The True Benefits vs. Side Effects of Statins

Weighing up the benefits and side effects of statins. A Mayo Clinic visualization tool can help you decide if cholesterol-lowering statin drugs are right for you.

Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution!
-Michael Greger, MD FACLM

[frumpd]

There is essentially zero accountability for dishonest practitioners using heavily biased or outdated methods, which is why it's pretty much anything goes when it comes to informing the patient

Superb public service. Statistics and risk assessment are extremely difficult to communicate and understand properly. This is been shown to be true for many people in the medical and science field as well.

[solohoh]

My neighbor, an 81 yr old MD, told me 40 years ago to "stay away from doctors." I did, I will. Now I'm 81 yrs old...I wish I could find a way to stay away from dentists.

[JosephNJ]

Such a big decision, lots to consider, risk factors, side effects, mortality, studies, relative v absolute risk, etc. If only there was a better way.
Dr Greger enters stage left, with a bright green tie, a smile, multiple books, a free website, and even an app.
Bless you doc. Bless you!

[KJSvitko]

The simplest solution is usually the best.
Eat a whole food plant based diet and do some exercise daily.
Walking a little more or riding a bicycle for short trips is an easy way to get your daily exercise.
Eating a healthy diet and moving more is a simple way to get and stay healthy.

[thebackbuddy]

I am absolutely in the lifestyle change camp, however, some research statistics have shown that statins have helped reduce covid morbidity. As in over 80% less death with either form of statin. Thank you so much for your organization. I can'even begin to imagine the number if people who have lived longer and better thanks to you.

[RobbsHomemadeLife]

My DR wanted me to take 10 mg Crestor daily. I take 5 mg every other day and blueberries and amla powder every day and my numbers are good now.

[sugarbabylove]

Still stand by my decision to not take a statin my doc prescribed for mildly raised cholesterol and gallstones and go the dietary route instead. I need to improve the diet more as have slipped in recent months but I still feel diet is the better choice.
Folks with v high cholesterol who can't manage it even after going WFPB are, IMO, the only guys who should consider it. But we all gotta take our choice ourselves. But it's great to have this honest information so that we can make an informed decision.

[stanleysokolow]

I've heard that statins increase the risk of getting type 2 diabetes, which isn't mentioned in this video.

[UncleJ]

All of these calculators place a lot of emphasis on having higher HDL to reduce risk. Being a vegan whole foods lower fat along the lines of Esselstyn/McDougal is going to lower HDL along with Total Cholesterol and LDL-C. I am finding that I am going into the statin recommended range (above 7.5% 10-year risk) no matter how low cholesterol and LDL-C are because my HDL is also low.
But Esselstyn and others have explained that HDL will also go down with lower cholesterol and LDL and lower HDL does not raise risk in that situation.

[johnfausett]

Lots of emphasis on benefits and very little on risks. All those patients who, against their doctors recommendations stop taking statins, are not included in the official tally of adverse affects. These people just quietly stop filling their scrips and their experiences with the drug are never recorded.

[ShootingStarSilvi]

Can be taken as a transition not natto (fermented soybeans); or nattokinase in capsule form as a substitute for statins, at least until ideal levels are reached through healthy eating WFPB SOS

[JosephNJ]

Ok, so I took the tests, and here's what I found for me:

Relative risk: 25% higher if no statin
Absolute risk: 1% higher if no statin
However, the risk factors do rise significantly with each decade of age.

[tomsmock]

What about the risk of age related brain disorders ie Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s or memory loss and statin long term use?

[eelkeaptroot]

I'll take my chances without meds.

[raystaar]

"There are three kinds of lies. Lies, damned lies and statistics." ---Benjamin Disraeli

[simmiedavissimmiesings]

Dr. Gregor I would love to shadow you for a month. You seem like such a high producer!. I just started fasting and eliminating most animal products. I do have more energy but I just started. I need to publish so much b4 I leave this earth!

[sw]

I’d like this to be updated so that the doctor is using genetic testing to make sure the statin and high blood pressure drugs they’re recommending aren’t going to cause more problems than they solve…liver damage, kidney damage, muscle damage, etc

[gordonbrown]

Like the investment houses love to say, Past performance is not indicative of future results.

[dawnrobbins]

Many a doctor pays for their homes by pushing statins. Extra four office visits per year, four blood draws, and hours sitting in their waiting rooms.