We now know that heart disease is linked to two biological processes, he says: "Insulin resistance and chronic inflammation." Insulin resistance is when cells don’t easily absorb glucose from your blood – from sugar and high GI foods – so it’s chronically raised. "Insulin itself directly damages the inner lining of the heart arteries," he says. Drinking more than the recommended weekly amount of alcohol (14 units) increases your risk of feeling more side effects. Can I take a statin if I'm pregnant?

A Statin-Free Life by Matt Addis | Hachette UK A Statin-Free Life by Matt Addis | Hachette UK

The risks, as with all medicines, include possible side effects. Serious side effects are rare and can be reversed if you stop taking the statin. One risk is muscle pain, ranging from mild pain to a severe muscular problem called rhabdomyolysis. Heart disease is the primary cause of death – and the most common cause of premature death – in the western world. To reduce their risk, over six million people in the UK take statins, which lower ‘bad cholesterol’ (LDL-C). This is the accepted science.

Lower your cholesterol with our 5 top questions answered by BHF experts. Our scientists are fighting for every heartbeat Your doctor will look at your cholesterol level and other risk factors for heart and circulatory diseases to find out if you need a statin. You may be given a statin if you: Lots of people don’t need a strong statin to reduce their cholesterol level. Your GP or cardiologist will find the right statin for you, depending on your medical history and the cholesterol level they want you to aim for.

a statin? - BHF - British Heart Foundation Should I take a statin? - BHF - British Heart Foundation

We've followed an eight-step process to make sure this content is reliable, accurate and trustworthy. Learn how we make our health information reliable and easy to understand. Consequently, "meditation, yoga or something that reduces your stress levels will have a big impact." He cites an Indian study that found forty minutes of daily mediation had the strongest impact on heart disease reversal – "more than diet, more than exercise." Statins have been prescribed to millions of people and are estimated to save 7,000 lives each year in England. The decision to take a statin is an important one, as it will probably be recommended that you take the medication for a long time.Medical prescriptions are free in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They are also free for people in England who meet certain criteria, including people who are: AND… “ LDL cholesterol has an important role in the immune system and likely protects against death from some infections” including cancer and The higher the LDL cholesterol in people over age 60, statistically the less likely they were to die based on a study of over 70,000 people In most cases, you’ll need to take a statin every day for life. This is because your body will always make cholesterol. If you stop taking a statin, your cholesterol levels will rise again. In it, he examines the claims for statins – including whether lowering cholesterol really is the key to preventing heart disease.

Statins and Cholesterol Medicine - HEART UK Statins and Cholesterol Medicine - HEART UK

The main differences are in how much they lower cholesterol. They can be split into two groups – low-intensity statins (for example, pravastatin and simvastatin) and high-intensity statins (such as atorvastatin and rosuvastatin). For most people, a lower-intensity statin will be enough to reduce their cholesterol sufficiently, but if it’s not, your doctor may want to increase the dose or switch to a higher-intensity one. What side effects are there?

How do statins work?

Malhotra clearly feels his duty is to his patients – to "reduce suffering". He’s forthright, and long been unafraid of ruffling feathers. Exercise is important. "Exercise itself reduces insulin resistance. It keeps your cells more sensitive to insulin and therefore means there’s less insulin required to maintain your blood glucose in normal range, and therefore less damage to the cells of the inner lining of the heart arteries."