LDL Measurements and Statin Use Poll

[franco45]

I have a doctor friend and we had a hot discussions about statins. I agree with his words.
Statins are damage control for people who refuse to make the necessary changes in their lifestyles. He talked of patients recovering from heart attacks that won't quit smoking, won't exercise, won't change their diets...they just want a pill for a easy fix. They don't listen to the know statin side effects. Dementia, diabetes, muscle loss, and a host of other problems.

[donheff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllDone Over the years all kinds of diets and supplements have been advocated for the prevention and treatment of heart disease. Lecithin, vitamin E, various B vitamins, cinnamon, hawthorn, fat-free, low-carb, etc. have all been advocated, however, none of them have really been shown to work. Statins, OTOH, have been shown to be quite powerful. I don't think that we will see statins be discarded any time soon. I think it's more likely that the mechanism by which they work has a lot more to do with plaque stabilization on arterial walls rather than LDL lowering. I suspect that lower, fixed doses will be used. Since most of the drugs are now available as inexpensive generics, I can't think that anybody is going to get rich by cynically pushing them.

I read everything I can on statins (and retain little of the details) But my strongest takeaway is that the documented "power" of statins is merely to reduce cholesterol and not to improve health. The absolute (vs relative) reduction in CVD risk sounds quite modest to me and when overall mortality is considered the benefits disappear. I still wonder whether cardiologists and medical associations are continuing to base their recommendations soley on the belief that cholesterol numbers are hugely important. Thus because statins are the only thing they have found that quickly and dramatically reduces cholesterol numbers they recommend them regardless of the modest impact on health. For me, the potential (but not proved) dangers of statins are far more compelling that the potential (but not proved) benefits of cholesterol number reductions. I think going low carb and dropping 20% of body weight, coupled with naturally induced big increases in HDL and big decreases in triglicerides are serving me well. Adding statins to the mix might help marginally but I am more worried that they might cause all sorts of other problems. I see doctors arguing both sides of the equation with no clear winner so I will choose for myself and not blindly go with a panel.

[franco45]

All the "studies" are suspect as all are influenced by drug company money. When the new report came out a few months ago along with a "risk calculator" that shows almost everyone needs to be on statins, it also came out that12 of the 16 people on the panel have strong ties to the drug industry. The number two lady of the panel had received over $360,000. During the study for "speaking engagements" from the drug industry. That says it all.

[Chuckanut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by franco45 All the "studies" are suspect as all are influenced by drug company money. When the new report came out a few months ago along with a "risk calculator" that shows almost everyone needs to be on statins, it also came out that12 of the 16 people on the panel have strong ties to the drug industry.

I found that no matter how 'good' I made my answers to the calculator questions, I was in the high risk group simply because of my age. Giving drugs to otherwise healthy people simply because of their age does not strike me as good medical practice.

[franco45]

"CBS reports that drug companies pay doctors 57 billion dollars per year to push, teach, and promote their drugs. Additionally the report sheds light on the fact that drug company funded research leads to biased and misleading research…"

This says it all.

[Chuckanut]

Stop complaining about unneeded drugs, drug tests, and drug advertising! Instead, ask your doctor for a dose of Pretendatrin!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvFh84SGksQ

[franco45]

Thanks Chuckanut for the good laugh.!,

[lynxville]

At the doctors office I have heard the drug salesman asking my doctor if he was a football or baseball fan etc. He had tickets to everything. I have also heard that doctors that prescribe certain drugs in large quantities get incentives. Can't prove the last statement, but the first one is true.

[AllDone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynxville At the doctors office I have heard the drug salesman asking my doctor if he was a football or baseball fan etc. He had tickets to everything. I have also heard that doctors that prescribe certain drugs in large quantities get incentives. Can't prove the last statement, but the first one is true.

All I ever got was a big pile of plastic pens.

[Sarpy]

I know someone in the medical community who told me it's common for pharma salespeople to come in and bring food or take them to lunch.
Sounds like conflict of interest to me and to my body.