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Fatigue from Fighting Cholesterol

Statin medications lower cholesterol, but they can cause a range of side effects from muscle and nerve pain to cognitive impairment. A new study suggests that fatigue is a common but unrecognized complication of statins. The study included roughly 1,000 adults taking simvastatin, pravastatin or placebo for six months. Levels of LDL cholesterol dropped significantly among the volunteers taking statins, but they were also much more likely to report a lack of energy. Their ability to exercise was also impaired. The study authors encourage patients on statins to tell their physicians if they experience an increase in fatigue that affects the quality of their lives.
[Archives of Internal Medicine, online June 11, 2012]

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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