A Statin-Free Life: A revolutionary life plan for tackling heart disease – without the use of statins

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A recent BHF-funded research study found that whilestatins are linked with a small increase in the risk of muscle pains or weakness, they don't cause the majority of muscle pain symptoms commonly connected with them. Sometimes, if you think a tablet might cause a nightmare, it can increase the risk of having one. For some types of statin, it’s better to take them at night, because that’s when they have a bigger effect on reducing cholesterol. However, the most important thing is that you take them regularly, rather than not at all. Are there any food or drinks I should avoid? So what is the evidence for their benefits? Dr Aseem Malhotra, author of the bestselling The 21-Day Immunity Plan and co-author of the bestselling The Pioppi Diet , examines the claims for statins and their role in lowering cholesterol and preventing heart disease. He introduces us to his targeted heart-health plan, which, with a diet plan, recipes and advice on reducing stress and increasing movement, can help us to live statin-free and take control of our own health.

A Statin-Free Life: A revolutionary life plan for tackling A Statin-Free Life: A revolutionary life plan for tackling

and/or have certain health conditions, including a continuing disability or diabetes that can't be controlled with diet.Your doctor or nurse might suggest you take your statins at night, before you go to bed. That’s because the liver is more active in making cholesterol at night. This is except for atorvastatin and rosuvastatin which you can take at any time.

A Statin-Free Life : A revolutionary life plan for tackling

Firstly, consider the benefits for you. For people diagnosed with coronary heart disease or stroke there is proven benefit, so your GP or cardiologist will recommend you take a statin. Statins are among the most widely prescribed drugs in the world. Yet many report unacceptable side effects and a US survey revealed that 75 per cent of respondents stopped taking them within a year. 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. Eat a healthy diet and avoid foods high in saturated fats. Plant sterols and stanols– which are added to certain drinks and foods – can help to reduce your cholesterol by up to 10 per cent.

What can I do if I experience them?

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? worth the read… very educational regarding heart health. Including lots of researched information for many scenarios (including People with genetically very high levels of LDL cholesterol diagnosed with FH familial hyperlipidaemia)~ definitely recommend If your doctor says you need it, a statin is the best way of lowering your cholesterol. Living a healthy life, whether you're taking a statin or not, is another way of lowering your cholesterol. You can do this by:

A Statin-Free Life: Malhotra, Dr. Aseem: 9781529354102 A Statin-Free Life: Malhotra, Dr. Aseem: 9781529354102

Simultaneously, "if the damage and repair mechanisms in the body are overridden - if there’s more damage than repair - then within the heart arteries you can develop these deposits that are full of cholesterol, actually a response to the injury - but also inflammatory immune cells." Malhotra clearly feels his duty is to his patients – to "reduce suffering". He’s forthright, and long been unafraid of ruffling feathers. It feels like a war, with bitter accusations of misinformation and ‘fake news’ flying on both sides. Heart disease is still the number one killer in the world, yet most people don’t actually understand what markers put them most at risk. It’s so much more than just LDL cholesterol. Statins have become the panacea for anyone with LDL that’s just a little off, yet most people (and even many doctors) aren’t fully informed of the risks versus the benefits of this drug, let alone aware of other treatment options for heart disease. Today, I talk to Dr. Aseem Malhotra about the real data on statins, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and so much more. In the world’s ‘blue zones’ – areas of notable longevity and almost no heart disease – "They weren’t pounding in the gym, running marathons. They were just moving all the time, not being sedentary." Nor he adds, were they taking statins.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. They work by inhibiting an enzyme in the liver called HMG-CoA reductase. This reduces the production of cholesterol in the liver and so reduces cholesterol levels in the blood.

A Statin-Free Life: A Revolutionary Life Plan for Tackling A Statin-Free Life: A Revolutionary Life Plan for Tackling

Avoid grapefruit juice if you are taking simvastatin, and no more than one or two small glasses of grapefruit juice if you are taking atorvastatin. These are very powerful drugs and in the early days of statins, understandably, some people were concerned about potential undiscovered risks associated with them. They’re now one of the most investigated drugs, and we have lots of reliable data – some of which originated from work that’s been funded by the BHF – that show they are very safe and effective to take. How will taking a statin help me? Low-dose statins are available at some pharmacies without a prescription, but they're not a replacement for prescription statins or for making lifestyle changes to reduce your cholesterol level.There are other ways to reduce cholesterol, including: losing weight; being physically active; and following a healthy diet, inspired by the traditional Mediterranean diet. Ultimately, whether you choose to take statins or not, Dr Malhotra says, "Please, please, please do not neglect the lifestyle aspect, because eighty percent of heart disease is environmental and lifestyle related." He hopes people will read his book, consult their open-minded medical experts, and make informed decisions.