Should I take statins

I did indeed question the necessity for statins with a cholesterol level so low but was informed the current thinking is that it should be even lower and that would not be achieved by diet and exercise. It is apparently my family history of strokes and heart problems which cause concern.

silverlining48

I am 75 and reluctantly agreed to statins recently. Cholesterol had increased but I exercise and eat healthily with no other health problems other than being overweight.
Outbid curiousity I had a look on the nhs website and it states no one should start taking statins after the age of 75. Spoke to a doctor friend who is in a similar position and she has decided not to take them. I am still not sure but inclined to agree with her.

I have checked the NHS website and cannot see where it says you should not start taking statins over 75. I have always had high good cholesterol but the doctor explained as I was 77 the chances of me having a stroke were higher.

In most cases it's the ageing process which causes a rise in cholesterol not diet or lack of exercise although a diet that's high in saturated fats and a lack of exercise won't help
.

It is very much genetic too.
DH saw an Indian consultant cardiologist a few years ago who said it is also very prevalent in the Indian community (East London).

Dragonfly just checked again and found it quickly on the NHS sites. For those without diabetes and heart contraindications etc prescribing statins do not benefit over 75s. There was also some research which agrees with that. it’s up to individuals of course but that’s what I found.

I can see what you are reading silverlining. I have been persuaded to try them at 76 as my cholesterol is very high. A friend has persuaded the Dr to let her take one every other day. In the last year a number of people at groups I go to have started them in their late 70s and even 80s what is going on?
I am taking them for 3 months and then asking for another blood test I want to see what has happened in that time, I know my sleep is now disturbed.

Been taking statins for over 10 years with no problems whatsoever.

My cholesterol is 6.9 so quite high. I don’t have any other health problems apart from being overweight.
My lifestyle is reasonably healthy and diet is good. I have been prescribed 20 mg atorvastatin 1x a day. I suggested a smaller dose but he didn’t agree. I don’t take any other medication.
If I could see or speak to a doctor I would like to talk it through. The idea of one every other day appeals.
When statins were prescribed it was done on the phone with a pharmacist at the surgery. I was offered a blood test after 3 months.

Someone posted about statins in September. I posted a little while after that because I'd been diagnosed with very high cholesterol and high BP although everything else in the blood test was fine. I was reluctant to take statins partly because I was keen at 75 to boast about being very healthty and medication-free (1). My Qrisk was 28%. However my GP referred me to the lipid clini

I think I wrote about this earlier grandmama. Like you I am happy that at 75 I take no meds.
My bp is low normal and don’t have family history of heart lung diabetes etc so havnt started taking the pills ~ yet.

Sorry posted too soon by accident

Given my healthy weight etc my GP referred me to the Lipid Clinic which I'd never heard of. I looked it up and it investigates inherited high cholesterol. I then thought about my family history research and one line of my family has a high number of sudden deaths of people in their 50s. The other half of the family have lived long and healthy lives. It seems I may have Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) so I'm taking the statins - 20mg atorvastatin daily (when I remember!). No side effects except wind (I take a peppermint tablet with meals) and my stomach is like a football. There's a 50:50 chance of passing the gene on. BP coming down without medication so far.

Reading through the posts I was surprised initially at the range of levels that are being considered as risky, some seem very low. Five years ago I was at 6.8 but was told that gave me a 7% increased risk of stroke/heart attack within 10 yrs. Dr said risk would have to be 15%+ for statins. This yr my level has increased to 7.4 and risk rate increased to 13%. As I posted earlier, I agreed with Dr to give it 6 months to see if I can reduce it. Like many other posters I'm reluctant to commit to daily medication, I don't take any other meds at the moment. My BP is fine and my BMI is within normal range. I'm using a calorie counting app to monitor my saturated fat intake, it's amazing how much is lurking in chocolate and ready meals, it's not necessarily the usual suspects that are the issue. Dr said lifestyle only has 25% impact on levels so unlikely to reduce it by much but I'm giving it a go as it's last chance saloon to stay off daily meds.

I don't know why people are so against taking medicines. My DH takes a myriad of pills and he is now 80, his father died of a heart attack at 62 and his father's father before him. I take tablets to reduce the chance of a stroke as I have had a bout of AF and tablets to help prevent breast cancer recurrence. I don't see the virtue in saying I am 77 years old and take no medication. The reason we all live longer now is the improvement in medical science. I will take anything I am offered if the doctor thinks it is a good idea.

Over-prescribed, for some time, yes, perhaps. But for many, they have been proven life-savers. My one massive fear, is having a stroke which would leave me like a 'legume' and unable to state my wishes or communicate. One of our best friend has just died (been liberated) after a massive stroke that left him unable to communicate for 15 months. He was offered statins and refused, because of the bad Press and because he didn't take any medication, aged 78.

OH has a terrible family history, and kidney damage since he was 22 and got untreated strep throat for too long. Despite not having high cholesterol levels, he chose to take Statins to protect himself from stroke and heart attacks., with NO side-effects whatsoever. As a doctor, he spent a lot of time studying the pros and cons before making his decision, and I trust his judgement better than social media.

I don't take statins as I have low cholesterol, low BP and no family history of related issues.

Horses for courses. Same with statins.

Good post Fleurpepper.

Having a stroke is miserable. Life as a "legume", as quoted above, is not something to be taken lightly. If this can be prevented by taking a pill a day, then why not take advantage of this? I worked in a stroke/head injury service for amny years and have no desire to suffer this fate if it is avoidable.

There is no kudos in being tablet free - it is the luck of the draw. I have AF, osteoporosis and other ailments and I am glad that help is there for me. I see no reason to either crow about taking no medicines, or to feel ashamed if you have to - it is just my lot and I accept it.

Not crowing, I have aches and pains like everyone else, just that I don’t have prescribed medications. In the past medical professionals have made false assumptions of my health because of height weight ratio, that I am a burden on the nhs which is wrong. That’s not to say I won’t be in time I am not getting younger, but so far so good.

I wasn’t given the percentage rate stroke Q thing when the pharmacist mentioned statins, I asked but he hadn’t done the calculation. I then saw the info about over 75 s with no medical contraindications which I need to sort out. Once I have a proper conversation with my surgery ( 3 weeks and still waiting) I will be able to make a decision.

Has anyone tried plant sterols to reduce their cholesterol, and if so, did they work?

I had a heart attack a year and a half ago and have mild heart disease. When I came out of hospital I was put on a range of medication and didn't think anything about it. I have pains in my legs and finding it painful to go up the stairs now. Do you think it is the statins? I also suffer from M.E. which I have had for nearly 20 yrs which limits any activity, and I am overweight. Nearly 66 yrs

Sparklefizz

Has anyone tried plant sterols to reduce their cholesterol, and if so, did they work?

Yes, I tried plant sterols as my surgery pharmacist have been on at me to take statins. I took statins a couple of years ago for about 9 months, then stopped - hated the side effects (aches, leg pains, stiff joints). When I had a routine blood check in the summer they were on at me again to take statins. I don't smoke or drink am not overweight, pretty active, still working at 70, don't have high BP and can't find any family history of early death from stroke/cardiac arrest!

Anyway, this time I said I would try to adjust my diet further (eat pretty healthily anyway) - so went on the stenols (Cardioace Plus by Vitabiotics). 3 months later another blood test....no difference whatsoever in levels still at 7 - I had even lost a couple of kilos as well! So now I am reluctantly accepting a very low dose 3 times a week of a different statin. Only been on it a week, so difficult to tell if there are any effects yet - good or bad. I keep asking to see and discuss with a GP, but I still get fobbed of with the pharmacist either phoning me or messaging me :-( I'm going to be more assertive in the new year and insist on seeing a doctor!

Sparklefizz

Has anyone tried plant sterols to reduce their cholesterol, and if so, did they work?

Yes and no difference after 6 months Sparklefizz.

www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/behind-the-headlines/who-should-be-offered-statins#:~:text=Like%20the%20previous%20guidance%2C%20the,diseases%20stay%20healthy%20for%20longer.

Thank you welshgirl and Jaxjacky

I will, because have just had a stroke, back from the hospital, and am unlikely to give up butter.

Sorry to hear Caleo- how are you feeling now. Any impairment? Take care.