Did you know that roughly 5% of adults over 20 take statins in the United States to deal with high cholesterol? That doesn’t sound like a lot until you realize this is over 47 million people. Some of whom are children.
To some of us, this number is not all that surprising in the grand scheme of things. Health care in the United States is ranked last among high-income countries.
Anyway, statin medications are a part of day-to-day life for a lot of folks. And in many cases, it’s a life-or-death situation due to the damage high cholesterol can cause. If you don’t focus on a healthy diet and regular exercise, your doctor might be prescribing statins to you in the future.
What Are Statins?
Statins are a type of drug that helps lower the LDL while raising HDL cholesterol (bad and good, respectively) as well as triglycerides in your bloodstream by blocking a specific enzyme from being produced by the liver.
Although the body needs certain types of cholesterol in order to function properly, too much of the “bad” kind (LDL) can lead to increased risks of strokes and heart attacks. Statins essentially work to reduce this by balancing the good and bad types of cholesterol in your body.
For those who have conditions like secondary polycythemia (such as myself), statins may be worth seriously considering. That’s because secondary polycythemia is when your body produces far too many red blood cells. Any obstruction in your veins and arteries, such as high cholesterol, can pose an even greater threat of various cardiovascular complications.
In other words, ultra-thick blood + high cholesterol = a much greater risk of heart attack or stroke. That’s where statins come into play, especially if you’re unable to commit to a healthier diet. The medication is also more immediate than simple diet changes.
Why Should You Take Statins?
In general, you want to keep the total cholesterol in your body under 200mg/dl. This includes LDL and HDL (bad and good) types of cholesterol. But the primary plan is to keep your LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol under 100mg/dl. That is, unless you’ve had a past history of cardiovascular problems. Then, you’d want to aim for 70mg or lower.
So, if your numbers look like the following, it may be time to speak to your doctor about Lipitor or any other medication to reduce cholesterol.
It can take certain types of statins up to six weeks to reduce high cholesterol to moderate levels. The amount of reduction depends on a myriad of factors, ranging from your diet to the type of medication and its potency. So, there is no absolute when it comes to a timeframe for when the numbers will go down.
The point is that they will go down.
Statins are generally more for those who are at an imminent risk of cardiovascular complications. This includes having comorbid conditions, such as secondary polycytemia. That’s because healthy alternatives to taking statins can take up to several months before a significant change is detected.
Think of it like having an ultra-busy highway, and all of the cars are red blood cells. Cholesterol would be the occasional wrecks on the side of the road. Traffic is diverted around the wreck, but it takes more time and effort to clear the roadway.
When you have secondary polycythemia or similar blood disorders, it’s like trying to fit the entire state of California on the 405 with a wreck every 10 feet.
Everything has to work much harder to keep you alive. When your cholesterol is over 200 in general, you’re essentially red-lining your engine.
Do You Need to Take Statins?
As I pointed out earlier, statins are usually reserved for those who have underlying conditions that can’t be solved by a proper diet and exercise. You may not absolutely need to take them, but the medications would work faster than alternatives, greatly reducing immediate health risks.
As I pointed out above, it can take statins several weeks to lower cholesterol and triglycerides. On the flip side, it could take months for a proper diet to do the same. And that’s as long as you maintain a diet plan for the long term, which a lot of people don’t.
For those who have exceedingly high numbers, such as the ones I showed above, you may want to talk to your doctor about medications. Unless your lifestyle changes drastically, it’ll be exceptionally difficult to lower cholesterol numbers on your own.
The Risks of Taking Statin Medications
Like so many medications on the market, statins have side effects and risks involved. While they may be nominal for some, they need to be pointed out before you make a decision on whether the risks are worth the reward.
What are some of the risks involved with taking statins?
- Increased risk of type 2 diabetes
- Muscle damage and pain
- Memory loss or confusion (debated, not satisfactorily proven)
- Liver damage (rare)
- Kidney damage (exceptionally rare)
There are some minor effects to point out as well. However, these usually resolve themselves over time, making them often worth the risk for the benefit of keeping your heart pumping.
These minor risks include:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Sleep disruption
- Hair loss
It’s always better to consult your physician about statins and any other potential medication for any purpose. Don’t simply judge your health decisions based on blog information, TikTok videos, or what your favorite Instagram influencer says.
Unless they hold a degree of some kind in biology, always trust the scientists and doctors over guesswork and “feelings.”
And for Pete’s sake, don’t listen to RFK Jr.
Alternatives to Taking Statins
So, what if you don’t want to take medications? Are there alternatives to statins that you can do from home? Yes, but it’ll require some changes in your lifestyle, some of which could be monumental.
Overall, the idea is to lower your cholesterol through any means necessary. What are some ways you can get started right now?
- Quit tobacco use
Quitting smoking is ideal for a variety of health reasons. Not to mention how expensive it is to smoke nowadays. - Exercise and diet
Studies have shown that aerobic exercise enhances the lipid-lowering effects of heart-centric diets, lowering LDL cholesterol. - Eat a healthier diet
Eating the right foods to lower cholesterol can help. But as I pointed out a second ago, adding regular exercise improves the food’s ability to do so. - Lose weight
Lipid levels increase in people who are obese, as well as an increased level of triglycerides. The fat essentially causes lipid abnormalities that go beyond reasonable control. - Manage Stress Better
Stress has been shown to potentially raise LDL and lower HDL cholesterol in your body. Besides, managing your stress is good for a plethora of health reasons. - Alcohol Consumption?
Although drinking alcohol has been linked to raising HDL cholesterol (the good one), the benefits aren’t significant enough to advise everyone to start drinking a gallon of Fireball today. However, drinking too much alcohol can lead to a slew of problems in the human body, such as high blood pressure, heart attacks, and even strokes.
Remember, it could be months before you see and feel the results of lowering your LDL numbers. It’s not impossible, but it will take some time. It’s not going to be an overnight fix.
On the upside, a lot of these changes will lead to a healthier and happier you, anyway. So, it may be worth the time regardless of what your cholesterol levels look like.
Get Yourself Checked Today!
It’s always better to err on the side of caution. Even if you feel well, it doesn’t mean your body isn’t preparing a world-changing bomb to go off inside of you. Have some blood work done, and base changes in your habits and routines on those numbers and what your doctor says.
Not everyone needs to take statins for cholesterol. However, a large portion of the adults in the US need them to reduce the risk of dying early. Find out which side of the fence you’re on before you become yet another statistic for the CDC to record.
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