life. I already had a good diet of lots of veg and fruits and virtually no ultra processed foods. This was 7 years ago and now there is so much research and many doubts about the over-use on these drugs and the good things that cholesterol does naturally for our bodies. Good decision! Great video Dr Bosanquet thank you.
I never thought I'd see the day when a UK doctor would speak such sense. As a medical researcher at a drug company in the 70s I knew how doctors and medics collaborate to get the results they want. So pleased to hear this exposed. Another UK doctor helping this is the York Cardiologist. Thanks!
yes; York Cardioly is a great source of common sense-type information..
Thanks a lot, just checking out York Cardiology.
My mother had high glucose levels from statins. She developed macular degeneration and start of dementia. Once we threw the pills in the garbage bin glucose levels went back to normal. Her macular degeneration and dementia stopped.
Wow, that's good you figured out how to correct those problems (and disturbing for all those who don't).
She probably had early diabetic retinopathy from being borderline diabetic or diabetic. This can sometimes appear similar to ARMD in certain cases. It may have resolved as the blood glucose levels returned to normal. Hopefully, whatever it was never comes back.
I lost some friendships telling the truth about statins. Could not sit quietly and listen to untruths. 😢
Understand
Some people will never hear the truth
It really is divisive, almost political...
Wait until you try to tell them the truth about vaxxx-ines
They weren't true friends then, we're they all lefties?
I wholeheartedly approve of your efforts to disrupt the medical-industrial complex. Bravo! 👏 👏 👏
Thanks!
I lived in Canada for a long time and I was told that I had mitral valve prolapse and for years i had to take antibiotics before going to the dentist. After many years they checked me again and they told me i had no mitral valve prolapse. Therefore it means for years i exposed myself to unnecessary antibiotics. Some years back the doctor told me my cholesterol was almost at the limit to being high and he suggested i take something to lower it. I told him, " good!! I need cholesterol for my brain to function" . Because he knows that i refuse any kind of medicine, he just lowered his eyes and chuckle.
Every doctor's visit... I get told "you should be on statins" and I reply "No, thanks: I'm only using you to get lab tests that I can't get for myself." Why doesn't no mean no?
Litigious society & idiots. If you don't mention it each visit, then they have a heart attack or stroke that could have been prevented if you had Rxd it, they will try to sue because you didn't push its importance enough for them to understand.
Hahaha!❤😂
If you are in the U.S and paying out of pocket, you can order your own lab work directly from chains like LabCorp and Quest or from websites such as LifeExtension. I find LifeExension to be the best bargain. They have a huge 50% off sale once a year on all lab work.
Wonderful presentation! I am so happy being off a statin for 4 years after a 20 year Rx! I am a 67 y/o retired primary care physician!
I asked my GP if she passed on statin side effects to the manufacturers. Surprise, surprise, she advised me that she does not.
Some Dr's are excellent at passing on ADVERSE events to the monitoring agencies. The manufacturers don't much care.
From what I have seen in clinical practice, side effects are rarely ever reported for any medications.
@@drphilipbosanquet That would explain why the Drug companies report low side effect figures. But I suppose that medical professionals would not rock the boat or they may miss out on their BENEFITS??
From the age of 25, my cholesterol has been 7.9 even after being on medication for 2yrs, I stopped taking the medication and it hadn't moved, at 55 I went on the Keto Diet and for the first time, it dropped to 7.4, I was only on that diet for 3 months. 2 yrs later it stayed the same, I decided to try the Carnivore diet, it's now down to 7.0, my Dr is annoyed I'm refusing the tablets and has tried scaring me about the risk of a heart attack is better than the side effects, I still refused. I quoted about the HDL level and he said it was fine, I asked about the other HDL levels as there is more than 1, and he smiled and said nothing as they're supposed check all of them and then decide if the LDL level is to high, I will not take them EVER.
Good on you
I’m guessing your Dr is concerned bcz ur HBA1c is at7.0 and in the diabetic range. That may be at that level because of your protein intake/bolus. I think if you’re protein to fat ratio was different, it might change that. So, protein when it converts to glucose via gluconeogenesis may be the cause. Or it could be just normal for you.
Dr Ken Berry I believe has a presentation on this topic. He also has a Q&A on Monday nights for subscribers that may be helpful. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard Dr. Anthony Chaffee and Dr. Sten Eckberg speak on the same subject.
Hope the rest of your cholesterol panel is good. Trig:HDL is a better measure.
Trig : HDL
My son was overweight for his age and height because of his sedentary lifestyle as he was suffering from congenital metabolic myopathy. So a famous group of Ayurvedic doctors provided him some herbs and tablets that would help him reduce weight without exercise but they never informed us that the tablets contained Statins. After 3 months of use, he suffered from rhabdomyolysis with CPK levels of 120,000 and passed high levels of blood in urine. His kidneys and heart got affected severely and it took him complete one year to recover from the condition. Stating are DANGEROUS!!!
But what were statins doing in Ayurvedic medicines in the first place? That is definitely a malpractice. The problem is that herbal formulations are not strictly regulated in the same way as allopathic drugs. This allows manufacturers to not be accountable for what goes into formulations. It is now becoming increasingly difficult to trust any Healthcare services across systems of medicine whether allopathic, homeopathic, unani or homeopathic.
Red yeast rice extract works better than statins and doesn’t have side effects. I stopped statins and used the supplement instead, my doc was amazed by how good my numbers were. Later, she told me she took all her patients off statins in favor of the red yeast rice extract. She’s retired now. I miss her so much. It’s rare for a doctor to think for themselves and trust their own judgment.
What brand of red yeast rice extract do you take? Link please.
Where do you get this and how does one take it? Do you follow specific dietary habits? Could you please elaborate? I would very much want my husband to be off statins. Thank you
@NPPREMA My husband's doctor recommended this supplement and I buy it at Costco
@@annstoddard5355 thank you for your response
@@annstoddard5355 thank you!
It took me some time to persuade my wife to stop taking statins (it took me another year to get her to go low carb. She cheats...). Her doctor told her, in all seriousness, that I was trying to kill her. She resumed statins and now, she has myalgia and is massively tired, her respect for authority leaves her in a quandary. Meanwhile, I threw out the blood pressure and blood sugar meds 6 years ago, lots of unpleasant things disappeared and I ran my first (maybe last!) marathon at age 74. Despite this example before her eyes, rational (and calm) arguments fail before this ingrained belief in statins. She is 12 years younger than me but it looks like I'll be the carer.
That is sad to hear. Yes beliefs are ingrained deeply by medical establishment, to extent where many people believe them even if in contrary to what they see themselves. Of course intuition and people's observations are often deemed subject to bias and therefore very unscientific and inaccurate, compared to "the science" (TM).
I'm going through a similar experience with my husband.
It is, no doubt, more of an ingrained beliefe in doctors than in statins.
There are none so blind as those who will not see. 😢
Sorry to hear about your predicament. I’ve several friends in the same boat. I started to notice their changes…physical and mental and energy. I’d recommend reading to them but they lack the focus. Follow the instructions from Dr.
I’m the eldest of the bunch and it’s quite sad for me to watch that I will loose friends at this stage of life. I’m just70 in a month.
I’ve got pretty good genes on both sides of my family so 100 is not out of the question. Just make younger friends at this point I guess
My wife was on simvastatin for 23 years and now suffering Alzeimers. Seeing side effects lists now coming out now, I am positive that statins ruined my wifes late years.(74).
I was on simvastatin too for a good few years, now off them for 7 months.
I recently quit taking mine. It can't be right to take that stuff forever. Take care.
I was just told my cholesterol was high and given a statin with no discussion about side effects. After about 6 months, I started having problems with the muscles in my hands feeling like they had been injected with concrete, plus my knees then started to feel weak and when walking up stairs it felt like they were going to give way. I stopped the statins and within a month the use of my hands improved and after 3 or 4 months my knees were better and I could walk normally. My doctor said statins wouldn't do that but I now refuse to take them.
It must be a family thing because my brother had the similar reactions, but it was weakness in his hands and the same knee issues I had, but with him it happened in less than a month. He stopped the statins and it took him months to recover. He was even sent to see a physio about his knee problems.
Your doctor is just a parrot
Glad you got recovery. It really is odd how often doctors say 'it's not the medication that did that' after people report symptoms listed as common side effects.
I'm 45, was put on a statin a few years ago for very high triglycerides, and had such bad burning and muscle fatigue in my legs from it I had to use my arms to physically pull myself up the flight of stairs to my apartment. I did some research and saw CoQ10 is depleted by statins so started supplementing and it helped. A doctor said she puts all high cholesterol patients on CoQ10 too because it helps filter out cholesterol. I came off the statin later and afterwards I stopped the CoQ10. My leg muscles were fatigued easily again and it took a while to think about what else changed. I went back on CoQ10 and it helped in overnight.
Your doctor is an idiot. Fire him.
@@dez6278 My mother has been on statins for decades. I tried asking her if she takes CoQ10. (Which I do, and I'm certainly not on statins.) She did not even understand the jumble of sounds I was making as I said "Co Q ten." She asked me to repeat it a few times. She had NEVER heard of it.
Six months after I was prescribed statins I developed painful muscle cramps and horrible electrical discharges on my
fingertips. That did it! I stopped this medication and in just a week all symptoms disappeared.
Good you got a quick recovery.
My Dr prescribed a statin drug for me about 7-8 years ago at age 70. I took it for about a month, but soon found myself having no energy and almost to the point of giving up golfing. IMO a necessary activity for me since I would otherwise not exercise much if at all. My Dr advised me to give up golf if I must but that I should continue taking the energy sapping statin. I asked him if he had ever taken what he prescribed for me, he answered NO. I told him to try them out and report back.
Never did hear from him again, I changed Drs and never looked back. I still get asked to 'try this one', I always decline, and make it very clear that I will NEVER take that shit again. I'm 76yo, don't have a heart condition, never had a stroke, and plan on living well into my 80's, maybe longer!.
Rock on … ur a ray of sunshine. Telling a Dr to piss off is about as good as it gets in my book. Just bring your 6 iron with you on your Dr visits. If he gets out of line… ask if he values his jewels. Fore!!!🤦🏼🤣
Thank you for your very concise explanation of what side effects statins have. I had a TIA 9 months ago. After all sorts of tests they found I had one vertebral artery much narrower than the other (born with it) and thought that I’d had a blockage that caused the TIA. I was put on 2 HB pressure meds, a blood thinner and Repatha injections to lower my cholesterol which has always been a bit high, they’re not lowering my cholesterol! I got bad muscle pain, bruised all over from the blood thinner. My BP is well controlled, I’ve got no problems with my heart. I don’t tolerate medication well, can’t take any strong painkillers at all. I’m 82 years old and slim, eat healthily, but not doing enough exercises because I’m so weak and fatigued, with headaches, dizziness, headaches, nausea,I just don’t feel well all the time. The very symptoms you mention are experienced after being on Statins. When I mention these symptoms to my doctor she says it’s my age and prescribes more medications for the side effects. I feel helpless!😢
If your BP is low from 2 HBP drugs, then ask which one of the 2 you can stop. I'm 15 yrs or so younger than you, had a stroke at work as a Nurse. But no reason found. I too got the same prevention routine, blood thinners, 2 HBP drugs, Cholesterol statins, and please go away now. So next I was fainting in grocery stores. No BP could be found by paramedics, even after i opened my eyes. ( freaked them out). So told Dr take your pick, I'm stopping one of these BP drugs my pressure is too low! So he removed one. Felt improved. Eventually through my own research I was diagnosed with a connection time tissue disorder, EDS, and they loomed and found an aneurysm. No one bothered to look after the stroke and heart atrack! So the blood thinner Eliquis has stopped the strokes. But my BP has never been high. So my cardiologist explained the one drug helps the heart to contract better. OK. But I've not suffered stopping the 2nd drug that made me faint and dizzy. So don't automatically blame Statins, I'm working to get my dose of those lowered too. But tackle the other drugs with the Dr first.
Have been on a low dose statin for past 25 years. Have HBP & pre-diabetic. I recently ran out of statin & did not take for two weeks. On resuming treatment, I suffered leg cramps & increased weakness. I Realise two weeks are not clinically adequate to reach ANY positive conclusion, but altogether points to (at a minimum) further study. Thanks for the info.
I had been on statins for at least 25 years. I weaned myself off of a 20 mg dose after stopping my doc knowing that my liver and kidney function has not been optional for years. All they would ever say is “lay off of nsaids and drink more water.” I drink water constantly and I rarely ever take nsaids. I found it very difficult to lose weight. After taking statins out of my diet and quitting sugar I’ve lost 30 lbs and am now at a normal weight. My calcium score was zero, so am not worried about a heart attack, and am seeing a new doc in a month. Hope he doesn’t push statins! Oh, yeah..I’m 66, and for the first time in ages I now sleep through the night without having to get up to go to the bathroom! There HAS to be a connection
Thanks, I stoped taking statins and feel much better on life style changes
Glad you feel better! Good work.
Thanks for a clear explanation of this. No real discussion between myself and my primary regarding anything other than, "your LDL is too high and I'm prescribing crestor." I'm not starting it. Too many risks, and the rest of my bloodwork and urinalysis were normal. I prefer not to take prescription meds. I try to focus on lifestyle preferences. Thanks for some level of validation for my decision. Btw, I'm a 65 yr old female.
You're very welcome, glad it was helpful. That sounds similar to the sort of discussion I expect many have had! Thanks for your comment.
My doctor, on the basis of my very high LDL, tried the statin talk with me. No asking about lifestyle, no suggestion about a heart check. I suggested maybe a CAC test first which he said would only confirm the dire status of my heart health, I then presented him with my 0% CAC score and suggested that a statin was unwarranted and he agreed, though reluctantly
Still find it incredible that people like yourself are routinely recommended drugs before even being asked about lifestyle.
The real problem is that most people won't make the needed life style changes.
That's not helped by doctors who present medications as if they are just as effective as lifestyle changes.
Out of the blue my GP sent a message to my phone asking if I wanted to go on a statin because I have CKD stage 3. No discussion or information, didn't ask to see me or offer any explanation. I declined, I am so dismayed at the complete lack of any personal approach and worry for any future when I may need more from my GP.
Yes, unfortunately due to time pressure, it is extremely hard to access optimal care from doctors who have about 5 mins to spare, and it's only going to get worse.
I moved from Alaska to Denmark in 2009. I had just been put on statins in Alaska, but Denmark used different ones. At that time, read a book given to me by our naturopathic doctor in Alaska called "The Statin Damage Crisis" by a NASA flight surgeon whose health had been destroyed by statins. Because of the same statin side effects listed in this video, I stopped taking them immediately. Fifteen years later, I am now 70 , take no medications at all, and am apparently quite healthy. I believe Dr Bosanquet is absolutely right.Thank you!!!
With remembering that doctors get paid ££££ the more people they put on statins. That's the problem
Excellent explanation told my US doc to forget it, by the way she is grossly overweight.
I like the objectivity of your video, thank you. I am a medicinal chemists with decades of research experience, yet I am confused about statins. I am higher risk, even though never had stroke or heart attack. My calcification score is 230 and I am 66 years old. MY LDL was high (about 154 mg ml) but so was my HDL, I exercise well, not diabetic, and am not overweight. I have had radiotherapy to the neck twice (once each side) . Heart CT shows plaque build up in one main area in the heart, but not enough to require treatment. My cardiologist put me on atorvastatin because of this, and that was lucky because later I found I had a high level of blockage (>70%) in one carotid artery (sonogram) and was fitted with a stent 6 months ago. I checked clinical studies and found statins were shown to be highly beneficial for patients taking them before stent operations, so glad I happened to be on them for 6 months before the op. (LDL then down to about 60). However, I have not found clinical trials probing effects of statins for patients after (eg 6 months and longer) a stent. I hate taking them because I think they make me weaker, and promoted muscle pain, and this did make it harder to exercise. Consquently, about 2 months ago I reduced my atorvastatin dose (against advice) to 5 mg three times a week. My conclusion: nobody knows how much statins help someone like me because there have not been enough trials of similar individuals: we are all just guessing, Do you agree, or are there studies I did not find? Further, I have hunch, tentatively supported by PET scans over 5 years, that radiotherapy probably caused plaque in the carotid, and might even have caused it in the heart (even though that was not in the beam). Understandably, you will not give specific medical advice, but are my conclusions about trials in this area valid for patients like me?
Your conclusion of 'nobody knows' is something I'd agree with. Especially with your unique circumstances. And it is good question about the use of statins for short term after interventions such as stents vs long term continuation - this would be very useful information to have.
I was put on rosuvatin w/coq10 for high cholesterol but within a month noticed a lot of leg aches. I couldn’t figure it out. Eventually, i stopped taking the statins and it soon went away. Had a calcium coronary scan and at 56 years old , i have a score of ZERO. That was a relief. My cholesterol is borderline high ( just above 200 but has been as high as 230)I exercise, take fish oils, garlic, and nattokinase, along with 5K iu of D. Best of health to all.🙏🙏
🏃🏿♂️🏃🏿♂️🏃🏿♂️🏃🏿♂️🏃🏿♂️🏃🏿♂️🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏿♂️🏃🏿♂️🏃🏿♂️🏃🏿♂️🏃🏿♂️🏃🏿♂️🏃🏿♂️🏃🏿♂️🏃🏿♂️🏃🏿♂️run from Statin. The devils food to promote death
This is an absolutely brilliant, balanced explanation, thanks. About time Qrisk 3 was looked at again!
Thanks a lot, really appreciate your comment.
Just went onto statins (maybe two weeks) but think will go off and concentrate on diet and exercise to reduce the numbers. Will check again in 2-3 months my bloods. This was invaluable. Thank you.
So I’ve had a quadruple bypass 3 years ago, refused statins. Not dead yet!
You might be interested to check out the nnt.com as they have some rates for secondary prevention too: thennt.com/?s=statins&x=0&y=0
You will be if you are not on statins. Jeeze
Statins are evil!
🤔 Not dead yet … my favorite Hercule Poirot quote 🤣
@@UsernamedJory it’s also a Monty Python skit
I battled a rising A1c level, even after improving my diet. Eventually I stopped taking my statin and was surprised at the effect on my fasting blood glucose, and my last A1c was much improved, as was my B/P. My MD was in agreement that I could stop these meds❣️
Mitachondria are the powerhouse of the cell
When my doctor recommended statins 25 years ago, he also recommended a monthly liver test. I also noticed that early commercials for statins said that patients need to report any muscle weakness, because it may indicate a serious condition. What happened to that?
I only took them for a month or two, because I immediately felt muscle weakness. 20 years later, my doctor sent me to a cardiologist just so the cardiologist might convince me to take the meds. When I mentioned muscle weakness, the cardiologist basically just said "deal with it."
My dad had the same problem, and now that he's approaching 95, his doctors still try to get him to take his statins. He stopped many years ago.
Trying to get someone on statins at 95 - any patient I see at that sort of age I'm the one asking for their advice and recommendations!
I’m 72 with a good bmi but my father died of a heart attack when he was 44. My cholesterol at the last test had gone up slightly so my doctor said that my qrisk meant I should go on statins. I wasn’t keen but got the prescription filled but decided to try to lower my cholesterol naturally and to take more exercise. I keep getting calls from my local pharmacy asking how I’m getting on with the statins but I told them that I’m trying to reduce my cholesterol myself. I don’t believe that my father’s heart attack has any bearing on my health. He was overweight and he smoked at least 40 cigarettes a day. I told my doctor but he still used it as a measure. The doctor didn’t even suggest that I could do anything by changing my lifestyle at all. Well, we shall see. :)
Yes, on the Qrisk it has a tickbox for family history, but as you allude to, it is sometimes very relevant, and sometimes less so. Of course no Qrisk score means you should go on statins, they are a tool to help patient's make a decision and to help doctors know when to offer statins (which based solely on your age would be almost everyone in your situation).
Hillbilly wise mother told me decades ago that statins lead to a chain reaction of needed more meds. She was right.
Many thanks for the info. Quite amazing how few people are prepared to consider that statins may actually be bad for you in many ways
My MD does not believe in statins or high cholesterol levels so she asked the fats I use and I told her olive oil, butter and never seed oils. Seed oils stink when heated. And no really greasy food.
An excellent video. I've subscribed. Consider also the books and videos interviews of Dr Malcolm Kendrick, a pathfinder with regard to exposing the organised mis-information on cholesterol and statins provided by industry over the past 40 years or more. All patients should be given the full picture but they are not. Good to see a young doctor doing this. It does risk his career progression. Yes, things are that bad.
My former doctor didn’t just advise statins - she told me I was going to take them. I’ve never been convinced.
Did you agree and throw them down the toilet…I know of someone who did….6 months later the doctor told her the statins were working really well… she then told him she’d never taken them!
@@elizabethstockdale2784please don't toss in the toilet, polluting the water ways. Dig a hole and bury.
@@MeMi-gw8ft Return them to a pharmacy with a disposal collection. There's one at my local CVS.
@@MeMi-gw8ft Or better still just don't get the prescription. All those chemicals and plastics, not good for anything!
Thank you, excellent. Please do a video on secondary prevention for those of us post stent.
I was put on statins by my gp about 20 years ago.
The side effects I suffered were.
Severe muscle weakness ,massive weight gain ,severe tiredness.
I stopped tacking them after 2 months & recovered quite quickly.
I have since found I have naturally occuring hyper cholesterol.
I have told my gp & oncologist no statins or cholesterol medication for me.
My husband was informed by the doctor that he needed to consider taking statins.
The week before, he saw the nurse practitioner to discuss his blood results. She said eat a handful of nuts a day.No mention of statins.
My husbands tests were fine. He is not overweight, blood pressure fine, no family history, cholesterol 3 and .85 hence why it was suggested a handful of nuts.He is on no meds.He walks every day. So its his age thats against him.
So no, he will not be taking statins.
54M, 1 stent placed, but did not have clogged arteries. Dr put me on statin and blood pressure before the angioplasty as they did not know what was the cause beforehand - fair enough. Once stented and it was known I did not have clogged arteries, they should have wound out the statins, and as after the stent I had no blood pressure problem, they should have wound the BP meds out too. But Dr wouldn't even discuss and almost angrily told me to continue. I still could not reconcile this, so I took myself off both, admittedly I should not have just gone cold turkey but I did. Still taking the Brilinta of course for the stent, but that is it. I will pursue more lifestyle changes, fix it with food and exercise and strategy.
Amazing well put together Video. Thank you. ♥️
Thanks a lot, I appreciate that.
It was suggested to me after doing a QRisk assessment , that I should take statins. I stated that I was on the pre-diabetes range with a score of 44 ( 41 being the start range, 47 the top range, 48 means type 2), the Dr stated it shouldnt affect that , straight away, didn't even think about it. I started with 20 mg dose; within 4 weeks I noticed that one side ached, typically when trying to sleep. Most of the time upright no issues. It became worse...but it would come and go. Unbeknown to me I had started to feel jaded ( tired I guess) during the day doing normal things. After 2 months I stopped them. On speaking to my GP about another matter happening at same time, I stated I had stopped the statins, due to thinking it may be contributing, and also stated I hadn't felt this good since I started them. I spoke to a brother-in-law who was started on statins, he stopped them after 2 months. The first month he had aches felt terrible, dr gave him a lighter dose, no difference in effect. SO he stopped them. I suggest the 2 out of 100, is wayyyy off. I read the notes in one of the packet....muscle ache etc is something like 1000 to 1 ?? what total rubbish. It's only that figure because NO ONE reports the issues they have with them. The Dr's don't report it, so nothing gets done, and FALSE information is on the documentation given to patients.
At last, a doctor giving the lifestyle advice I should have had after my heart attack nine years ago. I have made the dietary change from low fat high sugar to oily fish and vegetable. It wasn't easy transitioning, but TH-cam dietary advice and encouragement was a great help.
That sounds like an excellent diet shift.
After listening to you, I will stop taking my statins. I do feel tired and weak and I have been getting joint pain and a degree of brain fog. Thank you for your insight.
Please respond to this question! I’m 63 and a more than average exerciser, but also on Statins. I’ve heard this so many times and addressed it to my general physician and to 2 of my specialists and ALL of them keep saying; all bullshit, please keep taking your Statins. How is this possible, because I’ve seen more TH-cam doctors saying a similar thing as you do.
No idea - I've put all the references in the description, so you could find one of interest to take in and ask them about?
Nice video indeed. The graphic at 0:30 perfectly explains the difference between relative and absolute risk reduction without actually pointing it out. The Cholesterol industry got a new toy with LP(a) though. They want people with high LP(a) on Statins while Statins actually increase LP(a).
10 year absolute risk is likely significantly lower than 15, 20, 25 year risk, which is why many doctors prefer to talk about relative risk Unlike absolute risk, relative risk is not specific to a particular time period.
The last meta analysis I read found "None of the types of statins changed Lp(a) significantly compared to placebo (very low- to high-certainty evidence), as well as intensities of statin therapy (low- to moderate-certainty evidence).".
I agreed to taking a statin since I’ve developed lipomas and there were changes visible in my eyes. My wife started a statin and several days later could not walk without pain. It took some time to be reversible.
Oh I wish my GP thought like this!
They don't discuss the actual risks. They just say the risks are alot lower than having an event. When you say you're going to try to improve your health first they don't provide direction or any support because they don't know much about nutrition.
My question is, can you reverse plaque in your arteries with diet/exercise?
Same question here
Yeah funny isn't it, saying risks are a lot lower but chances are very few health care professionals actually know about the absolute figures for risks and benefits for most common medications (myself included of course). Plaque is usually termed as 'partially reversible' in that you could at least stabilise, and possible shrink, plaque with lifestyle intervention. Even just stabilising though would be a hugely significant move for better health. There is a constant 'battle' between arterial damage and repair, and you can tip the scales towards repair with exercise and good nutrition.
The Ornish and Esselstyn trials demonstrated reversal of plaque. The diets however were low fat vegetarian ones and therefore anathema to low carb/keto/paleo/Atkins/carnivore diet promoters.
@@tomgoff7887 the trials had a lot of confounders. An overall healthy lifestyle was promoted in the intervention group while the other group stayed on a sedentary lifestyle and ate the SAD diet. This is not how science should be done.
@@hiraijo1582 That doesn't describe the Esselstyn trial but in the Ornish trial, the control arm was assigned to "usual care" for patients with moderate to severe coronary heart disease. Basically, they were asked to follow the lifestyle advice of their personal doctors. In the experimental arm, on the other hand, the intervention was a 10 percent fat vegetarian diet, moderate aerobic exercise, stress management training, smoking cessation, and group psychosocial support. So, yes, it wasn't diet alone in the Ornish trial.
The Esselstyn trial however was just a low fat vegetarian diet (plus statins for those patients with high cholesterol).
Nevertheless, those trials did demonstrate plaque reversal I am not aware of any other diet based interventions resulting in plaque reversal.
Getting.LDL below 60 delivers plaque reversal I understand. Drugs, fasting and very low calorie diets can drive LDL down. So they may be options.
High intensity interval training has also recently shown plaque reversal in patients with coronary artery disease (the CENIT trial). Those patients were also on lipid lowering drugs.
You have a great channel. God bless you!
Thank you :)
Please talk about use after mild strokes
My late Father was diabetic type 2, was put on statins during his 70's. He seemed to become gradually weaker, which he put down to his age. He eventually developed Lymphoma, and by the time he was being treated for the cancer, he was far too weak to fight it, and just faded away. Very sad, but because he was of the 'old school' , he wouldn't question the Doctor's advice on statins, despite my Mum's protestations that "they aren't always right". Very sad. Because of this, I would never take statins and my Mum, who is now 92, has also refused to take them.
One of the best explanations I have heard! Thank you!
You're very welcome :)
I was prescribed statins, which I reluctantly took for a month. I always used to run down the stairs, handy when your office is based on the 6th floor. However within a couple of weeks I could barely walk down the stairs. I explained this to my GP and she agreed that it could be a good idea to stop taking them. I was back to normal within a week!
Lifestyle changes seem a bit more difficult, as some gentle changes have not had the desired effect yet.
This was amazing information to receive. I have shared. Thank you!!
You're welcome :)
I appreciate your honesty and time. I was on statin medication for two decades. I made lifestyle changes and I am no longer on statin ❤.
I do have a question for you. I was slightly Anemic and used Fatty-15 and my labs came back normal. Any thoughts about Fatty-15?
Good work on the lifestyle changes. I had not heard of Fatty-15, though the odd chain fatty acids certainly have their known health benefits so that could be a factor depending on your diet prior to supplementing (I personally like to avoid supplements, get it all from whole foods instead).
I have Total cholesterol of 6 to 7 since 25 years ago.
However, i have a triglycerides reading of 0.5 to 0.7.
My doctors have been telling me to go on statins forever.
i told them to look at my triglycerides reading and my calcium CT scans which have been 0 for as long as i can remember.
I have been working out everyday for the last 25 years and still doctors are still telling me to go on statins and my answer to them has always been a big fat NO.
I am 62 years young and my last health screen 2 weeks ago showed same olde same olde total C at 6.5 and triglycerides at 0.6. Calium CT scan 0.
Halleluyah!
Very informative and much appreciated thank you for taking the time and making the effort to explain clearly and concisely. Rare to find these days
Thanks a lot.
Can your next video cover the lifestyle changes that you recommend to try instead of statins. I'm not sure it is covered in your previous videos.
Hopefully many more lifestyle videos to come on various different topics. I do plan to cover both reversing type 2 diabetes and controlling blood pressure.
Nutrition is covered here: th-cam.com/video/TUFJi2QtWMk/w-d-xo.html
General overview of factors related to cholesterol here: th-cam.com/video/k5uCD4HPaS0/w-d-xo.html
And I think artificial light is a key topic in all health aspects too: th-cam.com/video/k7Ns6QM5GPc/w-d-xo.html
My doctor tried to put me on a statin about 10 years ago, I took it for about a week and started feeling severe muscle pain almost immediately (BTW is guarantee to the real numbers on muscle pain are a minimum of 30% and that pain will turn into muscle wasting if you continue) I threw the rest in the trash. My blood pressure was 140/90 and total cholesterol was 254.
The past 3 years I went Vegan, started taking fish oil Omega 3 at 4000mg a day, take high dose Nattokinase and 5000iu Vit D and 100mg Q10.
Blood pressure averages under 120/80 most times around 117/70 and Cholesterol around 210 which I am perfectly fine with.
Doctor STILL wants to put me on a statin LOL
I have had a blood clot in my brain. My cholesterol is high so I was put on a statin. First 6 months every thing was fine but as time went on, I started to have chest and back pain. It got so bad, when I went for my stress test, I packed a bag because I was convinced i had a heart blockage and needed a procedure to unblock it. I was going to get it fixed I was hurting so bad. My cardiologist found No blockage. I told him the statins are going in the trash- he didn't prescribed them- and I'll just focus on feeling better.
I have been prescribed Statin due to High cholesterol...i am 58 ,i now feel lithargic and keep getting pins and needles in my hands ,i dont want to take them anymore ,more so now after watching and listening very carefully to your videos ,they make absolute sense .I was never advised of side effects by my Doctor just handed a prescription and told to take statin for 3 months and come back for another blood test ....
Great message!
I reckon... this was a good video
Thanks a lot.
It’s all about money! You eat processed food, then you eat drugs to mask symptoms! Want can you do to prevent this. Take walks eat healthy foods God made.🦅🇺🇸
Agreed.
I have vascular EDS. Drs put me on statins, highest dose for 10 yrs now. When i politely challenge the high dose, my cardiologist agrees it should be lowered. Family dr states if my dose is reduced i will stroke and die. Again the cardiologist disagrees that statins prevent strokes. So it is very disturbing to be caught between dr #1 " im saving your brain" and the Dr# 2 i care for your heart, and dont agree with high dose statins. I gave up eating much, and im not old yet. But im stuck.
I really appreciate this video. Giving information for an informed decision is helpful. I am 71. i did a 6 mile hike today it keeps me off blood pressure medicine. My wife is of late on statins and blood pressure medicine but she has some blockages and they have limited her ability to exorcise vigorously.
Thanks for this video. Statins should be a relatively unknown drug, used in rare circumstances when they can really help. I think that for the vast majority of people on statins for primary prevention, they'd feel much better without them.
My doctors never took my Adverse Effects seriously and one them seemed to automatically respond "statins don't cause that" whenever I reported a carefully recorded and thought-out connection between statins and an adverse effect. In fact, it took me a very long time to realize the connection - it was not a conclusion I just jumped to quickly, and it took me longer to convince myself that there was a connection. (Like, how does heart medication affect our brain? Little did I know.)
thank you..excellent summary to share.
Thanks a lot :)
I knew back in 2008..from Texas paper...interference on CoQ10 ....
also statins as carcinogenic..
many just refuse to admit.
your summary is excellent to share..
thanks again
Dr Philip, I am 70yrs old.. very healthy recently had I full blood test. My (new) dr was very happy with the results. I am on Zimvastatin 10mg for the past 5 yrs. my cholesterol count should be 4 and my count was 3.9. Now my dr want to up my tablet to 20mg? My thyroid count should be 3 and my count is 2.9. Do I need to worry about it? Can I wean myself of off the statins? Hoping to hear from you🌺🌿🇿🇦
Imagine -- taking drugs when not sick. Someone in the pharma marketing department really earned their bonus.
Yes I quite agree.
Everything comes with side effects even life itself , NO ONE knows everything, I can eat peanuts some people can’t
First of all, my thanks for such thoughtful presentation. MUCH appreciated. My doctor has tried to push statins on me several times and lately has become more insistent. Best I can figure is the "spiff"( $$$) for writing the script has been increased by the drug company!
From my personal research, the three (3) highest causes for a "cardiac" event are: diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance. First of all, statins are KNOWN to damage the liver and cause diabetes and insulin resistance. Secondly, LDL as a cause for a "cardiac event" was at the BOTTOM of the list as an agent of direct cause!
Taking one step back, INFLAMMATION is the driving force for all these conditions (and many others). No doctor I've ever seen even mentions that.
American medicine focuses ONLY on controlling the SYMPTOM, because there is no money to be made with a CURE.
Statins put me in the hospital. My leg was so swollen from them , that I couldn't walk anymore. I stopped taking them and a few days later, I was back to normal.
No sugar, bread/flour and oils. Your problems will be solved. Oh forgot one, walk 30 minutes per day.
Worth mentioning that the CARDS study, in which statins were administered to people with diabetes to prevent heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular incidents, eas terminated early - the preliminary results were so good that it would've been unethical to continue withholding statins from the 'no statins' group in the trial.
My GP txt me to say I should start Statins after my recent blood test. I ignore the txt. I then had a follow up call from the surgery that I was at risk of a cardiovascular event and that I should consider taking Statins to lower this risk. I wasn’t offered any discussion on the benefits of statins or implications of taking them, simply told I was at risk if I didn’t take them.
I then informed the GP that I’m currently undergoing life style changes that through my own research, I believe will have a much better chance of improving my overall health in a more profound way than taking a statin which will only affect statistics on medical records in improving my cholesterol levels.
Further to this I truly think that it is imperative that everyone should take charge of their own health and not rely on the advice given by pharmaceutical market leads pushing GP practitioners into a corner to prescribe drugs.
Good choice on the lifestyle approach. Telling you to start statins on a text is ridiculous.
EXCELLENT explanation, please continue the good work about our health, what about BP meds⁉️
Thanks. Hopefully something I will cover in a future video on blood pressure.
My 93 year old grandma died just recently. 😢 It was one of the saddest days in my life. I don’t know if the statins have something to do with it but her health had deteriorated year after year since the doctor put her on statins. The carb heavy diet probably didn’t help either. If I can do it again, I would tell her to not take the statins and stay away from carbs.
Here's a thing. Having watched this vid three weeks ago I thought I’d experiment by suspending my statin uptake. The effect on my energy levels is remarkably positive. Of course I’m not a scientific study by doing this, but my tiredness and weakened muscle strength has reversed. I don’t have muscle pains, but I’d stopped cycling every week like I was doing two years ago before being prescribed 20mg statins. I hope I’ve reversed the cycle of my fitness decline, but I’ll try to test the reverse of this by starting my statins again in a week. I realise a placebo effect might kick in, but I know what I have felt in terms of positive change is has been marvellous. My q test revealed the increased risk delta of 5% by coming off statins, which I’m comfortable to risk for the benefits of my fitness coming back up. Virtuous cycle up, and a healthier baseline? Let’s see..
Very interesting. I'd be interested to hear what you find when you go back on them.
I have CKD and was put on a statin over 15 years ago as my cholesterol is pretty high 5.6 However, although I've never experienced any side effects my cholesterol figures have remained unchanged. As far as I can tell they're not doing the job they're supposed to. So why am I still taking them?
I will be asking my GP to stop them in my case. Waste of money and aren't working anyway.
My husband was on statins, but he quit a couple months ago as I learned more. Thank you for sharing this information. Question: when you discontinue statins, are any adverse reactions reversed?
The prevailing opinion would be yes, they are readily reversible. Some people with side effects do report taking a long time to improve though.
If I have understood YT’s Dr Ken Berry correctly, you can bin your statins any time, with no nasty repercussions. Best wishes for your ongoing health journey…! 😘
I am 39, just started 20mg statins. Never had a stroke but cholesterol has been high 7.4 for 2 years. Can't get it down. I am 16 stone. Decided to take it. Rather take something than do nothing. All I have noticed is lucid dreams so far❤ as for SD hoping this improves this.
Try the carnivire diet.
Maybe start with dirty Carnivore.
Meats (fresh only), fish (not deep fried), bacon, butter and eggs. Non starchy veggies… lettuce, cilantro, watercress, peas, green beans,bok choy, cabbage, kraut, olives, avocado.
No fruit, fruit juice, soda, dairy, energy drinks, beer or wine. Just water, plain seltzer.
Obviously no candy cookies cake, crackers biscuits or bread. Ice cream or frozen treats
Good luck.
Remember it was Blair’s bunch who introduced the ‘target-driven’ system of GP renumeration.
And in the early years, patient not wishing to take the advised medicine was NOT considered a good enough reason to AVOID the reduction in actual PAY, for the prescribing GP!
Blair and his ‘targets’ - a terrible legacy.
I know.
I had to try to deal with them !
I had raft of tests incl. cardio CT scan following angina like symptoms when suddenly stressing body (like running around with the dog or up some stairs). I'm pretty fit as exercise 4-5 time week, and total cholesterol is 5.5mmol/L. Cardio consultant said my arterial plaquing is 30 percentile for my age of 60, but didn't explain if thats good/bad, but think its OK. He said I'm goign to prescribe you statins. I said no. He tried 2 more times to prescribe them in a 15 minute consultation! Tried to reduce cholesterol level through diet and use of plant sterols, but over 6 months made negligible difference, which is what the cardio consultant would be the case (he said diet wouldn't likely make anymore than 5-8% difference).