Statin Drugs: Are They Causing More Harm Than Good?

Statin drugs – a class of medicines that are frequently used to lower blood cholesterol levels – have become a huge global industry, generating more than $29 billion each year. In the US, one in four people over the age of 45 is taking statins! They do lower LDL cholesterol levels, but there is controversy about high cholesterol levels being a contributing factor to heart disease. It took 20 years for the FDA to require labeling on these medications, informing the public that there are serious side effects, such as muscle pain and weakness, kidney failure and extreme cognitive issues, including memory loss, confusion and Alzheimer’s type symptoms.

Cholesterol is necessary for normal brain and body function. It is one of the primary building blocks for healthy neuronal tissue, which includes the brain. It is also released from the liver when your brain perceives stress. This is a defense mechanism that occurs in case we are wounded during a “fight or flight” response. LDL cholesterol is a necessary component for clotting a wound. Statin medications block an enzyme that helps in the production of cholesterol. Taking the medication not only lowers your cholesterol levels in the blood, it lowers it throughout the entire body and brain. Experts believe this is part of the reason for cognitive demise.

Another side effect of cholesterol lowering medications is severe muscular inflammation, which causes pain, weakness and breakdown to muscle fibers. The result is toxic substances which end up in the kidneys. If the kidneys are not able to deal with these toxins, kidney failure can occur, which can be fatal.

French medical doctor Michel de Lorgeril reports that, “We will come to the inevitable conclusion, in the end, that these drugs are unnecessary and toxic. They must be removed from the market and the Health Service must stop paying for them.”

Alternatives to these dangerous drugs includes regular cardiovascular and resistance training, decreased sugar and processed food intake, increased vegetable and healthy fat consumption, adequate sleep and stress reduction.

Watch the video below for numerous network news segments on the cholesterol controversy.