The real truth about Statins (cholesterol lowering medications) Robert G Carlson, MD, FACS

In my practice, I evaluate a large number of patients and assist with managing cholesterol levels. Even though I was a heart surgeon for many years, I don’t prescribe statins as I believe heart disease, cancer and diabetes are caused by inflammation – not cholesterol.

Two Cases In Point

The first patient in her late 50’s received a demand from her primary care physician to take Crestor for her elevated cholesterol less she suffer a heart attack or stroke without Crestor.

Another patient asked about her 86 year old mother who is taking statins because her doctor demanded it. Her mother can barely walk because her joints and muscles hurt terribly.

She is seeing a Rheumatologist, Neurologist, Orthopedic surgeon and a Pain Management specialist to manage this pain. What she needs to do is stop Lipitor that is causing the pain and stealing her memory. Once again, her doctor warned her if she stops it, she will have a heart attack or more frightening to her: a stroke. This is cruel and an out-right lie. In fact, the higher her cholesterol is, the longer she will live….

Dr Abramson, Harvard Professor wrote in the Lancet that there is no indication for any women to take a statin. None. In a French study, women between 60 and 75 had a 5 times higher mortality in five years when their cholesterol level was 160 or below, versus a women with a cholesterol level of 260.

In other words, the higher your cholesterol, the longer you survive! This study was recently confirmed in a 2010 Scandinavian Journal article.

A Major Tragedy

This is a major tragedy. Lipitor is killing this woman and thousands like her needlessly. No woman or man older than 70 should be taking a statin agent for primary prevention. That means because of high cholesterol and not for coronary artery disease management after a heart attack.

Sadly, most people taking statins have never been diagnosed with heart disease. The reason for subscribing was elevated levels of cholesterol. This is called primary prevention. Amazingly, a new scientific review of 14 studies shows that statins are virtually useless for primary prevention.

So all the threats by physicians to patients telling them that they need to take a statin or they will have a heart attack or stroke is just a heinous lie.

The bottom line is millions of people are taking a drug they don’t need, statins, for primary prevention. They are living with severe joint pain, memory loss and loss of energy for no reason at a cost to each of $1,000 per year (one study treated 120 patients for two years at a cost of $287,000).

Then there’s the issue of your insurance premiums increasing because your cholesterol is over 200 and now you’re supposedly at risk for heart disease.