Confirmation – Just say “No” to statins Awareness Alert As new afibbers, we often initially seek help from cardiologists and typically during the assessment, many of us are prescribed statins as routine, preventive care (captive audience). Many previous posts have discussed the ineffectiveness of statins, the side effects and risks and the fact that, as often stated, “cholesterol is noby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'm re-posting this original message which somehow disappeared not long after it was posted. Several of you emailed me asking what had happened. I'm not sure but Shannon said to repost, so here it is. Sorry for the delay... I was 'in demand' elsewhere and not able to handle this myself, so thanks to those who wrote and to Mike E for helping. J. Thank you all for yby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you all for your kind responses. It does my heart good to see your comments. My very best to all of you. Jackie I’m responding, however, specifically to Colin because of his comment about going to using statin drugs. This topic always pushes my ‘alert’ button… as you’ll see from the following: Statin use has been a topic here for a very long time. My very short-term statin usby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Louise - coconut oil is very healthy. If you do a search on cholesterol here in the past post archives... there have been many reports posted on why Cholestrol is not the Enemy... but oxidized cholesterol most certainly is. Most doctors don't get to the next level of understanding exactly why we need cholesterol for health... as it's a major source of substrate for steroid hormonby Jackie - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
James - The free calcium issue would make sense for contributing to arrhythmia since we know that when calcium overpowers magnesium, the excitatory property of too much calcium inside heart cells is a problem (as identified by the Exatest electrolyte ratios). I have not spent time researching the connection to low K2, excess calcium and AF, but it certainly is logical. As for testing of K2, Iby Jackie - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
Doug - There is just so much evidence that while statins may work to lower cholesterol… cholesterol isn’t the enemy. The body needs cholesterol to function properly and reducing it just causes other problem… as you note… afib is just one. Now, OXIDIZED LDL cholesterol is another story, completely. Antioxidants, proper foods, lifestyle and controlling inflammation is important. If you hby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Valli - there are many important functions of cholesterol in the body. We've addessed those numerous times in the various posts talking about the detrimental effects of statins used to lower cholesterol levels. You can read endlessly with a search. Cholesterol is not the enemy. I hope you aren't coerced into managing cholesterol with statin drugs. It's important to know that there are other sigby Jackie - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
It is observed that Cholesterol elevates for a reason and can be a protective response to various adverse systemic conditions such as inflammation, inability to detoxify and free radical damage. The following teleconference notes shed light in a practical way of reasoning what may be out of balance so that the body responds with elevated cholesterol. Cholesterol has very critical functions inby Jackie - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
Dick and anyone else regarding the use of statin drugs or any other substance that blocks cholesterol production, the following may be of interest. Its certainly important information as typically, the public doesnt understand what cholesterol is and how it performs crucial functions in the body. Another awareness post. What really is the role of cholesterol in the body? I recentlyby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Susan - Susan - I was wondering how you are and now I learn by reading your posts. So sorry you are still having such a dreadful time with the intestinal issues. I think of you often. I realize you must remain on a restricted diet and be very choosy about what foods you tolerate. Following addresses your concerns regarding cholesterol in the Paleo diet. I hope you continue to improve.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Chris - I agree with George - enter "statin" in our search feature here and in the previous forum. We've written a great deal about the downside of treating high cholesterol. Cholestrol is not the enemy. Check out the paper by Uffe Ravnskoff, MD on Cholesterol Myths..... at www.thincs.org as well. Dr. Graveline's story is on the Space Doc link George has provided. Jacby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yeah, right! Statins may be useful in certain situations; they certainly are high on the popularity prescription writing chart and a huge income producer for Big Pharma. From a previous post I offered as my personal opinion on this topic: "Im weighing in as a statin skeptic. Look closely and note the write up says post-menopausal women with existing coronary artery disease. For them, thatby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dick - you can find a great deal of factual information at the site just mentioned in the other post on cholesterol - www.thincs.org and also statinalert.org. Anything written by Uffe Ravnskoff, MD or Peter Langsjoen, MD(cardiologist) is typically very en pointe. You'll find more on what else is involved with statin side effects if you spend some time there. Understand that cholesterolby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
When you are in the thincs site, look for anything written by Drs. Uffe Ravnskoff and Peter Langsjoen (cardiologist).... excellent material.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Larry - ideally, you would be tested for your current Q10 levels and then dose accordingly. I hesitate to direct your supplementation if you are on a statin but the typical dose is at least 200 mg. daily in divided doses of a high-quality absorbable Q-gel form of CoQ10. When I had the muscle pain from statin use after ablation, I took 500 mg. a day to help recover the muscle strength. You canby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Heather - You may find some of the information in these following references helpful. Statins can be detrimental to those people who have a polymorphism that does not allow their body to process them successfully. They reduce body's essential nutrient, Coenzyme Q10, which creates muscle weakness. Your heart is a muscle. Many people suffer adverse side effects from statins including but notby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dick - Jay Cohen makes good sense. Another book is The Cholesterol Myth by Uffe Ravnskoff, MD. And, if anyone wants to learn about the experiences of the former astronaut and medical doctor for the NASA team, Duane Graveline, MD, they should read "Lipitor - the Thief of Memory".... Dr. Graveline also has a really interesting website at www.spacedoc.net. He describes his experience wby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie, Dr. Uffe Ravnskoff is the founder of the Thincs (The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics) Theoby Theo - AFIBBERS FORUM
Theo - These people are always on the top of my list when I go for reference material... this one and www.statinalert.org is invaluable. Dr. Uffe Ravnskoff's articles along with Peter Langsjoen, MD, should not be missed. They are the leading experts in why statins are detrimental to the body. Dr. Langsjoen's family pioneered Coenzyme Q10 so he is well known in that area as well. Ifby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gordon - Consider reading the book by Duane Graveline MD about his experiences with Lipitor.... aptly named "Lipitor - The Thief of Memory" if you doubt there are problems with statins. He was a NASA space doc who suffered from transient global amnesia as a result of taking Lipitor. While I can't lay my fingers on it right now, there are definitely studies that indicate there is no improvedby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Stevie - there is a wealth of information supporting the fact that statins deplete Coenzyme Q10 and one of the results of this depletion is muscle pain and weakness. Years back, I was prescribed statins for a mild cholesterol elevation and ended up with muscle damage that is still with me today. (years before I was diagnosed with AF). Remember, you heart is a muscle and depends on CoQ10 toby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
PeggyM - I, too, am older than I used to be! Note the last line of this excerpt I've pasted here. You might enjoy going to Dr. Ravnskoff's article - in case you missed it when I posted before. He says cholesterol in the older populations is protective. (He's the author of the book, The Cholesterol Myth) Jackie Here's the start of his article: The Benefits of High Cholesterol By Ufby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM