In his excellent blog Dr John Briffa points out that statins may reduce the risk of heart attack, but they do not reduce overall risk of death in the majority of people taking them. Dr Jonny Bowden, in his book “The Most Effective Ways to Live Longer” goes on to suggest that statins work by lowering inflammation not cholesterol. Then there are the side effects that statins create, consider this from the British Medical Journal:
For every 10,000 women at high risk of CVD treated with statins, we would expect approximately 271 fewer cases of cardiovascular disease and 8 fewer cases of oesophageal cancer. However, there would be 23 extra patients with kidney failure, 307 extra patients with cataracts; 74 extra patients with liver dysfunction; and 39 extra patients with myopathy.
For every 10,000 men at high risk of CVD treated with statins, we would expect approximately 301 fewer cases of cardiovascular disease, 9 fewer cases of oesophageal cancer, 29 extra patients with kidney failure, 191 extra patients with cataracts; 71 extra patients with liver dysfunction; and 110 extra patients with myopathy.
So for each person “saved” from cardiovascular disease from taking a statin, more people suffer from the major side effects!
Perhaps it’s wiser to avoid the fast food restaurant all together and opt for a chicken salad – then you wont need the statin anyway.
