Statins - Stop the Madness!

What blockbuster class of drugs is taken by about 20% of all people over 45? [2] This is obviously a huge chunk of the population and so the first question should start with their safety and side effect profiles.

The answer is revealed all too quickly in their advertisements.  For example, have you ever looked at an add for Lipitor, Pfizer's blockbuster statin for people with high cholesterol? The most common side effects - and keep in mind this is published by Pfizer itself - are headache, diarrhea, gas, rash, constipation, upset stomach, stomach pain, muscle aches and joint pain. The ad goes on to say that "only" 3 people of 100 will stop taking Lipitor because of side effects.

However, the side effects seem very serious indeed: a recent study found that 25 out of 44 of statin users with myopathy  (persistent muscle pain) has actual damage to their muscle fibers of 2% or more.  The damage remained at least for a time even after the statins were discontinued.  Scientists are still unsure what causes this damage but it may be that statins whack CoQ10 levels, an essential molecule and key antioxidant.

Do you know the foods and drinks that increase erection-boosting Nitric Oxide? Check out the Peak Erectile Strength Diet where I show you how to dramatically and naturally improve your erectile strength.

Furthermore, one recent large study of almost 3,500 men with an average age of 51 found that men on statins were twice as likely to have low testosterone. [1]  The lead researcher speculated that this may be due to a decrease in pituitary output. This is probably yet another reason that statins do not improve overall mortality rates. NOTE:  Some statins supposedly do not lower testosterone as badly, so you may want to talk to your doctor about that.

Just as bad is that statins have been found to be associated with erectile dysfunction in some studies. [3][4] Zocor is likely one of the worst offenders. [7] One study even comments that the erectile dysfunction reported seems to exceed the simple explanation of lower testosterone levels. [5] Lowered libido is another commonly reported side effect.

Now contrast that with the Low Fat (or Ornish) Diet.  The has been proven in two studies to not only lower choleserol dramatically but actually reverse arteriosclerosis. Cardiovascular incidents by all measures were strongly lowered as well and - guess what? - there are no side effects except increased blood flow for your erections and cleaner arteries. Oy vay!

But how many doctors recommend to their patients to go on a Low Fat (or Ornish) Diet?  None that I know of. In fact, I know one pharmacist who works at a hospital who said that most cardiologists he knows are taking a statin preventatively. And yet I'll bet very few of them are on a Low Fat (or Ornish) Diet.

When does low testosterone cause erectile dysfunction or harden your arteries? 300 ng/dl? 400? Find out what the studies say in Low Testosterone By The Numbers.

This makes no sense.  Why not instead live like naturally the Tarahumara, who eat close to a Low Fat (or Ornish) Diet and have NO heart disease??  Isn't this incredibly superior to popping pills that can cause muscle and tissue damage and are plagued with side effects?

If your cholesterol is high, talk to your doctor and ask why you would not try this completely natural and effective alternative?

1) Corona, G. Journal of Sexual Medicine, April 2010

2) Consumer Reports on Health, Nov 2010, p. 8.

3) Drug Safety, Jul 1 2009 , 32:(7)591-597(7), "Statins and Erectile Dysfunction: Results of a Case/Non-Case Study using the French Pharmacovigilance System Database"

4) Urology, Apr 2008, 71(4):703-707, "Effects of Statin Treatment on Serum Sex Steroids Levels and Autonomic and Erectile Function"

5) Family Practice, 2001, 19:95-98, "Do lipid-lowering drugs cause erectile dysfunction? A systematic review"

6) Family Practice 2002; 19(1):95-98, “Do lipid lowering drugs cause erectile dysfunction?”