The headlines this week proclaimed that healthy American adults should be taking statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs. Studies published in JAMA support controversial guidelines from influential cardiologists released in 2013. Not surprisingly, visitors to The People’s Pharmacy website want to know our take on the latest recommendations.
This comes from Erica:
“Please, please, please talk about Big Pharma’s recommendations that everyone needs a statin again! We had this discussion two years ago. Same criteria. What changed? More disease creep? More drug sales for life?
“This is criminal behavior on the part of the cardiology board/Big Pharma.
“HELP!
“You are my most trusted and valued resource.
“Thank you!”
Two articles and an editorial in JAMA this week suggest that roughly half of all U.S. adults should be taking a statin-type cholesterol-lowering drug. That recommendation reinforces the ACC (American College of Cardiology)/AHA (American Heart Association) guidelines issued a couple of years ago.
Everyone on a Statin!
In practical terms this means that virtually everyone over 65 is supposed to be taking a drug like atorvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin or simvastatin, regardless of health status. It doesn’t matter if you are a vegetarian, run 10 miles a day, have a total cholesterol of 180 and good HDL of 60, with blood pressure of 120/75. Once you are over 63 and male the risk calculator will say you need a statin.
You don’t have to take our word for it. Do the calculations yourself. Here is a link to the “Heart Risk Calculator.”
We entered the following:
Age: 66
Total cholesterol: 180
HDL cholesterol: 60
Systolic blood pressure: 120
Diastolic blood pressure: 75
Here is what the calculator states: “On the basis of your age and risk for heart disease or stroke, the ACC/AHA guidelines suggest you should be on a moderate to high intensity statin.”
Really? They might as well put statins in the water supply. Of course that might make the pharmaceutical industry very happy. We’re not sure it makes sense.
What the guidelines say is that no matter how healthy you are, no matter your family history, no matter how much you exercise, no matter how good your diet-once you reach 63 years of age and are a man you have to take a statin. If you are a woman, you get a pass until the age of 70. Then you too will be urged to take a statin regardless of your health.
Forget the fact that there are almost no data demonstrating that healthy women over the age of 70 will actually benefit from a statin. The risk calculator says that your doctor should prescribe atorvastatin or simvastatin and you’d better take it if you want to avoid a heart attack or a stroke. How did our parents and grandparents ever live to 80 or 90 without taking statins?
What about Diabetes?
Let’s not forget that EVERYONE with diabetes must take a statin, according to the new guidelines. But there is a little catch-22 going on here. Statins have been shown to cause elevations in blood sugar. Not only do these drugs cause diabetes, they can also make it harder to keep blood sugar under control. That seems like a paradox.
If you are taking atorvastatin, rosuvastatin or simvastatin, your chances of getting diabetes go up substantially. Having diabetes increases your risk of a heart attack or a stroke. Hmmmm. We find this curious if not downright counterproductive.
If you would like to read more about this statin-diabetes connection, here is an article we have written on the subject and a link to recent research from Finland.
Drugs May Be Driving the Diabetes Epidemic
What’s the Bottom Line on Statins?
Needless to say, we do NOT think statins should be in the water supply. We do not think that really healthy men without heart disease over the age of 63 who exercise regularly, have good blood pressure and eat healthy food need to be on a statin. We do not think that every woman over 70 must be on a statin even if she is healthy with no signs of heart disease. What ever happened to common sense?
Want to read more about this controversy? We responded to the new guidelines when they were first issued.
We also offer a Statin Smackdown for some real data to sink your teeth into.
Statin Side Effects?
Despite the new JAMA articles, we are not convinced that the whole world must be on a statin-type medication. These drugs can cause a range of side effects that cannot be ignored. Although many prescribers would like to downplay the dark side of statins, we have documented a range of side effects here.
What are your thoughts? Do you think half of adult Americans must be on a statin? Share your experience and your thoughts below.
