By WIN Contributor: Dr. Laura Imola, Naturopathic Doctor
One of the most common medications I see patients taking is a “Statin,” also known as a cholesterol lowering medication. Lipitor and Crestor are two examples of the statin drugs prescribed by medical doctors.
For those who have heart disease, have had a heart attack or stroke, they are likely taking other heart medications, in addition to a statin, as part of a cardiovascular treatment protocol from their medical doctor or Cardiologist. However, many people who are otherwise healthy find their cholesterol levels increasing over time. They are often puzzled to why this is happening given their good health history.
For those who have rising cholesterol as their main health concern, we should consider working with natural remedies as a first line approach to cholesterol management.
Commonly known side effects from statin drugs include:
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Poor memory
- Liver inflammation
- Increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Muscle pain and fatigue are the two top concerns that I hear from patients who want alternatives to their statin or are the reason they are not candidates for a statin. These two side effects are significant as can cause people to feel much older than their current age and can affect their quality of life.
There are many very effective, safe and natural options that optimize cholesterol levels.
Natural formulas and simple nutrition support can help most people normalize “bad cholesterol” (cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL levels) and help increase “good cholesterol” (HDL levels), which is protective.
If we could take a preventative and proactive approach as a first step to cholesterol management for the generally healthy person, there would be so many more people who feel great energy, who can continue their day to day activities pain-free and who will avoid the development of more detrimental side effects from long term drug therapy.
If you find your cholesterol is something you want to work proactively on, you would like alternatives to statin medication as a first line approach, or if you are not a candidate for statin drugs, visit with me to discuss options. Together we can create a plan to manage your cholesterol and help you preserve your good health.
References:
(1) Mayo Clinic (2016, April 26) Statin Side Effects: Weigh the benefits and the risks. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/statin-side-effects/art-20046013