Weight Loss and Low Cholesterol Meds

Statins, a prescription drug designed to lower cholesterol has been in the news lately. A report on the drug, which is used by over 18 million Americans, asked the question do all the people taking the drug really need them.

In the report a patient with high cholesterol was given a prescription for statin. However, because he didn't want to take the drug, he chose to try something else. Instead he decided to go on a diet and exercise program.

The report also went on to say that patients with know heart disease or risk factors such as diabetes, family history, high blood pressure, heart attack and bad cholesterol over 160 have the type of symptoms that statin would be most beneficial.

However those without these risk factors and who had high cholesterol, but was still below 160, were also prescribed this drug.

The main purpose of the drug is to lower cholesterol since high cholesterol has been linked with heart disease. However, the controversy stems from a finding that says that there was no evidence that those in the low risk category taking the drug to lower their cholesterol would gain protection from getting heart disease.

As for the patient in the report, after losing 30 pounds from his diet and exercise program, his cholesterol went back to normal-- without taking statin.

Moral of the story? Unless you fall in the known risk group, your may be better off choosing the strategy of the patient in the report and go own a diet and exercise program. This may be your best bet in the long run because the story also said that by taking the drug, you may also be giving yourself a false sense of security.

Just because you're on the drug doesn't mean you can still go out and eat a greasy burger. The implication being that even if you take the drug and your cholesterol is lowered, you may still get heart disease.

So if your doctor wants to prescribe you statins to lower your cholesterol, ask her if you're in the high risk group. If you're not, then you may need to just start dieting and exercising to burn off some fat. In the long run, having your body in better physical condition is a lot more desirable than having to rely on a drug that may or may not be effective.

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