Show 1044: The Truth about Statins and Heart Disease

What do you know about the popular cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins? Are they miracle medicines that save lives, or do they represent a menace to health because of possible side effects?

Two Views on Statins:

We speak with two experts on statins and cholesterol to get to the heart of the matter. Find out about the pros and cons of statins so you can determine if one of these drugs is appropriate for you. You'll also learn about other approaches you can take in addition to or instead of taking a statin to keep your heart as healthy as possible.

This Week's Guests:

Steven Nissen, MD, is chairman of the Robert and Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. He is the co-author, with Mark Gillinov, MD, of Heart 411: The Only Guide to Heart Health You’ll Ever Need. Dr. Nissen's most recent publications cover cholesterol-lowering drugs other than statins. They have been published in the American Heart Journal, Dec., 2015; European Heart Journal, May 1, 2016; Clinical Cardiology, March, 2016; JAMA, Apr. 19, 2016; American Heart Journal, June, 2016; and the American Journal of Cardiology, June 15, 2016. The photo is of Dr. Nissen.  

David M. Diamond, PhD, is a professor in the Departments of Psychology and Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at the University of South Florida. He is affiliated with the Center for Preclinical and Clinical Research on PTSD. He is director of the USF Neuroscience Collaborative and a research career scientist at the J. A. Haley Veterans Hospital. His recent articles have been published in Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology, March, 2015, and BMJ Open, June 12, 2016.