Statins

[Busz]

I've been have some chest pains which seemed like indigestion but nothing helped so I went to the Gp who ran some tests and my cholesterol was 6.9 so he sent me to see a consultant who did a cat scan. The results were one of the hearts blood vessel walls has some plaque formation. I stupidly didn't aske enough questions like which vessel and how narrow etc he gave me a prescription for atorvastatin and discharged me. I am 43 and fairly active I
also have high bp approx 159/97 and I need to lose  3 stone so I'm joining the gym & changing my lifestyle eating habits etc but I don't want to take any statins has anyone any advice?

[ed34]

Heart disease and cholesterol levels don't match. It's been a fact for many decades and yet is only just being realised in Europe. The problem is, so many patients have heart attacks that have low cholesterol. They then give the excuse of stress levels, but that takes us away from cholesterol. It is either cholesterol or it isnt. Ive seen patients with a cholesterol level of 9 who have been given the all clear, yet their arteries are meant to be clogged. I would be very very careful about your decision. Getting you BP lower by losing weight is a great decision, the start to recovery. Think about how much sugar you consume each day, processed sugar. This is know now to cause heart disease and the UK actually hinted at taxing sugar. Smoking is a killer, the toxins attack your arteries. Long term stress can add problems because it raises blood pressure. So I believe you are asking the right questions and making the right decisions.

[Ger57]

It is very doubtful that you can reduce your cholesterol to acceptable levels with only lifestyle changes, but it is a good idea to try it anyway.

If you can not lower your cholesterol very much however and your blood vessels already have some measurable plaque, I would not hesitate to start taking statins. I myself take them now for a couple of years and have not noticed any side effects while my cholesterol has decreased dramatically.