Mailbag! Are These Popular Meds Killing You?

By Natalie Moore Posted May 25, 2017

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

You’ve got questions…

We’ve got answers!

Getting older comes with its fair share of health challenges.

And for most of us, heart problems are at the top of the list.

So you take statins every day to keep your cholesterol in check.

The only problem is taking statins could be doing nothing to protect your heart and might even up your risk of death.

Let’s dive in…

Hey Natalie,

I’m 77 and have been taking statins for over 10 years. However, I’m not really sure why. I’m in decent shape, try to keep tabs on my diet and have never been diagnosed with heart disease. My doctor says I should keep taking them because they can reduce my chance of having a heart attack. Do you know if this is true? Do statins reduce heart risks in older folks who are in good shape?

Thanks in advance,

Danny B.

Great question, Danny. And your timing couldn’t be better.

Just this week, a brand-new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine shows that statins are completely WORTHLESS when it comes to preventing certain heart problems in healthy folks aged 65 and older.

For the study, researchers analyzed the medical records of participants aged 65 or older suffering from high blood pressure but with no arterial stiffness. About half took 40 mg of pravastatin daily. The others didn’t.

And what the researchers found was truly shocking…

Statins offered ZERO health benefits when it came to stroke, heart disease or death caused by heart problems.

Even worse, folks taking statins were more likely to die!

Researchers report that the side effects from statins, which include muscle damage and fatigue, could put seniors at risk for quicker decline and higher risk of death.

So if you’re in good shape and taking statins, it’s probably time to talk to your doctor about getting off them, especially if you’re 65 or older. It just might save your life.

Do you have health questions you want answered? Drop me a line: feedback@livingwelldaily.com

Live well,

Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily

Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: feedback@livingwelldaily.com – and click here to like us on Facebook.

Sources

^[1] Was a statin beneficial for primary cardiovascular prevention in older adults?

^[2] Cholesterol-busting statins provide ‘no benefit’ for pensioners at risk of heart disease

Written By Natalie Moore

Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.

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