I’ve had high cholesterol for years. I’ve been thin and “pleasingly plump.” At times I’ve been active, and at others I’ve been the “Stay-Puft-marshmallow-girl.” Regardless of the state of my waist or how much I “glow” (In the South, women do not sweat. We “glow” and I’ve been known to “glow” profusely!), my cholesterol remains high. From time to time, it may be low for me, but is still high by the common medically accepted standards.
As I approached my 50th birthday, my doctor wanted to know if I wanted to go on a statin drug to lower my cholesterol. Do I want to go on a statin? Well, I don’t know. My first thought was why is he asking me? After all, he’s the doctor. Does it matter what I “want?” A better question is, do I need to be on a statin? After all, my grandmother lived to be a very healthy 100 years old and she had high cholesterol. She was never on a statin and had one of the healthiest hearts around. Is taking a statin necessary? How do I know when or even if it is the right time to begin taking a statin drug?
According to the Mayo Clinic, high cholesterol alone should not be the only factor considered when making a determination regarding whether or not you should be on a statin. Your entire “risk” portfolio should be considered when making this decision. Risks include things we can’t change (age, family history, race/ethnicity, post-menopausal) as well as lifestyle factors that we can change (smoking, weight, waist size, waist-hip ratio). Other factors that should be considered include such things as whether or not you have high blood pressure or hypertension, diabetes or peripheral vascular disease. If you have multiple risk factors for developing heart disease, then your doctor may recommend taking a statin. If high cholesterol is your only risk factor, then a statin may not be the best course of action.
There are multiple statin drugs available. The most well known include Lipitor (atorvastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Mevacor (lovastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin) and Crestor (rosuvastatin). Statins are designed to prevent your body from using substances needed to make cholesterol. It is also thought that they may prevent further damage to your heart by reabsorbing cholesterol already in your arteries. Statins come in different dosage levels and may vary depending on how much you need to lower your cholesterol. For example, if your cholesterol is quite high, you might be prescribed a higher dosage than someone who only needs to lower their cholesterol by a small amount.
It should be noted that if you go on one of the statins, there is a chance that you’ll remain on it for the rest of your life. This is generally because people do not make lifestyle changes (quit smoking, lose weight, get active, etc.) that would result in lowering their cholesterol naturally. Unless you make those changes, there is a high probability that your cholesterol levels will rise after you quit taking the statins. It is worth noting that lifestyle changes still remain the best way to reduce your cholesterol levels and lower your risk of heart disease.
As with any drug, statins are not without their side effects or risks. One of the most common side effects reported include muscle and joint aches. Other reported side effects include nausea, diarrhea or constipation. While these are relatively mild, some of the side effects can be quite serious. For example, statins may cause permanent liver damage. As a result, if you elect to take a statin, you’ll need to have your liver enzymes checked on a regular basis to ensure that there has been no damage. Statin usage may also cause a condition called statin myophathy. Statin myophathy is muscle pain and tenderness. Don’t be fooled by the description. This is a serious condition and can cause the breakdown of your muscle cells or kidney damage.
Before agreeing to go on a statin drug, do your homework. Learn your risk factors for heart disease and discuss the full picture with your doctor as a part of the decision-making process. Also, be certain to discuss your lifestyle and how making changes would impact your risk level. Would losing 15 pounds or walking 3 times a week lower your risk? If so, is it feasible to make those changes? Are you willing to make those lifestyle changes? While making lifestyle changes might sound easy, it is often very difficult to change our daily habits and implement lasting, effective changes. Ask the doctor how being on statins long-term will impact your health over time. While many consider statins to be a “wonder” drug, they are certainly not the only option available. Lifestyle changes produce excellent results in lowering your cholesterol. Other alternative options, such as taking red rice yeast, might be of benefit to you. Regardless of the option you choose, do your homework, make an informed decision and implement a plan that’s right for you and your lifestyle.
Until next time, here’s wishing you a healthy heart.
(Disclaimer: I am not a physician and nothing in this article should be construed as giving medical advice. As with any medical decision, please consult your physician.)
Note: For more information on heart health related issues, please visit other “A Woman’s Heart” articles by this author.
Sources:
Statins: Are these cholesterol-lowering drugs right for you?, The Mayo Clinic,
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/statins/CL00010/NSECTIONGROUP=2
The Heart Truth for Women, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov//educational/hearttruth/downloads/pdf/factsheet...
National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease: Know Your Risk Factors, http://www.womenheart.org/supportForWomen/prevention/riskfactors.cfm, Source: The Heart Truth Campaign. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The National Institutes of Health.