Statins Explained in 10 Minutes (by a cardiologist)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.ย. 2024
- I've tried to boil down one of the most complicated topics in medicine to a TH-cam length. Let's hope it worked! Statins are the most prescribed medication in the world but most of what I read and watch online is either completely vague so as to be useless, or just plain wrong.
This is one of the most requested topics I get, and while not the most exciting, it's an important one. So I hope it helps at least one person make a decision.
I wanted to keep it short to ensure people actually watched - an in-depth lecture would of course have offered the chance to really dive into the details but my objective here is to help as many people as possible.
If you find statins confusing, you're not alone! Cardiologists and GPs probably prescribe these more often than anyone else and yet even I took a long time to really understand the enormous mass of data and coverage (which of course is impossible to read in its entirety). I want to specifically credit Professor Darrel Francis from Imperial College in London for helping me see statins in the kind of reference frame that I present in the video. Prior to that, my understanding was that kind of vague "oh this will help you, probably. I think." that you might get if you just read guidelines, which of course exist to maximise health for a whole population.
References:
www.thelancet....
www.thelancet....
SAMSON n=1 study: www.nejm.org/d...
www.sciencemed...
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More Medlife Crisis:
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If you're coming here to shout "paid shill" at me, welcome! However do please try watching the video too. If you still feel statins are a money grab, consider that a 1 month course of Atorvastatin costs £1 in the UK. I'll try to answer a few questions, if you have any, over the next few days, please put them as new comments, not replies to this one. Thanks for watching 🙂
Edit: yes I got the lottery odds wrong, dammit Jim I'm a doctor not a gambly risk man!
Edit 2: Apologies to those who weren't aware of what statins are, this video wasn't really intended to be an intro to the field but more a guide for those who might be taking them. I agree with comments that I could've put a quick paragraph saying what they are.
Do you write these comments right before publishing the video to avoid the "how was this written a week ago" replies?
Umm lol no I upload videos pretty much the minute I finish editing them. Please don't confuse me with these organised TH-camrs who plan things weeks in advance. I wrote this on Thursday day, filmed on Thursday night, uploaded Friday day. I have patients, but I have no patience.
Thank you for caring enough to do this. Very much appreciated.
@Bruce Preston that's the old numbers, I think it is one in 45million at the moment www.national-lottery.com/lotto/odds-and-prizes
@Bruce Preston argh oops misspoke there. 14B to 1 would not result in many winners unless the whole world entered in a regular basis
As someone with 7 plus years experience taking Simvastatin after a "minor" heart attack at age 55, I can only tell you of my personal results. I began to suffer severe joint pain in both of my hands after 2 years on the drug. I battled high blood glucose levels almost immediately ( one of the many listed side effects of statins is diabetes!). Cognition was diminished ( I would find myself confused as to my location on the drive home from work).
Concentration became difficult at times. Diarrhea became a way of life and I felt nauseous for most of the day.
After reading many articles on the negative effects of statins, I quit taking the drug. Within a short time ALL of the negative effects went away. I felt human again. My blood glucose levels dropped 30 points!
Most remarkably, my cholesterol levels were now in a normal range and my triglycerides are damned near perfect.
I truly believe that the best thing that you can do for yourself if you have heart disease or are type 2 diabetic is to eat a healthy, low carb or no carb diet, exercise a bit, and throw the freakin pills away!
I also just recently learned that statins can also cause memory issues. I have memory issues as well (mostly blanking on words-that "tip of your tongue" idea), but I think most of mine is due to PTSD, and also being on Zoloft, which can cause the issues. However, so far, I haven't had any side effects to taking Lipitor, minus the random brief (but not painful) muscle spasms I had on the first night that I took the drug. I've been on Lipitor since March of 2021.
6bblbird : same here + sea sickness
Yep. Sugars and over processed flours .. eat junk and throw pills at it
First of all , what is chlolesterol ? it is the building blocks for your body. If you have it , it is because your body needs to repair itself. The good doctor is missing the point. With statins, you can get real degenerative diseases like alzeihmer or parkinson. I think Statins are great for big pharma statins = billions of dollars. Plus you have to realize that when you are starting with statins you ll need to take many other treatments to deal with side effects. knowing that 90 % of people taking it have no benefits whatsoever. There is a thing called quality of life. If you live a few years more but you are always sick as a dog, I don't see the point. Plus , in the end, as far I know, they still get deadly heart attacks. You are better off eating vegetables, and exercice. The first side effect of statins is muscle spams, pains and all of that jazz. Is the heart a muscle ? muscle spams in the heart is not that great. just saying. He made me laugh about the NOcibos: what a spin doctor ! many people taking statins told me the same things: muscles pains, fatigue, fogginess, memory loss, depression and so on. I am so tired of those doctors dismissing patients by bullshitting their way around. If healthy food was more available and affordable, instead of proccessed food loaded with bad fat and sugar, you would not have so many people with heart disease.
@@hervegeorges Keep in mind that cholesterol is also determined by hereditary factors, and a person can have high numbers despite doing all the “right” things. Also, not all people taking statins will have all the negative side effects. I’m on Lipitor, and the only side effect I had was some random, very minor spasms that happened during the first night that I took it. I haven’t had any side effects since.
Dude! My father was a MD and I have always believed in medicine. However, when I was put on Statins every joint in my body ached, and l was quite despondent and noticed that I did not know my dog, of eight years, name! I stopped taking Statins and everything returned to normal. Best of luck!
How long did you take them for?
@@jasonmejia1338 about a month! Best of luck!
@PacoOtis glad to hear your ok. I took them for 2 weeks. How have u felt since then?
Sounds like you may have had some other issue!
Are you sure? There is only limited evidence associating statins with memory loss. I would have that checked out.
And you could try an alternative to a statin.
I was taking atorvastatin regularly for about a month and a half. My cholesterol went down, but my blood sugar rose to alarming heights. I've decided that diet and exercise will be the way to go
are u existingly a diabetic patient when u started statin?
@@easyacademy8110
It was probably a side effect from the statins as high blood sugar levels, and developing type 2 diabetes are common side effects.
@@jaycarneygiants I have read quite enough. Also it states that high blood sugar levels is a problem in the packet insert from the manufacturers.
Can't really believe that the manufacturers would say such a thing if it wasn't true.
Indeed there is a risk that you are gonna develop type 2 diabetes by taking statins. But studies have still found that if you have high ldl(usually correlated with high cholesterol) getting statins far outweigh the drawbacks of getting type 2 diabetes. It ranges from 2x to 10x fold. You better consult with a medical expert so you can better evaluate your choices and understand better the risks
@nikos4677
Statins=poison
Most of the studies showing benefits of statins are flawed/false.
If you have no prior history of heart disease there is no benefits shown.
Also there are different kinds of LDL particles. Unless you know the status of the different LDL particles you actually know nothing about your cholesterol status and what you should do to treat it - or if you should do anything about it at all.
Way too few people know this.
Also way too few people question their dr if he/she prescribes statins.
The risks outweigh the benefits by far.
What does the brain consist of?
Fat. (60%)
What happens when the brain is fat deprived?
Dementia, Alzheimers etc.
The brain needs fat to work properly.
The question that actually needs to be asked in relation to statins is: Is Cholesterol really the problem? Do people with high total cholesterol really die sooner? Why isn't your doctor talking to you about the effects of sugar as it relates to metabolic health?
Easy to find worthy research explaining that LDL, like its predecessor cholesterol, has been flagrantly demonized resulting in waste and harm, but like acid ‘cause’ of ulcers, much will be sacrificed before medicine practice “catches up” with science.
That is THE million dollar question
Statins also stabilise the cap of atherosclerosic plaques so they're less likely to rupture and cause thrombosis
@@PallasTurrets How do you end up with athersclerotic plaques to begin with? Statins treat symptoms, not the issues that cause the symptoms.
Those are really good questions
Me who never heard of statins before: Ah yes, finally, a video on statins from Dr. Rohin Francis!
They give it to a patient who has high cholesterol levels on their blood tests..
Its a medication to reduce cholesterol levels...
This will reduce the risk of a future heart attack/stroke in the patient..
It doesn't cure anything, it just reduces synthesis of cholesterol but MIGHT prevent/delay a heart attack/stroke
Most notorious side effect is muscle pain..
I wish he had explained what statins are for. Almost all doctors I have met just say “take this” and never explain. Perhaps it’s just lack of time but it doesn’t improve patients confidence.
@@pansepot1490 Statins are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. HMG-CoA reductase is an enzyme involved in the conversion of HMG-CoA into mevalonic acid. This mevalonic acid is used to biosynthesize cholesterol. By inhibiting this enzyme, the metabolic pathway for hepatic cholesterol synthesis is decreased and the result is an upregulation of LDL receptor. This upregulation is an attempt at sweeping up plasma cholesterol due to inhibited cholesterol synthesis, and consequently there is less LDL in the circulatory system.
Same vibes
@@psilocybin371 got it, less bad goo in blood.
I appreciate your information and perspective, doctor. I am a 74 year old woman In Canada who has congestive heart failure and afib. I also have familial cholesterol and although I eat carefully, I have been unable to bring it down. In consultation with my doctor, we decided to go on a low dose statin. I have no side effects, and as you say, I won't "feel" the benefit, however, I am hoping to live longer and be well. I have my first granddaughter who is 2 and I would like to live long enough for her to get to know me and remember me. I will do my best. Again, many thanks. All the best.
I'm sorry to say, but Statins will not make you live longer than a couple of days. No study has shown more than this. In fact studies show that people not taking statins live longer than poeple that take them.
Praying that you will get to spend many years with your granddaughter.
My husband who always follows doctors orders and takes tablets without fear. He suffered with muscle pain for 7 years finally went off them and feels so much better. He still takes blood pressure pills without any negative affects. He is more active and even lost weight since stopping statins
My cousin's housekeeper's aunt's dog's godmother had muscle pain for 7 years, then prayed to Krishna and it finally went away.
Anecdotal evidence is worthless, but kudos to your husband for being more active and losing weight - those are both probably more beneficial to long term cardiovascular health than statins.
@@m0rthaus the person isnt giving any evidence, but only their experience which is always anecdotal. but for anyone else reading, the guy is right don't use this as evidence, but don't dismiss it because it isn't evidence, get your doubts cleared and then make your decision.
Your experiences are true for you. Adverse effects can happen of course. But it’s not a reason to eliminate statins from treatment options altogether 😉. Discuss with your healthcare provider for your individual assessment
Good on you for supporting him toward better health.
Statins are dementia pills as the brain is made of cholesterol and statins don't discriminate.
cholesterol is essential to health of every cell is is oxidized ldl cholesterol which damages arteries causes arteries to attempt to repair the damage and they do so with plaque.
Taking anti oxidants and healthy anti oxidant plant based diet along with exercise is the best way.
There are many different statins with a wide range of side effects. Everybody is different and everybody reacts to each medications different. I'm not sure if he tried different statins. But there is a whole wide range of different statis available which he may very well tolerate better. I think given the risk of heart attack and death vs the risk of some pain for a few weeks while he work out whether it's for him or not is worth a shot. If it hasn't been tried aready.
At 63, having had 2 heart attacks and a couple of stents, and being on a handful of tablets a day including a statin, i went full carnivore.
14months later, im 75lbs lighter, cured diabetes, arthritis, ibs, gastric reflux, depression, anxiety, prostate problems, joint pain, bloating, diarrhoea and a plethora of other health issues. Im med free, my calcium score returned at zero. I eat only steak, bacon, eggs, butter. Ive had zero fibre for 14months, and i feel wonderful. Cholesterol is not the enemy. Insulin resistance is, caused by sugar and carbs.
Good for you !
Congratulations! I’m seeing so many good things about the carnivore way of eating ❤️
How Refreshing....straight, forward, informed commentary. A rarity anywhere on the internet. Thank you so much!
Statins can destroy you. and I don't mean just 3% of the time. More like 50%
But his claim of 7 additional months of life expectancy is not based on the body or research. Change if life style and diet have significantly more impact on life expectancy
a short introduction on statins would have been very much appreciated (at least by me)
Agree
Fair point. Truth be told this is more of an 'important' or 'useful' video (adjectives I normally eschew!) which I assumed would be of interest to those who know what statins are, and not to those that don't. So all I can say is if you watched this boring video without any prior knowledge of statins, then thank you! You are too kind.
@@MedlifeCrisis thought so afterwards but if you upload, we watch - this time only shortly interrupted by some googling for 10 secs (and possibly also a bit perplexed by the sudden outbreak of seriousness). no big deal :)
@@MedlifeCrisis As always, a pleasure to listen to your soothing tones! 8) Now, I just need to duck2go what a statin is!
Would appreciate a video on what they are. Heard of them but just the marketing. This was good as a seperate video
Thank you for a clear explanation. I am a well controlled diabetic with no family history of heart disease. My mother is 96 and everyone in our family lived into their late 80's and died of cancer. I have marginally elevated LDL and cholesterol. Ten years ago, I had a cardiac CT that showed a zero calcium score, and my coronary arteries are 1 to 2mm are larger than normal. This CT was offered for free to physicians so they could calibrate the new CT machine. I have no cardiac disease presently. I tried a statin for a few months because of the recommendation of my endocrinologist. I had minimal muscle symptoms, but my LFTs became elevated. I elected to not continue the statins. My LFTs returned to normal. I hope I have made the correct decision. I am 68 years old. I think I will have another cardiac CT when I turn 70 and reevaluate my decision based on the results. I hope I am in the 90% that wouldn't have any benefit to the medication.
Impressive calcium score! I am also a Type1 diabetic with longevity in the family and been a long distance runner for 42 years and yogi for 23 years. BUT my calcium score is 240! D’Oh!
Oh and what are LFTs?
@@Andrew-iv5dq Liver Function Tests. They are signs of liver injury when elevated above normal levels.
@@Andrew-iv5dq Unfortunately, genetics trumps both diet and exercise. I recommend you consider a Beta blocker to reduce your risk of a cardiac event. And I suggest you get evaluated by your cardiologist if you develop any symptoms. Type 1 diabetes is now more effectively treated with the feedback insulin pumps. However; this is not my field of expertise.
I felt this is a very fair video. My husband is turning 80 this yr, looks 20 years younger, has higher BP, no diabetes & his lips panel is great & they suggested it to him because he's AA. I'm white, turning 78 & our family tends to die of cancer. I have low BP, no diabetes all other labs great but ldl higher. Am I too old at this point to begin? I tried but impending death of relatives & taking it at night with epilepsy drug, made me feel different. No aches but nervous. Don't know what is grief & reaction. Sorry for long response into the void.
You make good and clear points- thanks. BUT, the muscle pain I experienced after starting statins was so severe that no argument in the universe would ever have me expose myself to that possibility ever again.
Same here, I could barely walk.
MY PAIN FROM THE STATINS WAS SO SEVERE I HAD TO START USING A WALKER . SO I QUIT TAKING THEM AND WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO I WAS FEELING FINE . WHEN I SAW MY CARDIOLOGIST AGAIN , I TOLD HIM WHAT HAD OCCURRED SO HE ASK ME TO TRY TAKING 2 PILLS A WEEK . THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING NOW AND NO MORE MUSCLE PAIN AND I HAVE PUT MY WALKER AWAY .
I don't see how a blanket statement like all side effects are caused by a nocebo can be accurate.
@@vickiebailey5261What’s your dosage? Thanks.
@@deborahfay102 When in doubt, tell the patient it's all in their head.
Man's wearing the Tom Scott scrubs
"I am at a random store room in a hospital"
@@MedlifeCrisis Amazing places!
@@MedlifeCrisis Wow I read that with his voice
@@MedlifeCrisis "This store room in a British hospital, doesn't look that special, because it's not. Not me, not local nurses, not patients of this hospital, particularly care about this store room. Besides of course interns, who need a place to cry on, but in a bind they can always use toilet. In 1834 this store room did not exist yet, because the hospital was not built yet. That of course changed, some years later due to epidemic of Torpenhow Dancing fever that swept through the isles..."
nice logo there on your picture ;)
When I started losing my vocabulary, losing muscle mass, and experiencing random pain in my abdomen, I quit taking statin. My cholesterol is very high, but I have no other health problems. My blood pressure is 120/73, my A1C is 4.9, and I no longer have stomach problems, muscle pain, edema, or depression.
Sounds like you did the right thing. The more we learn, the more we understand that statins are totally useless ... unless you own pharmaceutical stock.
From my research, as long as your other metabolic markers are good including CRP and/or C-Peptide, and fasting glucose & insulin I wouldn't worry about it. High cholesterol (LDL) in and of itself does not cause heart disease. If high LDL still concerns you, and it shouldn't with good markers, you can have an advanced lipid panel done. If your LDL is big and fluffy, you're good to go. Many people who live to be the oldest in the world have some of the highest cholesterol, some hovering around 800+! Besides your aches and pains, statins are known to cause diabetes as well.
Yes, apparently because cholesterol very high is not a health problem. It is just another one of those lies we have been told since the moment we learned how to talk
The only markers you need to look at is triglycerides and HDL. Triglycerides divided by HDL should equal less than 1 but less than 1.5 is ok. The people with the highest LDL live the longest ❤ Watch Dr Paul Mason's videos on cholesterol. 😊
My dad took himself off his statins. He’d been on them for years. I was rather worried. The thing I noticed first was he could sudden move more easily. Next was his conversation ability. He had been very depressed for years, now he was upbeat, his conversations were more logical. In the last few months I’ve had the best conversations I have had with him in years. He says he’d rather die feeling alive, than live wanting to die.
His inspiration came from cardiologist Aseem Malhota who explains how statins work somewhat differently. It is so hard to know what is right. In the end I think each of us should find out all we can, pay attention to our bodies and make our own minds up.
That’s so true, my doc. Wants me to take atrovastatin, but after reading so many information and comments, I don’t want to take them Thanks for your comment.
I think it's the biggest selling drug in the world. A large pharmaceutical plant was decomissioned here after a drug they invested 5 billion in for reducing cholesterol, never passed safety trials
Thanks for sharing this.
My Dad was plagued by mysterious muscle pains in his final years, they more or l
less crippled him. And I really mean mysterious, he had other ailments but we knew what caused them. Only after he died did I realise that this is one of main side effects of Statins, though medics claim it's vanishingly rare.
I agree Zill , same story here . I dropped my statins last year I believe everyone has a unique immune system . I can't take penicillin & most antibiotics play havoc with my body . Statins have many side effects, so I decided to change my eating habits and choose foods with low sugar & cholesterol . I'll have that piece of apple pie occasionally , and work it off with brisk walks etc. Life is much better since I ditched the statins .If I lose a few years of living , so be it ! Living with pain is not living. I'm 80.
I want to coin the term 'informed refusal' (or 'informed dissent', if you prefer). It's something we should strive for. If a patient refuses our suggested therapy, fine, but only if they know the benefits and the harms of their refusal. Just like with informed consent.
We do that in care. It's drilled into us that people are free to make their own decision, even an unwise one. If someone says they do not want to have their tablet at 9pm, I have to listen to them. Even if I think it's unwise, it's their choice.
@@katfoster845 Absolutely agree, but I feel that many patients do not realise that enough, so they don't express their doubts.
in the UK they have to tell you what can go wrong this put my wife off so I asked what happens if we do nothing? my wife then decided to follow the treatment.
@@katfoster845 - Sorry to disagree with how this works for many. My experience is that many doctors and specialists are arrogant. They can be incentivised by QoOF payments to make decisions that are contrary to their main mission of “do no harm”. For those without the education or vigour to challenge the doctors statin mantra, they simply trust the GP. So if the GP says their muscle cramps are not connected to the statins they just started, the patient continues. I have heard people claim GP’s to say if the patient stops taking their statins they will die!!!! Hardly helpful.
My husband died age 64 he was prescribed stations for 20 years. I do believe he would have been healthier without.such long term medication. Side effects; could be a factor he was breathless, overweigh, sclerotic blood clots, grew anxious over time biting the skin off his fingers and grinding his teeth constantly, a continuous nervous cough. Not only his vascular system but his nervous system was involved. . As a medical man you did not explain the ingredients that make up stations and the chemicals that the body could react to. It would be interesting to have knowledge on that score
“Knowledge is power” - THAT encapsulates this very worthy video message on statins. Thank you Dr. for a very well delivered, intellectually sound argument on this topic - brilliant!
Thank God you're here because I've got exams in a week and my knowledge of medicine at this point consists entirely of TH-cam clips of House
Just remember. The first answer is never right. To answer the question first write lupus, cross it out, nearly kill someone, take some more drugs and then have an epiphany. It’s your only chance.
Thank rohin instead 🙏
I hope you realise that your patients will depend on you. If _you_ fake your way through exams and manage to pass despite having inadequate knowledge, _they_ are the ones who will suffer.
@@xyz7572 I hope you realise that the people around you depend on you not to be insufferable. If you have somehow managed to go through life without developing a sense of humour despite, presumably, being alive, then they are the ones who will suffer.
Ben Stacey lol sounds like I touched a nerve 😂
I'm a physician in the U.S. and I appreciate you pointing out that you don't have a conflict of interest because of the structure of health care there. Here in the U.S., the incentives are totally screwed up due to the over reliance on procedures and de-emphasizing of preventive care. U.S. physicians salaries are the highest in the world (specialists only higher in Holland). This attracts the wrong type of person to the profession. We'd be well served to expand access to and collectively fund medical training thereby allowing the reduction in reimbursements, spreading out of work, and eventual nationalizing of healthcare. This for profit system kills 68K Americans yearly (probably an underestimate).
Rarely actually kills 68K. It just watches them die because they can't monetize their care.
American health care is still safer than say, owning a gun or driving.
@@whazzat8015 Don't be obtuse. You know what I meant.
We have more than enough money to prevent those 68K deaths but our corrupt government chooses to spend it on imperialism and tax breaks for the wealthy.
@@therach7841 We have enough to do the job, just not enough to waste. We lack the community , capacity , communication and common will to do better. The system works as it was designed to. If you think white privilege is a toxin, look at medical privilege. Corrupt gov? Look at the disparity between primary care, peds, geri and Ortho reimbursements. Equality means giving up privilege and working together. I am more concerned about who we fail to help, but when one of the side effects is poverty, who are we hurting the most?
@Yuri R. Look at how the US system performs. If you have $$, doctors line up on you. If not, BuhBye. It's how it works FOR EVERYONE not just the rich. US system is a FAIL. There are many that are better. Medicare for all is a start.
@Yuri R. You can do anything badly. Again, the systems work as they were designed to. There are smart guys in the Netherlands. Fix it. Unless they people of the Netherlands want it to be done that way. It didn't spring from the head of Zeus (or Odin) fully formed. But it takes work, commitment, communication and community. If you don't have that, you really don't have much , anyway you do it. By the way, how did y'all get the highest rating on the Euro health consumer index with all those problems you describe? at HALF the cost of the US!
Thank you! I do regular exercise and take care of my diet but despite it I got high colesterol, my doctor gave me 6 months to modify my diet and nothing change so she put me in statins and after two days I had so many questions! You are the most informative video I found!
Try KETO. You won't regret it...
@@beenflying1 I found going on a low carb diet has been made me sharper mentally. I think cholesterol is important for the brain.
@injanhoi1 Yes, same for me. High LDL is a good thing, if you don't have a fatty liver
Oh ouch. My preconceptions were rather well embedded and this jostling of them doesn't feel so good. Nice vid!
I wish other people were able to just say this and move on rather than outright reject realities that clash with their preferred blend.
Well on ya!
Well, personally, I am somewhat perpelexed.
My father took statins and he got polymyalgia, which they suggested was caused by the statins. It killed him.
The medical profession would probably call that a nett positive seeing as he lasted 20 years on statins. Obviously we will never know.
I will sum up my feelings about statins in 3 words - quality of life.
The first statin I took caused me to have leg cramps that were literally rolling on the floor in tears. The second one caused so much weakness in my legs that I could not stand up out of a chair without help. The third one was not much better - made it difficult to maintain my balance.
As such, I refused to take any more statins. What is the point of extending life if it is to be lived as a borderline cripple? Since I quit the statins, I feel better, am more active, andhave an all around better life.
Here, here... change diet and exercise its that simple to put the brakes on CVD
@@aek1928 Yes, Diet is a major piece of the jigsaw puzzle, but there are also other factors including physical activity and environmental. The biggest risk factor of all is smoking which is inhalation and not diet related. The US heart disease map follows the smoking map very well. It also tends to follow the poverty map. And it likes to follow the air pollution maps. Genetics plays a role too.
legs get weak as we age and do less activity and exercise. @@aek1928
Same
Narrow minded approach. There are many types of statins.
While I can appreciate your education and background, the fact remains when people like me are taking a statin and get NEGATIVE side effects, stop taking the statin and immediately the negative side effect stops, that isn’t nocebo effect. I wish it wasn’t true, especially in my case. My cardiologist and I have even tried Zenia, a drug that works differently on the body but still works to lower cholesterol and after 2 months of taking it, just like the other 4 different statins I took, I developed odd, increasing and debilitating joint and muscle pain to the point where I was calling my primary care doctor about pain management and thinking I had injured my knees, but then it spread to arms and shoulders to the point where lifting a cup mug was excruciating. So at what point does the pain level of these side effects that affect so many people and destroy their current quality of life justify 7 months, 7 years or 17 years longer life span? The pain caused made it so I no longer wanted to go outside, get out of bed, or live really. What kind of life is that? I think the medical profession should do more research into the real reason of stroke and death, and have the balls to come out against it. Processed foods and sugar. You are welcome to use me as a Guinea Pig.
This is the earliest I've been since my mum went into labour
holy shit thats good
When i hear doc putting "lifestyle factors" into equation, it almost always assures me i am in good hands. Those that have and spare time to know their patient, how does he eat, what is his job like, how is the sleep quality, does he have any other seemingly unrelated issues are doing the magic. Sometimes even chat like this can do wonders alone. It's so tempting to chase easy solutions without adressing the lifestyle issues that brings one to visit the doc in the first place.
Lifestyle us important, but it's also important not to moralize medicine. If statins reduce LDL, and reduce the risk of heart disease, if betta blockers reduce the risk of hypertension, then focus can be made on weight and exercise for example.
I am 82 and the dr wants me to go on a statin. However I do not want to.
Didn't you do a whole video on scrubs and why they shouldn't be red?
Silence! This is a very complex man. :D
Lol i was just thinking that
Ha, well...kind of. The video was about how scrubs followed suit behind surgical drapes. And in the early days, surgeons wouldn't necessarily wear anything on top of their scrubs in the OR. So everything was the same colour. But nowadays scrubs are just 'hospital uniform', worn by anyone and sometimes colour-coded by area of the hospital. And scrubs are never visible in theatre as gowns are worn on top (which are still blue or green, as are the drapes). These particular scrubs that I'm wearing are the ones you have to wear in my hospital in order to enter theatre, you won't be allowed in in blues or greens.
Yooo, chill! He wears red so the bad guys don't see him bleed! 😏 #SuperHeroReference
@@BlakieTT wait until he wears a brown one
The BEST explanation of how to evaluate claims made for or against a medication that I have ever seen! (I am an RNBSN.) Statistics are easy to misrepresent for someone's own gain, and statistics are hard for most of us to analyze so we can make the best informed decisions about taking them. Thank you!!!
Very noticable joint pain on Lipitor. None on Crestor, Hmmm. Nevertheless, I've stopped stains about 3 years ago (66) and will play the odds! Thank you Doc! Great video!!
My partner has been on three different statins and each one has made him feel infinitely worse and seriously compromised his mobility and mental health. It s a gruesome dilemma!
@julieplummer6611 Same here!
@@KW-onceuponatime and here
No it’s not. This doctor has been indoctrinated by a corrupt medical system. Watch Dr Aseem Malhotra. Our brains NEED cholesterol.
Greetings! I'm a septuagenarian who was put on statins and a week later I did not know the name of my dog I had for over five years. Joint aches, muscle aches, trouble sleeping and did not try a placebo, but doubt it would have the same effects. Thanks for your videos!!
Statins have very serious side effects, some of which are irreversible. Not worth the risk.
Research the benefits of cholesterol and you'll know why. Thanks so much for sharing
Same thing happened to my husband's work colleague. It happens so often that my own doctor, who was pro-statin before, now no longer recommends them.
Thank you for commenting. I think you might be the person whose wife made a comment about this on another video. I actually referred to this in a comment on this video.
I had marginally high cholesterol level which was brought down to high-normal range through diet and increased exercise. My doctor prescribed 10 mg dose once per day of atorvastatin. She mentioned the possible effects of the drug, namely muscle soreness which did not occur from taking such a low dosage. Cholesterol is an ingredient in the blood to facilitate muscle repair. An over-prescribed dosage may cause muscle soreness so ask your doctor to reduce the dose and see if that helps.
Thank you. This was excellent. I will be 80 in 4 months. I have been on statins for five years. With all the media frenzy about statins, I was worrying that I should stop. Your video explained it all clearly and my fears are gone. I will continue my statins and hope to be a lucky one. I'm already lucky to get to be 80.
First time I have seen your post and found it very honest, straight to the point and informative.Your not my doctor but after this short video as well as clearly and concisely giving the facts about statins you come across to me as honest and trustworthy which is a gift not many people have.I have subscribed to your channel on watching this because finding honesty without having an angle and constant bull crap is very refreshing. I am male 59 no cardiovascular problems and am relatively fit and healthy and taking a 20mg Atorvastatin statin as my doctor informed me after a blood test that my cholesterol level was 10.3 and with it being over 10% was required to inform me about the risks and possible use of statins good/bad in the future. For me any chance to increase my cardiovascular health with little or no side effects is a no brainer but my go to thought is, if this gives me more time with my wonderful wife, kids and grandchildren then I’ll take it. Thanks again
I think u should look into the side effects my friend, Iam 57 and I had a heart attack 2 years ago, Iam only starting to know about the side effects for this drug, I have pains in my legs, and my blood sugars are rising ?????
My cardiologist after my heart attack: "lets look at your risk factors: 1) weight?" "10 lbs over weight?" "crap.... 2) ever smoke?" "no" "crap.... 3) drink?" "teatotaler" "crap." "so what can I do now?" "your liver hates you, take a statin and don't let it happen again." (then proceeded to walk out in a huff.)
Thats the ticket, make things tough on your doctor.
Sedentary?
@@Uhlbelk Then he shouldn't be a lazy professional then and default to the 'book' perhaps.
@@alan-sk7ky Most doctors do this, especially here in the US, where the appointment time they give to patients is like 5 minutes per patient. I have had unexplained severe hypertension since I was 14 years old, and I still have it at 38, even on 4 various BP meds all at once, every day, still have high blood pressure. They have done every test in existence (that I know of) and every random doctor I see attempts to blame it on some co-morbidity, of which I have none. No prior ancestors with heart issues, I'm not and have never been overweight, don't smoke, don't drink, don't do other drugs, exercise, eat healthy, etc,etc. Still have the high blood pressure and random bouts of high cholesterol as well. I suspect many people with conditions similar to mine are simply genetic, and I hope we can get to a point in human genetics where doctors can check this, and tell people with some realm of certainty that it is just your genetic make-up, because they are CONSTANTLY attempting to BLAME the patient for issues, and it isn't just with high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, it is with many various issues.
@@johncollinge619 exactly he didn't go over diet or level of physical activity
Any doctor who prescribes statins should try taking it for a year.
I'd like to see the Dr discuss the side effects on a cellular level. From what I understood stains disrupt the body's process of making coq10, Mk4 and Geranylgeraniol. What are the positive and negatives of this ?
All Cardiac drugs cause mitochondrial dysfunction and actually raise all cause mortality...
also vitamin E and vitamin D dont forget that
Yes exactly. What doctors do not explain is that statins only reduce the amount of good LDL and that may reduce the amount of small bad LDL that results in plaque. However, statins also reduce CoQ10 which is what gives you energy. They also seem to dismiss the negative side effects statins cause. My cardiologist wants me to stay on 20mg of atorvastatin because he says it reduces plaque but I've yet to see any proof of that. It may reduce the amount of bad small LDL by reducing good LDL overall, but our bodies need good fluffy LDL to survive so there is obviously some negative effects to reducing good cholesterol. This is all such a controversial topic it's not easy deciding what to do. I stopped my atorvastatin again a few weeks ago hoping I'd feel better...but going against my doctors recommendation bothers me. IDK....
The most widespread _new_ way to think about statins: having your first thought about statins. The second-most common _new_ way to think about statins: wondering if you spelled statins correctly because autocorrect wants to change it to _stations._
Thanks doctor for posting this video so that people can add their comments about their personal experience with statins (most of which are negative). We need more videos like this.
I had a cardiac event 10 years ago. I was religiously taking my statins and other drugs for a year, but my mood and physical well being was low..I read about the 7 months life extending stats and I decided to stop statins and came back to "normal". This video made me reconsider my decision of stoping statins. I will go back to my doctor and restart my treatment. If I can add 2 or 3 years of life, it is worth it, 70 months, and I am golden.
To educate yourself with science from a doctor. Please read Put Your Heart in Your Mouth by Dr. Campbell McBride. It sites all the research NOT mentioned in the video above. True life extension.
What about the effect statins have on CoQ10, a lot of cardiologists don't even know about this which is concerning to me because the heart has some of the most dense concentrations of mitochondria and CoQ10 is a vital part of ATP production.
CoQ10 I believe is found in its highest concentration in the muscle of the heart, and ingestion of CoQ10 in supplements is highly ineffective.
Most doctors dont know shit, they are just parrots pushing what they have been taught in universities. Guess who pays for all the studies and books the universities have...
@@Joseph1NJ statins reduce the production of CQ10 so with statins you must have less for the brain and heart - "Although endogenous CoQ10 synthesis occurs throughout the body, because of its physical size and high metabolic capacity, the liver is the major site of CoQ10 synthesis." It can also induce reversible dementia
@@jimlofts5433 "The level of CoQ10 is the highest in organs with high rates of metabolism such as the heart, kidney, and liver (114, 66.5, and 54.9g/g tissue, respectively), where it functions as an energy transfer molecule."
@@Joseph1NJ Source.
According to this video, side effects are not caused by the statin, but simply by taking tablets. How does everyone know to report the same side effects when the tablets are labelled statins compared to when taking other tablets? And for the few people who apparently derive a benefit - wouldn't they be better off exercising instead? Shouldn't a healthy lifestyle be promoted ahead of pill-popping?
In the USA, according to one of my doctors, those of us who are diabetics and on Medicare always receive a brief discussion of the possible need at some future point to address high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I needed neither for a few years until I needed both; we tested. Thanks for confirming that we did the right thing.
Funny, I was studying about statins today for my GCSEs today... Looks like cardiologists can read the brain as well...
I'm back! Dude! I have to challenge you big time on saying the side effects are caused by taking a "pill" and reacting to the act of taking a pill. My side effects were very pronounced and the soreness and aches and memory loss were quite real. My suddenly not knowing my dog's name was rather shocking. Also, my lying in bed and saying to myself "it really doesn't matter if I wake up in the morning" was absolutely unlike me. Best of luck and thanks for sharing, but maybe ponder softening what you said about the placebo.
I see you’ve chosen to wear the blood red scrubs today.
He did not choose red. he picked white. That is just the remaining's of his last ~victim~ patience.
The pair with the brown pants.
I scrolled past this video a few times, having never heard of statins.
My brain saw:
“Satins explained… (by a cardiologist)”
“A new way to think about stains”
“Statistics explained in 10 minutes”
I took statins for at least one year. I wasn’t told about side effects. I discovered from other people who suffered from the same pain it could be related. I thought it was related to my back, but after discontinuing the medication the pain went away. I tried them again at the lowest dose about 3 years later because of a Doctor friend’s recommendation. Again with the pain. I was miserable. That was enough for me. I am much more skeptical of bright eyed medical professionals now.
I've been following a Ketogenic lifestyle for almost three years...combined with 18 to 20 hours daily intermittent fasting and my consultant recently advised me to follow a plant based diet, because keto was extremely dangerous and would massively inflate my cholesterol levels. I asked him to which cholesterol he was referring... HDL or LDL?
Long story short, I've maintained a weight loss of 103 pounds, reversed prediabetes and my recent A1C blood test scored me with a healthy 3.7 while my LDL cholesterol was at the lower end of the healthy range and my HDL was right on the money.
Needless to say, I walked away from the consultant...who I believe is ten or more years behind the current science.
Finally, I implore anybody to search for the new scientific evidence that shows that people with lower levels of cholesterol are at greater risk of death...highlighted by Dr Ken Berry.
Good job on your weight loss stranger! There's no pill on the market that can replicate what weightloss does for your cardiovascular health and quality of life. None!
@@LaitoChen Thank you for taking the time to respond to my comment. I agree totally that low carb with fasting is the way to go and my A1C result is proof that healthy fat does not make us fat.
And did your triglyceride levels fall nicely too?
@@zenden6564 they were within normal range according to the chart. I expected there to be some elevation but I was pleasantly surprised with the results.
@Robert C Lynch after keto for 6 months my trig's went from (a not good) 3.5nmol/l to 0.5. Amazing.
I'm sold on keto/IF.
Why does logical reasoning, empathy, and measured response seem like spotting a unicorn? Thank you, Dr Francis, for your commentary!
Everything he said is false.
After being on Lipitor for ~15 years, I could barely walk from the muscle pain. Stopped taking it, and the pain dissipated almost entirely in just a few months.
Did you develop the pain over time? Or you had it since day one you took the drug?
@@kyefang8278 -- The pain developed after about 12 years and became gradually worse. Mostly in the lower body. I do heavy weightlifting (squats and deadlifts), so at first I attributed the pain to my workouts and growing older. But when I stopped taking Lipitor, the pain disappeared even though I kept lifting heavy weights.
The statin was sneaky in how gradually it degraded my muscles. It took me a long time to figure out the statin was the cause.
simply an anecdotal report. Of no consequence. Sit down.
@@dangremillion -- Who are you? What do you know about this subject? Enlighten us. We're dying for your perspective.
@@DEValentine I dont share personal information on youtube, especially to a cheeky smart ankle like you who is rather testy and "on edge!" However, suffice it to say I spent 35 years in the practice of medicine, 10 years running a clinical medical research center; was an assistant clinical professor of medicine at 2 medical schools and served as a medical officer in the US Army Medical Corps in San Francisco, Walter Reed in D.C. and Fitsimons AMC in Denver. If you read my post you should have noted that my cardiologist trained at Vanderbilt and Emory University and I do listen to him and follow his advice. Who is your Cardiologist? Certainly he or she knows that Lipitor is not the only statin in town. What is YOUR schtick, mon ami? By the way, who is we? Or were you referring to "the royal we?" All the best.
Research Biochemist here - not selling any books or diet plans. I get paid to develop computational models of membranes although all my systems contain cholesterol so maybe that is a bias.
I don't believe that statins work the way you think they do.
Statins are an antibacterial defense strategy developed by fungi who develop most of our best antibacterials. In bacteria statins inhibit the mevalonate pathway that doesn't just make cholesterol molecules but also a molecule called menaquinone which is an essential molecule in the electron transport chain of bacteria (it plays a similar role to ubiquinone in eukaryotes like us). The mechanism of action to prevent heart attacks in humans probably has nothing to do with starving our livers of cholesterol causing an upregulation in LDL receptors - which is the generally held mechanistic explanation. Studies showing a link between reduction of LDL to reduce cvd have been disappointing. RCTs that have used nutrition to lower LDL (eg Sydney Diet Heart Study, or Minnesota coronary study) saw a decrease in LDL but not a decrease in heart disease, and an increase in all cause mortality.
A more likely mechanism is when you take a statin, the bacteria in your gut making menaquinone also take it, and we can actually use menaquinone as an essential cofactor - Vitamin K2. So in those who have inadequate dietary sources, production by the gut biome may be why it is conditionally essential. Poison that production and those people become deficient. Vitamin K2 is involved in the homeostatic regulation of calcium ions in bones. Less K2 means more calcium in circulation which means more calcium available to stabilize arterial plaques. Selecting people who have already had a heart attack selects for subjects with unstable plaques - so it's not surprising that making them K2 deficient (statin therapy) would have an effect. It would be interesting to see a study where half the subjects supplemented K2.
Speaking of selection bias, The side effects study referred to preselects subjects who have complained about symptoms, and thus those more likely to experience a nocebo effect.
Finally cholesterol is an absolutely essential molecule. We clearly don't understand it's role in atherosclerosis if it's bad in fatty streaks, good in cellular membranes, bad in small dense LDL, good in HDL, absolutely essential as a precursor to sterol hormones like testosterone and vitamin-d, and benign in large buoyant LDL particles. If we are going to randomly inhibit it's metabolic pathway we had better know the mechanism of effect on cardiovascular disease and see if there is another way to have the same effect that doesn't starve the body of production of an essential molecule. Especially if a known side effect of inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase is increased incidence of type 2 diabetes.
Excellent theory that would need investigating. Of course, no one is going to fund a study, examining why Statins don’t improve all cause mortality. The evidence on that is already collected and held in the CTT department of the CTSU in Oxford, and the raw data is protected from researchers who are interested in this by a confidentiality agreement. Strange that western medicine is so willing to trust studies where the data cannot be audited!
Sadly, the whole area of atherosclerosis is mired in misinformation going back to the Ancel Keys, fat-heart disease hypothesis, now widely debunked, but still used to form diet advice, and the Framlington Study which shows no link to saturated fat but is cited as evidence of the cholesterol-CHD hypothesis.
The more recent Statin trials (but note there are almost none since research study rule improvements in 2006) don’t even measure mortality, they just measure Cholesterol reduction, as the job of convincing the public and HCP’s that LDL cholesterol is universally bad has been made, but in my opinion completely wrong.
As for the recent Nocebo trial. They took a group of people already predisposed to side effects and gave them a very low dose of a statin, and bingo we can publish to the media that statin muscle side effects are all in the mind. Forgetting that Prof. Rory Collins has took £250M of funding from the Pharmaceutical companies selling statins, and co developed a genomic test that states 29% of people are genetically disposed to have muscle pain as a side effect! Yet he is on record in saying such a side effect is a 1 in 10,000 probability, now they are saying “its all in your head”.
Hello Dr. Crisis, hope you are well. I really appreciate you making these videos for us, when I'm sure you've been busy af.
I’ve been on Lipitor 80 mg for probably 20 years. I’m 66 years old. 12 years ago I had a heart Cath and had 40% blockage in my descending aorta. I’ve been taking Niacin every night on the advice of a friend who had 4x by pass.
In two weeks I’m having a treadmill. It’ll be interesting to see how my blockage has progressed.
HI. What was the result of the treadmill test?
How well did you tolerate the niacin? Flush or no flush variety?
Thank you for this. Nicely summarised. I'm 67, male and in the 'prefer not to take a tablet' group. It's worked fine so far, but I can't quite shake off the nagging fear I'm making the wrong decision. Food for thought.
If you avoid statins, you are not making the wrong decision! So many people have found them to be debilitating in one or more ways. Statins job is to lower cholesterol ,they do, but at an extreme cost.
PS: There is absolutely no proof that high cholesterol causes heart disease.
Read Put Your Heart in Your Mouth by Dr. Campbell McBride. She sites ALL of the science and you will find safer ways to help with heart disease.
Excellent discussion! As a physician with a significant family history of CVD, and positive coronary calcium scan, I too have done substantial investigation into when statins should be prescribed. I have come to the same conclusion that you have so eloquently presented above. At 69 I am the last surviving member of my immediate family! All of my siblings and parents having died of, or with significant cardiovascular disease. I am a lifetime practitioner of daily exercise, have been on a low carb diet and statin for over 20 years, and weigh in at my weight as a senior in high school. One might ask, 'then why are you on a statin, you have a positive calcium score, so it didn't help'? To this I would point out that I am still alive, in perfect health...no hypertension, diabetes, pulmonary, or renal disease; nor ever having had a cardiovascular event. All of my metabolic numbers are perfect including cholesterol (which was elevated at age 40 prior to statin) and maybe most importantly my ApoB. All of us will develop some degree of atherosclerosis as we age and I suspect that I would have had some significant health issues absent my lifestyle and the use of a statin to further reduce my risk. Do I think everyone with an elevated LDL should be on a statin, no. But certainly many patients will benefit. This is something to be determined after a thorough evaluation with your health care provider. It is equally important to reduce carbohydrate consumption and exercise on a regular basis to improve health and longevity. Thank you for your excellent video.
Dr. Jim Waller
You comment that low carb diet is equally important - I would say far more important - it could be thanked for your being normotensive, non-diabetic, with high hdl and low triglycerides. In one study, type 2 diabetes increased baseline risk for cvd 11x (1000% increase risk), smoking and metabolic syndrome 6x, (500%), hypertension 2x, (100%), while ldl increased it 1.3x (30%), yet you think the effect of reducing ldl with a statin is equally effective?
@@smthB4 I agree with your premise that the low carb diet may be the most important change that I, or anyone could make. Diet is the key to weight control and metabolic health. The scientific evidence is clear on the effectiveness of low carb diet on metabolic health. That said, there are those of us who will also benefit by the use of statins. The current evidence has shown that lowering of ApoB, regardless of absolute LDL level can significantly reduce CVD risk. It's certainly not appropriate for everyone. Each of us should seek out medical professionals who are willing to look at the appropriate risk risk factors and tailor treatment on each individual's risk factors. Thank you for you comment. Jim
I’m glad you are well. Your determination and lifestyle modifications are admirable. I sincerely think you had had more to do with your turn around than statins.
That being said, having a severe family history as you a espouse , perhaps there is some level of hypercholesterolemia? Considering your family history I am not surprised that you considered statins.
But most people on statins are on statins based on a simple LDL level that is calculated through an equation.
You're a pharma shill, or you aren't intelligent enough to do the research.
Also, could you address the issue of relative risk vis a vis absolute risk? And the number to treat in order to achieve a positive outcome? Also, is there statistical correlation between lowering LDL cholesterol and preventing death from cardiovascular events, or strokes? I understand that there isn’t such proof of a correlation. Perhaps the whole issue of cholesterol and heart and cardiovascular disease is more complex? Maybe inflammation and insulin intolerance are also factors? Thanks for your help with sorting this out.
He didn't help.
After being prescribed simvastatin ten years ago, I developed dizziness, muscular aches and pains, peripheral neuropathy and prediabeties.
Ok that sucks but correlation doesn't equal causation especially after 10 years.
Hi! As a dental nurse, could you do a video about how looking after your teeth is very important to your overall health? Thankyou!
Dr Ellie Phillips covers that subject well.
When they put me on statins (2010) my Doctor started me at 10mg and rapidly went up from there till he hit something like a 60mg dose. That is where I lost my short-term memory. I was living on a notepad and pen. Now back when I did this there was no controversy about statins and no hoopla over side effects. So, nocebo probably was not the case. I thought statins would be great, have my double bacon cheeseburger and eat it too! And, they did lower my cholesterol...substantially. Three days after I went off the statins my short-term memory started to come back, within 14 days I was back to normal. (may have been less days, your mileage as always may vary). Great video though!
You might consider a follow-up video on statin dosing. There are recent studies showing that you can lower LDL by more than 20% with only a 1/4 dose of common statins. Even someone who has decent numbers from diet and exercise interventions can still benefit from a very low dose. I think a lot of people would be very encouraged to hear that they could cut their dose in half if they are unhappy with the side effects, and might be more willing to stick with it for the long-term. The same is true for ezetimibe, a non-statin cholesterol lowering medication that is pretty effective at a mere 1mg dose. (Standard dose is 10mg.) Combining very low doses of both drugs should produce very significant effects with very low risk of side effects.
Why would you want to reduce cholesterol? For what possible reason?
@@yingyang1008 He wants to donate money to poor pharma and the poor doctors.
You are the only one who read "Stains". No one else made that mistake.
I did
I did but I'm dyslexic. I have an excuse.
Statins caused muscle pain and a brain fog made me unable concentrate, wake up tired, and miss exits on the highway while driving.
Now, I have to keep telling my doctors, "No statins."
One topic I'd love you to cover: fasting.
Recently intermittent fasting has been quite popular, but also there are youtube videos of people doing 7 day or longer fasts. It might be good to talk about some of the risks too.
If you are not underweight or undernourished do it. It's that simple, you will lose weight and feel better.
I eat KETO and try to IF every day. I'm minutes away from 73 and take no meds and have no diagnosis. I work hard and feel good. I'm not 18, but I feel good for the years.
@JD is it the intermittent fasting that's losing you weight or the difference in calorie intake from the previous year?
@@panamafred1 You just explained the solution! Eat healthy and exercise! When people eat garbage and a lot of sugar and get obese, they get all kinds of life style illnesses. Then they are put on statins. Making you even sicker!
@Nicky L (yes 8 months late to the party). Im 50. I intermittent fast 4 or 5 days a week. If I eat breakfast its a high protein bacon, eggs and hot sauce. Ill then go all day with only water, or tea util dinner. Dinner would be another high protein meal and nothing until breakfast again except water or tea. If I break it, its for something good. Ive had a transplant so I won't go more than a day without a good meal, usually dinner.
The problem is quality of life ! The side effects are excruciating to some people! I got off my statin for two weeks and I feel awesome!
How do u control your bp
@@jamescorsey6041 statins are not a blood pressure medicine! I take metoprolol and hydrochlorothiazide for bp ! My dad lived till 90 with hbp and grandma was 99 and never took a statin in her life ! Hbp in our family is hereditary! We all have it but control it with bp medication! Nobody has ever had a heart attack!
@@jamescorsey6041diet, exercise, and weight loss.
Same here! Being on Statins was awful and I began to not care if I woke up the next day! Whew!! Best of luck to all of us!
The side effects of statins is real. When I suffered my first heart attack, I was placed on Lipitor. Within weeks, my knees were in so much constant pain, I had to use crutches to get around. I couldn't even attend my cardiac stress test because of it. When I stopped taking them, my symptoms vanished within a week or so.
I also suffered from leg and foot cramps. Therefore, let's all agree that certain people do deal with severe issues from the drug.
Let me also make clear that my cholesterol values have always been perfect. Thus, the idea of using a drug to treat a problem that doesn't exist seems rather dubious and uncalled for.
After eight years, I ended up with a second heart attack, got a bypass and placed on another statin. Same joint issues again, but not quite as severe. (It was a different type of statin.)
I remained on them for over a year and gradually reduced the dosage. I got off them again many months ago. All of my lipid tests show perfect numbers including cholesterol.
Statins may not be "poison" but they sure don't agree with me and since my cholesterol isn't really an issue, it just irks me how cardiologists prescribe pills in a manner that doesn't jive with blood test results.
Believing that you're the lucky one who will get those extra six years is a bit presumptuous. Statistics can be manipulated in all kinds of ways that "prove" whatever they want to prove.
Until the day doctors truly understand heart disease and its root causes, I'll bank on the notion that statins are probably bad for the majority of patients.
My heart attacks had absolutely nothing to do with poor diet, lack of exercise, high cholesterol, smoking and so forth. If someone like myself can suffer from heart attacks and all I get for an explanation as to why this happened to me is "bad genetics" then it's clear how little cardiologists understand heart disease.
Does the doctor know what the reason is for your heart attack? Thanks.
I "second that emotion" !!❤
You should read The Clot Thickens by Dr Malcolm Kendrick for a detailed explanation of the causes of heart disease. And it’s nothing to do with cholesterol.
I'm almost 73. In 2014 I was in the group of people who probably should take statins. My numbers didn't look good whatsoever. But instead, I changed my diet. I eliminated all sugar, and nearly all carbs. I started eating KETO and all my numbers have come into line again. In the meantime, I've watched one after another of my family and friends take statins and die of heart attacks or diabetes or other metabolic syndrome ailments. One neighbor has been hanging on by a thread for years now, unable to live a quality life. The way I have seen it explained is that cholesterol is a bandage that builds up to try to repair the damage from the real culprit, inflammation. Even taking statins, the inflammation marches on. Now I take no meds and spent two days this week digging a drainage ditch and today welding a roof structure on an outbuilding. So rather than weigh the risks of taking statins or not taking statins, I changed the way I eat. It wasn't easy and sugar and carb addiction is a tough thing to overcome. Do I wish I could have a piece of birthday cake? Yes, until I realize how sugar and empty carbs ravage the body. Thanks, but no thanks to statins.
Your knowledge is correct. Whilst it seems sensible that a cardiologist would be an expert on Statins, actually you need to speak to a biochemist, someone who understands the human metabolic pathways.
There is now analysis that the cholesterol in Atherosclerosis plaques is not from LDL’s anyway, and is from red blood cells that were sticking to arterial scaring. The cholesterol has a protein tail and this shows its likely origin.
But you are exactly correct, atherosclerosis is caused by inflammation not cholesterol. Of course, there’s not a lot of money in reducing oxidative stress! Quite to opposite in fact.
One very quick question for doubters, anyone care to explain that with ever increasing statin takers in the population, CHD and CVD rates continued to climb? Surely if the evil cholesterol conspiracy was true, and statins are definitely effective in reducing it, CVD and CHD rates would fall.... One day the truth will be out, by then the people who caused the false cholesterol, saturated fat and heart disease hypothesis will be retired, and someone will have found another pill to treat the healthy we must all take.
Unfortunately, its easier to take a pill (which wont help), rather than eating proper food which isn't processed and loaded with garbage, and doing some exercise. Hopefully someone in charge of real health information will notice as the heart attack stats keep get worse with the whole planet on the 'magic' statins LOL. Its common knowledge, most cardiologists have no true knowledge in nutrition and thats a big part of this problem.
Absolutely spot on
@@fatbikemontage2931 Thanks for backing me up. My wife had a cardiologist who said he would put statins in the water supply if he could. Said everyone should be taking them. He is no longer her cardiologist.
@@raddish706 Thanks! There is so much information at our fingertips these days. There is no excuse other than laziness or lack of intellectual curiosity that keeps anyone from finding answers that don't require a wishful-thinking magic pill. And as to someone in charge of health information correcting this, I doubt it. We have to go gorilla style with our own education. There is too much money to be made by the powerful lobbies and professional associations. The truth goes to the highest bidder. Am I am old jaded skeptic curmudgeon? Yes. Peace, good health, and happiness to you.
I wish you were my GP, my science teacher, and my explainer in chief I could travel around with and use when people ask me questions about medicine. I want you to replace our entire Covid task force spokespeople here in the U.S.A. Thanks for this video, especially the explanation using the example beginning at 3:35.
This is best video I’ve watched on this subject. I still won’t take them, but appreciate your honesty and description.
I’m in the middle of a cardiac event. No mention statins yet. But, after what we witnessed with Covid in the US. I question everything about the medical field and big pharma. Thank you for the very well done video.
see Dr Ken Berry's vids on Proper Human Diet.
Same here, I lost trust in doctors and pharma. I have been prescribed anti-acids by multiple doctors for GERD with poor results, just to learn from youtube videos that the problem can be acidity too low and not too high as they all said. A bit of apple cider vinegar daily fixed the issue.
You really do need to question everything and do your own research. I remember being told in 2008 that type 2 diabetes was irreversible and that only increased doses of medication would keep my glucose in control. NO mention of diet at all!
His video is nonsense. Were the side effects from the so called nocebo the same ones typically reported with statins?
Where's the evidence of how many people who were in the no statins group live far longer than 7 mo.?
Thanks for this, my parents are on it and it's been a whole ordeal wading through online info.
If they have side effects, please ask about low dose Crestor. You can take it on altering days. Here is a good study - www.medscape.com/viewarticle/571823
I can only share my personal experience with statins. I had a quintuple bypass at age 55 after a lifetime of not eating meat or chicken and very little dairy. (Go figure) I was placed on statins after surgery and was OK for 1 yr then bang! I started having night cramps that soon progressed to full blown 24 x 7 myopathy. To the point that I had to retire from nursing and change the way I lived. The serious effects lasted about 2 yr then started to ease up to just generalized muscle weakness. It took me a few more years to realize what the problem was. The problem was that I was on Omeprazole for years (and before that another blocker for many years) and steroids since my teens. They (and other drugs) also have the potential side effect of causing myopathy and can have a potentiating affect. (A different kind but in the end same same as an actual experience). Bottom line do your homework and don't expect the doctor to have your particulars in mind... they don't.
Check out
Statin Deception (Truth about Cholesterol Medicines) New Study!!
on TH-cam
You overloaded on seed/vegetable oils and transfat margarines which are all poisonous and cause clots.
No idea what Statins are exactly but ever since I watched your ASMR video I've been watching your videos to relax. Very calming voice 10/10👍
there is an element of witchcraft in what doctors do one feels better because one feels better
Read the title as stains 🤣
Always enjoy you videos 🙏
I somehow read it as Stalin
@@Timooooooooooooooo haha I did the same
I monitor my metabolic syndrome (which are all okay): fasting blood sugar, HDLs, Triglycerides, waist size and blood pressure. I walk at least 2 miles a day and do not follow any particular diet but I eat balanced meals. I am 82 years old and do not have any medical problems, except for seasonal allergies. My vitamin D level was extremely low so I take 2,000 D3 units a day,
why did this come up in my recommended AFTER my med school finals? 😭
Oooooh, I hope they went well!
@@Finkeldinken ah thank you! I think they did go well 🤞🏾
Because it's new and therefore didn't exist before. Hope you did well!
LOL
I'm on a statin due to majorly high cholesterol (total level was a 350 at one point), which is most likely a heriditary factor. My dad died after his third heart attack (happened at home, and I was giving him CPR), and knowing all the trauma that caused, being on a statin has given me some peace of mind in terms of helping me bring my numbers to a normal level, even with eating fruits and veggies, and being physically active. Keep in mind that I'm only 42, and my dad had his his first major heart attack at 46, resulting in a quadruple by-pass surgery. High blood pressure, heart conditions, and high cholesterol all run high in my family.
BTW, $1 for a month's supply of the drug? Dang! I had to pay $25 the last time I got mine refilled, and I know I shouldn't complain there, but since my insurance switched at work this past year, and it being a new "level" of drug, I have to pay for it. It sucks.
What's $25? A pizza at a restaurant? Please!
Sounds like the dominant genetic disease Familial Hypercholesterolaemia if you're in the 350s. I have FH and my cholesterol will always be in the 300s and beyond without strong statins no matter what healthy diet I eat and what lifestyle I lead. I exercise regularly, eat unprocessed and healthy foods, never smoked and drink nothing but water and milk outside social occasions. Pretty much zero added sugar and low carbs. My cholesterol would still be in the 300s without statins (which it indeed was before I got a formal FH diagnosis and started statins).
I got FH from my father. It knocks about 20-30 years off men's lifespans (less off women's) due to the massively elevated risk of all manner of cardiovascular disease and events. Most men with it don't live beyond their 50s no matter how healthy they are if it goes undiagnosed, which it unfortunately does for most people with FH.
Statins can really lower LDL! I firmly trust the science not the internet hype! Good info Doctor 😊
Check Dr. Eric Berg’s podcasts. Incredible, eye-opening information!
Diet. Not drugs. Lifestyle. Then live, don't worry be happy.
Absolutely fantastic video. Thank you so much for reviewing this objectively and openly. Many doctors are so busy the job of patient education falls unilaterally to us nurses, who don't then have the leeway to adjust course if the patient decides alternately to the plan of care. I'll be keeping this video in mind for the future!
This video is exactly what I was looking for. As someone who has been taking statins for over 25 years due to high cholesterol that didn't respond to diet and exercise, (i am a trim and fit 72 year old), I was having doubts due to all of the TH-cam doctors who queation its efficacy. I clearly fall onto the group that stands to benefit the most from statins. Thank you for granting me peace of mind
Been on statins for 12 years never had a check up since havent cant get an appointment with doctor most doctors all paid to prescribe
Very good summary on statins! Although probably outside of the scope of a
Thank you for this information it is very helpful. I am on statins so far 3monthe have not had any bad effect.
My Dad has been on statins for 30 years and he's at the gym right now. I'm 65 and he'll probably outlive me
The Nocebo effect, brought to you by the Big Healthy, a consort of people that think ingesting anything artificial or in format of pills is basically bad.
If people don't like the idea of being reliant on a pill, who are you to judge them? Are you really questioning the reality of -placebo- psychosomatic effects? They're very well documented...
@@tissuepaper9962 I don't think that's what they're trying to say. Nocebo isn't a parody of placebo, it's the inverse. Placebo, by definition, is when you experience desirable effects as you expect them. Nocebo is experiencing undesirable effects (side/adverse effects) as they are expected.
Now think, who or what entities enforce that guilt of taking 'artificial' things, or being 'reliant on a pill'? People who take medicines just want to be in a better health condition, but there is this associated shame about it cuz its an 'unnatural' way to get better, and that it's a path riddled with side effects.
While that may be true to some extent, those anxieties are good to plant if you're an industry that sells a 'natural' lifestyle, cuz it's self fulfilling! More worry = more side effects, nocebo.
@@grynd.7118 edited my comment to replace "placebo" with "psychosomatic". That was simply imprecise language on my part.
I think I understand what you're saying, but I also think that even if it's partially due to health crazes, the effect is still very real.
If people were actually experiencing what he calls a nocebo effect , then their side effect symptoms wouldn't be those people typically report from statins. He lies.
Fun fact - I got the worse muscle pain I am ever had taking red yeast rice (had to take antiinflamatories for several days to get rid of it). Subsequently have absolutely no problems taking pravastatin. I am curious : one of the concerns about statins is the reduction in K2 and coenzyme q-10 when taking them - what is your opinion on supplementing with these?
Thanks for the clear explanation and statistics. My recent calcium agatston score was 333 so my GP wants me to start a statin. When I asked how we will know it's helping he said a repeat fasting blood test in 3 months will show a difference. P.S. the peeps claiming to get every possible side effect from the published lists don't know how they work. You're going to get one or possibly two, but that's it. Keep it real folks, getting old is hard enough without the attention craving social media darlings.
Good luck with your statin, hpoe you don't have tl eat tnose words.
@@johnpawlow 2 months now with zero problems.
Isn't it the case that studies like the SPARCL trials show that statins do not decrease overall mortality? i.e. that the groups on statins did have less heart attacks and strokes, but that mortality in that group was not lower than the placebo group- more people died of other things and, in the final analysis, mortality was the same in both groups. What are your thoughts on this?
This is timely. My mother was just prescribed a different statin after not taking her previous one for years (?) because of the leg pain it caused.
Hope your mum is doing well
@@CED99 Thank you.
Wait a second: you’re the expert! I don’t have a dozen years of medical education and experience with which to make this very important medical decision. I have no business making this decision, only you can.
That's exactly what I said to my Cardiologist when he explained everything and asked me how I wanted to proceed. I let him make the decision for me.
Typical experience;
1) typical middle aged patient with poor lifestyle health risks comes in for first non-emergency annual wellness check
2) screening tests reveal one or more high risks for cardiac disease, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, smoking.
3) prescribe appropriate medications
4) patient starts some lifestyle changes such as exercise (never ready to quit smoking)
5) patient returns with muscle pains and wants to stop statin.......
6) me spending a ridiculous amount of time exploring that pain and explaining that exercise causes muscle pain, exiting cvd can cause claudication, side effects even if not nocebo effects typically improve after 2 weeks.
This is a good video that I need to add to the top of a statin pamphlet I hand out to everyone that walks in the door. Maybe just pamphlet bomb the town, or disguise them as religious tracts and leave them everywhere.
#6 "explaining that exercise causes muscle pain" - god that's so hilarious :-)
Even for us experienced runners, if I have a lazy couple of weeks then my legs complain next day after even a short run, when starting up again. But good on them, hopefully they can find a form of exercise they'll start to enjoy.
What about the neuropathy or the thinning hair or the nose bleeds? The benefits don't outweigh the adverse health effects that many people suffer when on a statin. Many people take these drugs with the belief they will prevent a heart attack or stroke when the label says this medication will not prevent a heart attack or stroke.
Lifestyle changes and changes to diet do far more for lowering cholesterol than a statin drug.
Just had a discussion about statins with my endocrinologist. I wanted to stop simply because the idea of taking them for a second year makes me queasy. He convinced me that the benefits would merit continuing on Ravustatin. This video convinced me that I made the correct decision. Thanks
I’ve been taking 20mg Pravastatin for 31 years. I’m 72 next month. I am not aware of any side effects. I’m from a family that does suffer from cardio vascular disease but I’ve been fine, I believe this is down to the statins. Twice yearly check- ups show that my liver and kidneys are functioning fine. I think that the bad publicity puts people off, and people have on many occasions tried to warn me about the long term side effects, but I’m staying on them.
IVE BEEN TAKING PREVASTAITN FOR A FEW MONTHS AND MY ALT AND LIVER NUMBER THRU THE ROOF. I NEED TO LOWER MY PUNKASS CHOLESTEROL BUT NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. I STOPPED DRINK AND BEGAN SMOKING HELLA WEED.
not every one reacts equally to alien substances (because, to my knowledge, statins are not common in food). But the target in heath policies is not (or should not be) the fringe cases, but the major part of the population. If a drug is harmful for a significative part of said population, and the benefits are fringe, I don't see the rationale behind that policy (prescribing the drug).
It's a drug many love to hate because so many people are on them for one reason or another. Many people on them have other comorbidities often associated with poor diets and obesity and I've seen some cases where people attribute health problems to statins when they are really coming from other health concerns and lifestyle. It's still worth noting that many people do indeed suffer sometimes serious side effects, but the gain in reduced risk of cardiovascular disease offsets this for most people.
I am 21 and have been taking 40mg Atorvastatin for quite a while due to a genetic disease that means my liver is dysfunctional with LDL and would otherwise put my cholesterol well over 7 mmol/L (well into the 300 mg/dL range and beyond) no matter what kind of healthy diet and lifestyle I carry out. It would knock about 15-30 years off my lifespan on average. I haven't encountered any side effects.
Same age as you been on a low dose statin now 17 years , 5 milligram Crestor, did have (a fib) repaired by 2 ablation procedures , doc said arteries are ok. Ride bike 10 to 15 miles 3 to 4 times week weather permitting , jog 2 to 4 miles 3 or 4 times a month . No leg pain , shortness of breath , chest pain yet. I know sooner or later something will knock me down but not yet.
@@toddcrenshaw2308Sadly smoking weed reduced ur good cholesterol and increases ur bad cholesterol....just reduce it ir go off it for a while.... telling u this i cos smoke too & going on s break helped.
The overall cause mortality reduction is basically less than 1% if statins are taken for a number needed to treat on the 70:1 patients for 4 years of medication. This is basically insignificant, the best you could do is change your habits, stop smoking, cook your own food, move a little, drink water and most important of all sleep until fully rested. Humans would rather take an expensive medication that most likely give you side effects than dropping what's actually killing them.
Yes, exactly correct and this cardiologist should say so.
Thank you, so glad for this video. Just began a statin and am hopeful. Seven years is great success, seven months would be precious time appreciated!
I'm generally active, of a healthy weight, and relatively young; however, my LDL is through the roof. The doctors I've spoken with are pretty sure the bulk of my LDL cholesterol is of genetic origin as it's extremely high for someone of my age and "health" and my parents both have extremely high LDL despite not being obese.
This video reassured me to take the situation more seriously as the side effects I thought I experienced and resulted in me ceasing use of the drugs were probably of different origin. I'm going to get back on my statin today.
LDL alone is not an indicator of heart disease risk. VLDL and triglyceride measurements are more indicative of heart disease risk.
high ldl is not necessarily bad if your trigs are low and HDL high you may be fine, you also want to know what type of ldl you have small or large ldl.
As mentioned by other people, LDL alone is not a good indicator of heart disease. As long as your Triglycerides are at a normal level you're almost 100% fine. If you're active it means your body has a higher need for cholesterol, if your triglycerides are low it means your body is using it.
You need to watch Dave Feldman's speech on cholesterol, a lot of doctors are poorly informed about the subject and just repeat what they were thought in medical school
th-cam.com/video/0LuKwsz9Woc/w-d-xo.html
@@rumbecker5085 That's old data, my friend. High LDL is NOT good, regardless of HDL.
Just go vegan, dude. Lower your risk, protect your heart, up your stamina.
Smell better, feel better, sex better.
I know a lot of people are suspicious about statins. I had a couple of reasons to start taking them. My bad cholesterol was on the high side, and didn't budge, even with consuming no sugar for almost a year, walking every day, along with a 50 pound weight loss. Also, there was my family history, a lot of sudden heart attacks causing death at younger ages (my mother included). The statin with the lowest dose, has improved my stats. I have no side effects and will continue to take it.
Low dose statins work for their anti inflammatory effect. Make sure you never use higher doses, as the side effects are very serious.
Your success is due to your diet of no sugar and walking everyday.
Would you share what statin you are taking and what mg.?
You are barking up the wrong tree. Cholesterol is not a factor that causes heart attacks (CHD). That has been proven over and over again. Heart disease is caused by oxidation, inflammation, glycation and stress. You say you eat no sugar. How about grains and beans (oatmeal, bread, pasta, chips and beans with carbohydrates that easily convert to sugar)? Sugar in itself is a problem, but also combines with protein or fat to cause advanced glycation end products (AGE) that are big risk factors for heart conditions. Do you use oxidized vegetable oils like corn, canola, soy, peanut, etc. that are oxidized in processing? They are highly inflammatory and full of free radicals that damage arteries. Do you eat anti-inflammatory foods like green leafy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables? Do you eat grass-fed animal products, fish, nuts and seeds high in Omega-3 fatty acids instead of grains and beans and animal products fed grains and beans high in Omega-6 fatty acids? Do you consume pasteurized, homogenized milk products full of inflammatory proteins and sugars?
Do some research and find out for yourself what causes CHD. If you do, you will probably know more than your doctor, since medical schools provide very little education in nutrition. And forget about cholesterol. It is good for your circulatory system, immune system, brain, and muscle tissue, including your heart.
@@jackfanning7952 BS! Cholesterol IS a factor, of course it's a factor. The other things you mention are contributory factors but you cannot ignore cholesterol.
The FDA has issued a warning about the relationship between type 2 diabetes and statin use. Not mentioned here and really important to look at.
Correlation does not imply causation
in your experience, can you comment on the overall metabolic health of your patient population? what relation is there between metabolic health and heart disease? can you substantially reduce risk by addressing metabolic health before prescribing statins?
Wow! Thanks for a great explanation. It is my belief that heath care is the patients responsibility. I believe the the Doctor is there to advise. I must also add .... you are there for those worst case situations. Thank you for your time and efforts.