Statin drugs

[gu99]

I have battled high cholesterol for most of my adult life and am now at 170 (total) with the aid of a statin drug.  I have seen some reports that say that even though statins reduce cholesterol numbers there isn't the expected correlation with reduced incidence of heart disease. Is that true?  And if so, why should I continue taking a statins and risk liver damage?

[Red_Star]

Serum cholesterol is elevated by the body to protect itself from various acids and toxins. Heavy metals, fungal mycotoxins and trans fatty acids (trans fats) are toxins which will cause a rise in the serum cholesterol. Thyroid hormone is necessary for the healthy metabolism of cholesterol so hypothyroidism (most common cause is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis) is also a common cause.

High cholesterol is caused by the following:

Poor diet (eg: inflammatory transfats/too much inflammatory omega 6)
Genetic - but this is VERY rare (< 1% of cases)
Untreated/poorly treated hypothyroidism
Toxins and acids (eg: mercury/metabolic acidosis)
Chronic systemic fungal infections

Studies on statin drugs show:

No reductions in death in people over the age of 65
No reduction in death in people with no existing heart disease
No benefit at all in women of any age
Men under the age of 65 with pre existing heart disease: 100 have to take a statin for 3 years to prevent 1 heart attack. *

* "It is very important to understand statistics here and the difference between relative risk and absolute risk reduction. Much of the advertising with statins describe a 36% risk reduction in heart attacks. This is a relative risk reduction.

The absolute risk reduction is a decrease from a 3% risk to a 2% risk. In practical terms, this means that in men under the age of 65 with pre-existing heart disease, 100 (the NNT- Number Needed to Treat) have to take a statin for 3 years to prevent 1 heart attack. The other 99 men receive no benefit.

Professor James Wright from the University of British Columbia states that “most people taking statins are taking something with no chance of benefit and a risk of harm.”

Interestingly, the small reductions in death in men under 65 with pre-existing heart disease was independent of cholesterol reduction and was almost certainly due to their anti-inflammatory effects (there are safer ways to get this effect)."

Statin drugs deplete Coenzyme Q10 levels. Low levels of CoQ10 are implicated in virtually all cardiovascular diseases including angina, hypertension, cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. Other side effects including nausea, headaches, dizziness, sleep disturbances, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, shortness of breath, memory loss, liver problems, muscle weakness, muscle pain, peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage).

[Flycaster305]

Nice post, rsarah99, you really summed up what a lot of us feel who battled heart disease.  I rejected statins early on, deciding to control it with diet and 'natural' products.  That bit of ignorance on my part led to eight stents, two heart attacks and a pacemaker, finally bypass surgery.  I'm healthier than most of my contemporaries, and we are all old men, thanks to great drugs, procedures, diet and exercise.  
gu99, I'd shop at the wonderful Saturday Market in your city regularly, exercise, take the good pharmas.  We celebrated an important anniversary (50) at the Governor Hotel in Portland last weekend with several dozen friends and family.

[rsarah99]

I'm one of the statistics, I have heart disease after having a long battle in trying to manage my cholesterol.  I didn't take statins regularly and their you have it, honestly although I am just one data point, the risk of liver damage is low in comparison to putting your loved ones at worry...

[gymdandee]

Two studies on RA and Perio Dental

http://www.perio.org/consumer/mbc.heart.htm

http://www.arthritis.org/ra-heart-disease.php

[gymdandee]

Poor dental health has been linked to body-wide inflammation and to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke or diabetes. Plaque build-up along the gum lines causes gingivitis, creating a home for bacteria to thrive in. This will cause gum-tissue breakdown, allowing bacteria to pass into the bloodstream where they cause inflammation. I suggest a mandatory daily flossing, a full two-minute brushing with a soft toothbrush, a 30-second gargle with a plaque rinse, and a thorough cleaning performed by a dental hygienist at least two times per year. a homemade helper: Work a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into your gum lines with a rubber-tipped gum stimulator. Rinse with warm salt water from a Water-Pik. Do this daily, or at least three times per week. And if your gums are bleeding, take 100 to 200 mg of coenzyme Q10 daily, which will speed the healing.

[remar]

Yes, please do keep up this discussion. It's all very interesting.
As a heart patient, I'm trying to learn everything I can. My mother and sister are also heart patients. Kind of strange that my cholesterol was more than good, but my mom and sister had very high cholesterol when we had our heart attacks. It makes me wonder what the numbers should be.
I've heard about dental problems and heart disease. What studies have been done on that subject?
My sister also has RA. We all know that causes inflammation of the joints. What studies have been done on that and heart disease?