I am so sick of people selling books by saying they have secret information. Since when is cholesterol a normal healthy substance?
HUbby's family has a history of high cholesterol and bad hearts to go with it. His cholesterol is much better since taking statins. I have a friend wrestling with whether she wants to take them. She has a rapid heartbeat and the doctor said her cholesterol needs lowered immediately.
Sometimes you need to make the decision according what you need now.

Since when is cholesterol a normal healthy substance?

Always.
There are two types of cholesterol...High Density and Low Density cholesterol.
Too little "good" cholesterol(HDL) is believed to carry a greater risk of heart attack.
Cardiologists look at the ratio of HDLs to LDLs when interpreting cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found among the lipids (fats) in the bloodstream and in all your body's cells. It's an important part of a healthy body because it's used to form cell membranes, some hormones and is needed for other functions.

Here is a link that might be useful: What is Cholesterol?

Everyone gets so worked up over this stuff. My old man had high cholesterol all his life. He grew up on a farm during the depression and drought. They grew their own food. Ate the pigs and sold the beef. Bacon and eggs virtually every morning of his life. He died a little less than a year ago at the age of 94.
When I die, smear me with butter, wrap me in bacon and cremate me. I want the neighborhood to have a smile on their face for something other than just the fact that I died.

What Cynic says is true... just read the article in the link. Kathy.. it's not just someone saying what they think. At the bottom you will see where the author got his info - from studies and medical papers.

Here is a link that might be useful: Benefits of cholesterol

All right Monica - you got me. I doubt any diet would totally rid someone of all cholesterol though so I think enough would be around to do it's job.
Cynic, I like your style.
My grandfather was in the nursing home and they told him he could not have his pie crust because his cholesterol was too high. My mom walked in to a pissed old man! She told the nurses to give him pie crust if he wanted it. It must have done some damage because he died 2 years later - at age 98.

I have been aware of that for a very long time. There is no way I would take it, even if I needed it, which I don't. My mother lived to be 94 and she would still be alive if she hadn't fallen, gotten a blood clot and became very difficult to take care of and had to go in a nursing home. She ate anything she wanted. I will too. As for myself, I believe the quality of life is on this side of 90, not the other side.

I eat beef several times a week and I have never bought margarine in my life. I bet I am healthier and more active than 90% of people who are 20 years younger than me.

DH was put back on a statin in October after a hospital stay. They said that besides controlling cholestrol it helped prevent heart attacks. Well, let me tell you, he's not on it anymore. He had so much muscle pain he took himself off it. He's just now getting to the point he doesn't moan every time he stands up and tries to walk.

It wasn't the first time either. He was on it in '95 and it did the same thing. We weaned him off it then, too. When I mentioned the side effects he'd had before the doctor said he'd put him on a different kind where he wouldn't have that problem. WRONG! That stuff sucks as far as I'm concerned. At least for DH. His cholestrol was never over 180 EVER. I'm not saying nobody should take it, just saying be careful and watch what your body tells you.

I took the statin for about a year and yes, it did lower my cholesterol, but the muscle pain, ouch. Soooooooo my dr. said that since I didn't have high blood pressure she could feel confident that I'd be okay without them. I felt good until my nephew, who is a top cardiologist at Johns Hopkins told me that statins are absolutely necessary to many and to stop them can be foolish. Nevertheless, I still don't take them.

I've been on the statin for almost a year and my cholesterol did come down, without any muscle pain....My cardiologist is the one that prescribed it and said, if was beneficial for me.....
My late mother in law, bless her soul, loved her cholesterol food, especially butter...When she would be cooking, adding butter, she'd take a slab and eat it like cheese...She passed away 3 months short of her 100th birthday.She told us, she had lived a good life but was getting tired and felt it was time to "go", 6 weeks later she passed away....

I often think, how people ate and lived long lives, years ago before all this fuss with the cholesterol etc.

My cholesterol hovers around 200-220 but my blood pressure is always low. Even when I am the correct weight, it measures 170. The good/bad chol ratio is usually okay- not great but okay. So far they have not suggested meds. My parents are both on meds but hopefully, my levels will stay no more than their current level and will not have to worry about it.

I think heredity plays a big role in whether you eat bacon and eggs every day and live to be 90 with no heart disease and no statins. My mother was like that - and she smoked 2 packs a day starting at age 21. She also liked her cocktails. No high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, she died at age 84 - pretty long life for someone with a seriously unhealthy lifestyle.

My father on the other hand had high blood pressure and high cholesterol and had his first heart attack before age 50 and died of heart failure at age 62. My cholesterol readings have been borderline for a long time. My blood pressure was normal but began climbing post menopause. My cholesterol then shot up too. I exercise 5x a week, eat pretty healthy diet and I'm not overweight. I take after my dad in many respects and obviously heart disease risk is one.

What my doctor told me is that you weigh the risk/benefit ratio of going on medication like statins. If you have significant risk factors for heart disease as I have it's recommended. If you have few to no risk factors along with your high cholesterol then it's more questionable. So I weighed the risk/benefit ratio and talked to a pharmacist I work with. He's a youngish guy and he said he's considered what drugs he would and wouldn't take. He said he absolutely would take statins if indicated for these reasons. The drugs have been around a long time - side effects are pretty well understood - and they are easy to test for and detect early. So I opted for statins - have been taking with no ill effects - and my cholesterol has plummeted. I'd rather make a decision based on the best scientific evidence we have rather than someone's opinion. Scientific evidence is not perfect but to me better than opinion.

I'd rather make a decision based on the best scientific evidence we have rather than someone's opinion. The second link I posted was based entirely on scientific evidence from studies and medical papers. Did you read it?

I think in the first link I posted it did say that high cholesterol in men under 50 could lead to heart attacks, but after age 50 high cholesterol seemed to either not make a difference or was actually helpful. So age does have a bearing.

I've never taken a statin that didn't create MORE problems - and ones I FELT, not just TESTED for....so I do the best I can with eating oatmeal, etc. I think there have been several things published that said many drugs really don't have much effect. I remember my DH was taking ZETIA a couple of years ago and I think that was one of the ones that really does NOTHING.

People with high cholesterol that live a long life often have had high good cholesterol too. I read there is a different form of cholesterol in which the cholesterol particles are larger and they don't stick and cause problems quite as much. I would bet that is what my grandfather had.
As far as what someone writes, I don't give that much credit without the source. Studies can be skewed depending on which way the person wants them to go.
Ever hear things like drinking milk will help you lose weight? You know who pays for those studies? In the long run - farmers. Maybe milk does make you lose weight, and maybe it doesn't. Or maybe the people who drink milk also are eating veggies and staying away from junk food.
Like I said, it's an individual decision which medicine you take. I can find a whole lot about aspirin that is bad too, but take them every day.

My mother spent 6 miserable years suffering from the side effects of statin drugs. Her gradual decline was put down to 'aging' and she was prescribed umpteen other drugs to 'fix' the problems she was having. She was put on pain killers, sleeping pills, anti-depressents also pills for fluid retention and there was something else which escapes me for now.
Listening in to talk radio in the early hours of one morning the subject of side effects to statins came up and the flood gates opened! The hosts switch board lit up like a Xmas tree with people wanting to share their stories. Mum never took another statin and within 3 days she was feeling close to 100% better. The leg pain & swelling subsided and the brain fog lifted but the muscle damage to her legs is permanent. Oh and her cholesterol levels went DOWN after stopping the pills!
I read about the muscle damage it causes and you have to wonder what they do to that great big pumping muscle in our chests ... the heart.
Please, if you or anyone you know taking them have any muscle pain, swelling, brain fog/memory problems please don't just put it down to 'age' ..... do some research and talk to your Dr about the side effects.

I'm one of the people who had severe leg and hip pain and muscle weakness from statin drugs. I was on them for 8 years and it got to the point that I couldn't stand without grabbing something to pull me up. I actually had nightmares about being at the top of a flight of stairs with no railing to hold on to. I've been off them for a little over 2 years. The pain stopped within 3 days but it took about 18 months for the strength to come back in my legs. My doctor insisted I remain on the statins but I figured what was the point of having low cholesterol if I couldn't walk!!

My DH has had seven surgeries pertaining to his heart. On many meds but one is statins. Like some of you he had the leg pains and pains. Told the doc he was going off of them and doc had a fit. He ordered a test and found out because of the statins he was on his potassium had dropped way down. When they got his potassium up to normal his leg pains and cramps went away. He's back on the statins ( a must for him ) and when he starts getting cramps again and it always shows potassium is down again. Wish he didn't have to take all the meds he is on but it has become a way of life.

Lydia - you can't believe everything you read on the world wide web. You have to consider the source and the rigor of the research and whether or not it has be replicated in multiple independent well designed and executed studies. Personally, I would not trust a OB/GYN who is selling a book to provide unbiased medical evidence about the impact of cholesterol and statins on heart disease.

Gibby - almost 1000 hits on google when you put in "dangers of statins" in quotes... that's more than just an ob/gyn trying to sell books.

Here is a link that might be useful: google hits

There is lots of information out there on statins...the print out you get from the drug store will tell you lots.
DH read about all the bad of Lipitor after the doc put him on it. He got a urinary tract infection which he blames on Lipitor. He quit taking it.
Right or wrong, its his decision.

I can't let a thread on cholesterol go by without dropping in. "Cholesterol" was a household word in my family when I was growing up--and I'm 65. Back then no one else heard of the word, but my dad's doctor was ahead of his time.

We are all individuals. My husband had what he called "good fat-clearing genes." His cholesterol was lower than low, and so were his triglycerides. My father and I, on the other hand, were given the opposite of good fat-clearing genes. Any saturated fat I eat goes directly into my blood. For years doctors said this wasn't possible, but recent research has shown that it is. But my dad and I knew it all along, as we could correlate chest pain with foods eaten. And one time a cardiologist drew my blood for some purpose but had to throw it out because it contained globules of fat.

So . . . I do what my dad did, and eliminate as much saturated fat as possible from my diet. When I was growing up, he ate no cheese, no bacon, no fatty meats. Now I have to do the same. It limits my diet, but I would much rather do this than take a prescription drug to accomplish the same thing.

"For every action, there is a reaction." That's certainly true of drugs. For some, the reaction isn't obvious. But it's there. For others (like those who experience muscle pain), the reaction can be dangerous.

I think I inherited a double-whammy when it comes to lipids. The other thing I have to watch is triglycerides, a serious heart risk for women. When I was eating a lot of carbs (good carbs, but carbs nonetheless), my triglycerides were five times normal. I further limit my diet to keep that number in safe levels.

Next door to my parents in Florida lived a retired college professor. He had a cook, and every night she had to make spareribs for him. He lived to be 90. My dad lived to be 90, too. Some bodies will tolerate anything, and others require careful thought and planning.

Some bodies will tolerate anything, and others require careful thought and planning. Isn't that the truth Alisande! Thanks for the interesting post!

lydia,
It's really weird that you posted about this subject. I was recently put on statins and I hate them. I don't like being on any prescription medication. I read a lot of natural health magazines and just read two articles about high cholesterol. It said that just having high cholesterol was not a problem. It said inflamation is worse. I had a C-reactive protein test and I don't have any inflamation. I'm going to the new doctor about the Armour on the 9th and I'm going to try and get off the statin drug.
Donna

My dh went off them a month ago (with dr.'s permission,) because he was so exhausted and achy. We'll see how his next blood test looks, and go from there. I'm glad to read this thread-- thanks.

I don't normally post here but I just had to chime in on this one. I hope no one minds.

I was put on Lipitor several years ago for high cholesterol. No one bothered to tell me that when statins are combined with grapefruit, their strength is multiplied about 17 times. I woke up one morning and couldn't get up out of bed without searing pain in my lower back, running down one leg. I started doing research and found the information about the grapefruit. I stopped both the grapefruit AND the statins. I now live with pain in my lower back that they now tell me is spondylolisthesis, but that I never had before taking statins. About once a year, I have severe muscle spasms in my lower back that cause me to have to go to bed for days. Even though I hate pain medication and prednisolone, I take it then because it's the only thing that dulls the pain and stops the spasms. After the spasms are over, I am still in quite a lot of pain that decreases somewhat with time but never leaves me entirely.

My doctor tells me statins do not cause the kind of pain I have. Another doctor told me that, though it's possible the statins caused the initial muscle spasm, all that would've gone away once I discontinued the drug.

They continue to try to convince me to begin statins again. I am 62 now, having had this problem for the last 6 years. I am convinced this was brought on by the statins and I am angry that the medical community is in denial about it. We are nothing but guinea pigs to the drug industry and it's like the doctors are less informed about the drug side effects than we are! It reminds me of when I was in my early 40's and going into menopause. Several doctors tried to get me to go on estrogen replacement therapy -- it was the only way, they told me, to avoid osteoporosis and heart problems(which I don't have today). I'm glad I didn't stay on that very long. DH's doctor had him on Baycol for awhile. He started having back pain so the doctor took him off it and his pain went away. Not long after that, they recalled that drug. Scarey, huh?

My confidence in my doctor, and any other doctor, is now totally destroyed. I won't take any medication on a regular basis. I would rather die of what's really wrong with me rather than die from the side-effects of a drug that, by the way, costs over $100 for a month's supply.

The mere fact that they have to check your liver function so often while you are on statins should be a red flag.

I never knew of anyone in my family that had this. It has changed my life and caused me to have to give up many things I enjoyed. My parents, by the way, lived to be 93.

Thanks for letting me rant.

Well I can tell you that my mother died a very painful death due the high cholesterol that she had for a very long time. I'll take the meds when it is warranted. I've seen firsthand what a painful death is when having untreated high cholesterol. In her case, it caused heart problems. My mom died at 60. I don't want to follow in her shoes so I'll take the drugs. I think it is definitely a choice that some should make, but I do agree not all.

Scissors, have you tried controlling your cholesterol with diet? Exercise is supposed to help, too, although I can't personally vouch for that.

Ilene . . .

We are nothing but guinea pigs to the drug industry and it's like the doctors are less informed about the drug side effects than we are!

Hear, hear! The drug industry and more. The radiation I received as a child to remove my adenoids is an example of the sort of procedure that was promoted by the medical system and then (oops!) withdrawn when it proved to be a terrible idea.

almost 1000 hits on google when you put in "dangers of statins" in quotes

No bone to pick here either way but would just like to point out that when you put in "benefits of statins" in quotes you get 39,600 hits.

Here is a link that might be useful: More Google Hits

On that very first googled page of "benefits of statins", 2 of the 10 hits were:

"the benefits of statins overstated"
"long term benefits of statins questioned"

I tried putting in "statins do work" and got 155 hits, then put in "statins don't work" and got 2830 hits.

I don't know... just giving the folks here something to think about. I think everyone should do some research before blindly following doctor's orders. It is our bodies afterall.

I also found out that hypothyroidism is a cause of high cholesterol. I think I will go back to taking Red Yeast Rice combined with Niacin for my high cholesterol.
I did know about the grapefruit, but only from doing my own research.
Donna

Here is a link that might be useful: Red Yeast Rice