Thursday, August 7, 2008

The Potential Health Risks of Using Statin Drugs

Are You Really Getting the Truth behind Cholesterol Lowering Drugs? If Not, This Is the Perfect Time to Read this Piece (Part-5) continued from (Part-4)

Unfortunately this is the most ignored part to be discussed. Doctors and pharmaceutical company leaders are only talking about the benefits of using statin drugs, alas!, there is almost no one who comes up discussing about the dangers. According to British Medical Journal, 29% people on trial show one or more adverse side effects after going through prescribed statin drugs(1). As discussed in US General Accounting Office, over 51% people show critical adverse side effects as a result of statin drugs administration which can not even be detected before giving the authorization to use(2). It is very unfortunate that the majority of the population including doctors does not know that the potential health risks associated with statin drugs administration can be life threatening over time (3).

Increased Risk for Congestive Heart Failure

Statin Drugs are potent to reduce the production of CoQ10, a natural substance responsible for the management of healthy heart condition. Since our heart is designed in such a fashion that needs abundant energy supply in order to function appropriately. The natural and vital substance CoQ10 makes it certain that the energy flows to the heart properly and sufficiently. As because the production of CoQ10 decreases due to the administration of statin drugs, it inevitably leads to heart muscle weakening, increasing the likelihood of congestive heart failure. Although it has been hypothesized that additional CoQ10 supplement may protect an individual from getting congestive heart failure, several studies have found no such relation.

Decreased Memory and Increased Attention Deficit

Apart from the risk for developing congestive heart failure, statin drugs also increase the risk for developing attention deficit problem accompanied by reduced memory. Since cholesterol is a natural protector of myelin sheath, reduction in the level of cholesterol can be hypothesized to have negative impact on an individual’s memory and attention. Several studies have found this hypothesis holds true.

Apart from all these health issues, statin drugs are found to increase the risk for developing cancer in general. Different studies have proved that there is a strong correlation between statin drugs administration and cancer development (4). Unfortunately, statin drug manufacturing companies are doing their business successfully by ignoring these facts and US Food and Drug Administration has also approved these drugs. It is said that the studies are done on rodents as subjects and the likelihood of developing cancer for humans thus is uncertain. However, the fact is what we can see around us.

References

1. Law, M.R. et al. Quantifying effect of statins on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, ischaemic heart disease, and stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis. British Medical Journal. 2003 June 28; 326 (7404): 1423.

2. Strom, Brian L. Potential for Conflict of Interest in the Evaluation of Suspected Adverse Drug Reactions. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2004;292: (DOI 10.1001/jama.21.2643).

3. Cohen, S. Jay. Over Dose. 2001. ISBN 1-58542-123-5.

4. Newman, Thomas B. et al. “Carcinogenicity of Lipid-Lowering Drugs.” Journal of the American Medical Association. January 3, 1996-Vol 275, No. 1.

My acknowledgment to Shane Ellison, M.Sc. for writing such a wonderful and informative content "Hidden Truth about Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs! (Revised and Explained) courtesy of www.healthmyths.net

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