Monday, 3 August 2015

Should so many women be taking statins?

Medical guidelines issued late last year may double the number of Americans who are told to take these cholesterol-lowering drugs. But the recommendations don’t distinguish patients by gender, and a small, increasingly vocal group of cardiologists believe that’s a mistake.

Far too many healthy women are taking statins, they say, though some research indicates the drugs will do them little good and may be more likely to cause serious side effects in women.

“If you’re going to tell a healthy person to take a medicine every day for the rest of their life, you should have really good data that it’s going to make them better off,” said Dr. Rita Redberg, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, and the editor of JAMA Internal Medicine. Lowering cholesterol should not be not an end in itself, she added, and cholesterol may not play the same role in heart disease in women as in men. “You can have high cholesterol and still be really healthy and have a low risk of heart disease,” she said.

More on this story here.

Eddie
at

6 comments:

  1. Roses and Lilacs3 August 2015 at 18:24

    I left a comment on Jan's statin video. I have become so concerned with these medications.
    On the previous post about clowns. That is one circus attraction I have never liked, even as a child. I guess that goes for all physical and slap-stick comedy. I have the same disinterest for the three stooges.

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  2. Anonymous3 August 2015 at 20:35

    "If you’re going to tell a healthy person to take a medicine every day for the rest of their life, you should have really good data that it’s going to make them better off"

    The pharmaceutical companies want us taking pills from the cradle to an EARLY grave. Who does this really benefit? I do think it un-necessary in the majority of cases.

    Jean

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  3. Anonymous3 August 2015 at 23:23

    Women (and men) do need to question why do I need this drug and is it going to benefit me. There is too much controversy about this drug. Is it the saying no smoke without fire. Well something is making the smoke billow, time for those in the know to be more open with the facts.

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  4. Lowcarb team member4 August 2015 at 12:03

    Hi Roses and Lilacs ... many thanks for all your comments - it's always good to receive them. Many do have concern as to whether they should be taking statins, it is of course an individual choice in consultation with your GP - but I don't think it hurts to have access to some good papers / reports about statins, and discuss these with your Doctor / health care team.

    Interesting comment about the Clowns post - they are not everyones 'cup of tea' and some children do find them scary.

    Have a good week

    All the best Jan

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  5. Lowcarb team member4 August 2015 at 12:08

    Hello Jean, and thanks for stopping by. I did like your sentence "The pharmaceutical companies want us taking pills from the cradle to an EARLY grave. Who does this really benefit? I do think it un-necessary in the majority of cases" ... I think if we can also take responsibility for our health, be more aware and be prepared to discuss things with our health care team, then surely this can be beneficial? Are we experts? No .. but we can discuss and question.

    Hope you are having a good week.

    All the best Jan

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  6. Lowcarb team member4 August 2015 at 12:09

    Hi Anonymous at 23.23 and thanks for leaving your thoughts... and yes perhaps it is " time for those in the know to be more open with the facts."

    Thanks for commenting - have a good week.

    All the best Jan

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The best of health to you and yours.

Eddie