The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends low- to moderate-dose statins in adults ages 40 to 75 who have one or more risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease and at least a 10% chance of having a cardiovascular disease event in the next 10 years.
Many Americans take statins. No surprise there. But half of men, ages to 65 to 74, and 39% of women, ages 75 and older—that's pretty stunning. Combine the 45+ age groups and both genders, and it comes out that one in four Americans, ages 45 and older, are taking a statin.
Almost Everyone Over 50 Should be Put on a Statin to Reduce the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Contrarian View - PMC.
Statin therapy seems to provide no benefit to patients ages > 75 years without ASCVD or in patients ages ≥ 85 years without ASCVD, regardless of type 2 diabetes status.
According to the FDA, side effects of statins may also include neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms, including: dizziness or vertigo. vision problems, such as double or blurry vision. memory problems.
For a small number of people, short-term use of statins can cause memory loss and confusion. But these problems stop after stopping the medication. This suggests that the memory loss is not related to dementia, which would continue to get worse even when statins are stopped.
Other medicines for high cholesterol
Other medicines may be used if statins do not work or you do not want to take statins. These include: other tablets – such as ezetimibe, fibrates, bile acid sequestrants (also called resins) and bempedoic acid. injections – such as alirocumab, evolocumab and inclisiran.
While statins are effective and safe for most people, they have been linked to muscle pain, digestive problems, and mental fuzziness in some people. Rarely, they may cause liver damage.
Survival time was significantly longer in participants with LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) above 130 mg/dL compared to that in nonagenarians with LDL-C lower than 130 mg/dL (3.82 ± 1.88 years vs. 2.79 ± 1.56 years, p < 0.0001).
Try to eat more:
A doctor may recommend taking statins if either: you have been diagnosed with a form of CVD. your personal and family medical history suggests you're likely to develop CVD at some point over the next 10 years and lifestyle measures have not reduced this risk.
Can exercise lower cholesterol? Yes, it can. Being active helps your body move the bad cholesterol (also known as non-HDL cholesterol) to your liver where it can be removed out of your system. You do not have to join a gym or go on long runs if you do not enjoy it, just start by moving more every day.
Your HDL (“good” cholesterol) is the one number you want to be high (ideally 60 to 80). Your LDL (“bad” cholesterol) should be below 100. Your total should be below 200. Talk with your provider about what your results mean for you and how to manage your cholesterol.
Many people avoid statins because they fear possible side effects, says Dr. Zusman.
Genetics paint the color of your eyes, assign your blood type and carve out those adorable dimples in your cheeks. But mom and dad may have passed along something else, too: high cholesterol. An inherited condition known as familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) can increase your risk of heart disease at an early age.
A cholesterol reading above 240 mg/dL is considered high and potentially dangerous. Think of it as a waving red flag, signaling it's time to take action.
High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, have long been associated with a greater risk of heart disease. Yet, research has shown that about 75% of heart attack sufferers do not have dangerously high LDL levels.
Over the past twenty years, evidence has accumulated that high cholesterol levels may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). With the global use of statins to treat hypercholesterolemia, this finding has led to the hope that statins could prove useful in treating or preventing AD.
1. VO2 Max: Your Cardiovascular Fitness Level. VO2 max measures how efficiently your body uses oxygen during exercise and is one of the strongest indicators of longevity. A higher VO2 max is associated with better heart health, improved endurance, and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Making an informed decision about statin therapy
If your doctor recommends a statin, it's not because your cholesterol is “a little high” — it's because your long-term risk of heart attack or stroke can be significantly lowered by medication.
3 Myths About Cholesterol-Lowering Statin Drugs
However, if you haven't had a stroke or heart attack and you are taking statins due to high cholesterol numbers, ending statin use might be an option. Dr. Carimi says you must first start with lifestyle improvement, like diet and exercise, then have discussion about risk with your doctor.
It's a free, simple, and low-impact exercise. Aim for brisk walks that get your heart pumping. That could be power walking with arm swings or a leisurely stroll, whatever feels right for you. Studies show regular brisk walking offers numerous benefits, including lowering LDL and raising healthy HDL cholesterol.
Synsepalum dulcificum (Miracle fruit) is a tropical plant in West and Central Africa, which has been historically used for treating diarrhea in humans and animals. Pharmacological research has shown that the leaves of the plant possess anti-hyperlipidemia activity.
Exercise on most days of the week and increase your physical activity. Exercise can improve cholesterol. Moderate physical activity can help raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol.