'Unintended' statin side-effect risks uncovered

What? "Unintended?" It's headlines like these that make me wonder just how long ago the risks were 'uncovered,' ya know? Did they know about them after the first long-term trial? Did they know about these risks after 5 years? After 10 years?

I like this quote, "On the positive side, the analysis also showed no significant association between the use of statins and the risk of Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, blood clot, dementia, osteoporotic fracture, or many cancers including gastric, colon, lung, renal, breast or prostate."

It basically says they haven't seen a significant risk of parkinsons, R.A, clots, dementia, fracture, or cancers...YET! 6 years is not a very long 'long term study,' especially when you consider that we have patients who have been on statins for 15-20 years (the first FDA approved statin was Mevacor, in 1987).

But what I think is the most interesting is the ratio of benefit to side-effects: In women, there was a reduction of 279 events (esophageal cancer and cardiovascular disease) BUT an INCREASE of 442 side-effects, many causing death. THE MEN FARED MUCH WORSE, with 552 side-effects!

I don't know, do you think I'm off-base in presenting this information? Please don't read me incorrectly - I'm not saying statins are the bane of civilized healthcare, but I am saying that statins are a horrible alternative to simply taking control of your health and diet.

If you have questions about this, please feel free to contact me.

In Health,
Dr. Scott
www.hilltopwellness.com

Tips to Lower Cholesterol Naturally

Good evening and welcome to another interesting blog post - this one features a video from Dr. Mercola entitled 'Tips to Lower Cholesterol Naturally.' (if it prompts you to register before you can see the website, feel free to use my email address 'hilltopchiro AT gmail.com )

This short video has some amazing points, but there is a missing point of information, and that is a discussion about those with high cholesterol levels because of a thyroid issue or related hormone imbalance. The number of hormones the thyroid regulates is small, but amazing - did you know that every cell in the body depends upon thyroid hormones for regulation of their metabolism?

Two other parts of the brain directly and indirectly regulate the thyroid, so a problem with either one of those two (pituitary and hypothalamus) could cause disruption of the thyroid and related hormones.

So, without getting too deep into this topic, take a look at the video and let me know what you think - I'd love to hear your comments.

In Health,
Dr. Scott
www.hilltopwellness.com