How Safe are statin drugs?

Lowering cholesterol and cleaning out clogged arteries are most often achieved through the use of statin drugs such as lipitor and crestor.

Are these drugs safe and are there natural alternatives to having to use statin drugs if you have high cholesterol or clogged arteries? This article explores that question.

Please note: This is educational health care information, not intended to replace cardiovascular health evaluation and medical care which may be indicated. If you are under a doctor's care for heart disease, you should always check with your doctor before adding anything new to your health care regimen.

Unclog your arteries, safely and naturally, in as little as six months

....Are there any natural alternatives to help dissolve arterial plaque

© 2006, Neva J Howell, All Rights Reserved Home ~*~ Search
Question on alternative health care / spiritual healing: I have arterial plaque and my doctor wants to put me on Lipitor but I've read that it can be hard on the liver if taken for a long time or if there are liver problems. Are there any natural alternatives for lowering cholesterol and clearing arterial plaque?

Healing Facilitation response: First of all, I must preface this answer with a disclaimer. Heart disease and arterial plaque are serious medical conditions and if you have been diagnosed with a heart problem, you should involve your chosen doctor in all healthcare decisions. This is particularly important if you are currently already taking prescription drugs to lower cholesterol and clean out plaque deposits.

Having said that, I will also say that I have serious concerns about the longterm use of Lipitor and if I were to take that drug, or the other cholesterol-lowering drugs offered by allopathic medicine for the purpose of cleaning out clogged arteries, I'd make very sure that I had a doctor who took the time to carefully weight the potential benefits against the potential risk, prescribe the lowest dose of Lipitor that will get the job done, and monitor liver enzymes on a regular basis. .

Is Lipitor Safe?

If you ask a doctor, they will most likely tell you that lipitor (one of a class of drugs called statin drugs, used to lower cholesterol) is generally safe and well-tolerated. From what I've read, you are correct in that Lipitor can cause liver damage if there is an existing liver problem. Also, Lipitor shouldn't be taken if you are pregnant.

So is Lipitor safe? If you ask a holistic health practitioner, you will likely hear serious doubts being voiced about risks outweighing benefit when it comes to statin drugs. Ultimately, the decision is up to each person facing this health challenge.

The criteria I myself would use in deciding whether to take Lipitor - I would try natural means of lowering cholesterol first, provided it was not an emergency situation. If those natural means did not work, I'd require these three clarifying points from my doctor:

1. Tests are done to determine that there is no existing liver or kidney problem.

2. Agreement is forthcoming from the doctor, for taking the smallest effective dose, for the shortest period of time.

3. Liver Enzymes and Kidney function are tested more than normal. In other words, I would not tolerate any kind of wait and see language like a follow-up in three months. I would want to see my doctor at least once a month. Yes, it means drawing blood and filling a cup for urinalysis more than I might like, but I'd consider it vital followup.

Lipitor side effects

I don't post these to alarm anyone but to alert my readers of the potential risks inherent in taking Lipitor. For some, the risks are much greater of course, but if you find yourself with any of these symptoms after you start taking Lipitor, please tell your doctor:

Difficulty swallowing, constant feeling of fatique, trouble enunciating your words clearly, bad headaches, neck aches, nausea, dizziness or a sense of disorientation, noticable loss of memory, very dry eyes, pain and stiffness in neck and calf muscles, abominal pain, or any abnormal type of muscle pain, including spasms, muscle weakness or strange sensations in the right leg.

The high cost of prescription drugs:

By the way, I got an interesting piece of information on Lipitor, from the same folks who make GHS Plus. According to their independent research, a prescription for 100 tablets of 20 mg Lipitor is over $200 for the average consumer. In contrast, the cost of the general active ingredients in Lipitor for the same amount of tablets? $5.80. This is a mark-up of 4,696 percent.

I do understand that a lot of money goes into the development and testing of prescription drugs and that the drug companies need to recoup that money (although they could also definitely test better, judging from all the recalled prescription drugs) but come on now. To mark any product up 4,000 percent or more is just wrong.

Dietary Factors in Lowering Cholesterol

In addition to cholesterol-lowering drugs, I hope you are also altering your diet to a heart-healthy diet. This means low fat, high fiber and low saturated fats.

Moderate exercise is also important. Check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program and be aware that exercise does not have to mean a grueling workout. Simply walking briskly for 15 minutes a day can help lower cholesterol levels over time.

Start reading labels on every product you buy. Look for products that do not contain hydrogenated oils. Believe me, if it doesn't say non-hydrogentated, then it isn't. Seek out those breads, cookies, and other foods that are made without white flour or hydrogenated oils, for a healthier heart.

Increase your Vitamin C intake. Vitamin C is a very, very heart-healthy supplement.

Are There Natural Alternatives to Statin Drugs for Lowering Cholesterol?

You asked if there were natural alternatives for lowering cholesterol and cleaning out clogged arteries. I am providing information on two natural formulations: GHS-Plus and Cholesto-rite.

GHS Plus - This one has proven results made available thru an interesting and scientifically exciting process called infrared thermal imaging. This process is digital and very high-tech. The results of the thermal imaging testing done on this particular product is very exciting indeed for those folks facing the prospect of surgery to clear clogged arteries.

The images showed arterial plaque deposits in a participant, before and after taking the product and those after images show about a 50% reduction! That means about half the arterial plaque was gone after 6 months on this natural health product.

The official press release. askahealer-recommended

Cholesto-rite - Use Cholesto-Rite to: lower LDL levels - LDL is the unhealthy form that causes concern with your doctor. In addition to helping you reduce unhealthy cholesterol Cholestrorite also assists your body in sustaining HDL at healthy levels in the body. You may recognize HDL as the good type of cholesterol your doctor has mentioned when discussing cholesterol tests and what they mean to your heart health. Askahealer-recommended.

Another great function of this natural health product is that it helps your body fight the effects of free radicals, which are so harmful and helps reduce your risk of heart attacks or stroke, along with other forms of coronary heart disease.

Plaque build up in your arteries (arterial plaque) is another signficant factor in heart disease, as is the hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis. Cholestorite helps with both these health factors for a heart-healthy result.

Related Article on Tonic Herbs and Cardiovascular Health * Can Cayenne Tea Stop a Heart Attack?

Profiles in Wellness: Breakthrough Thrombolytic: I was very intriqued by this health information, which covers the research and the history of the effective use of a nontoxic natural thrombolytic used in China. However, any of the conditions mentioned in this health article are very serious and a person should always discuss any changes to current regimen with their chosen healthcare professional before adding something new, particularly if it is a natural anticoagulant or thrombolyic formula since too much of a good thing can be dangerous in those cases.

If you are on Wayfarin, Coumadin, or some other blood thinner or anticoagulant, please be wise with your health and check with your doctor before adding any new product to your treatment regimen in such cases.

That serious disclaimer having been given, I am aware that there are those who always seek out natural alternatives before resorting to prescription drugs. If you are in this category, you may well appreciate the breakthrough medical information you can read about, regarding the following conditions: Pulmonary embolism, Hyperplasminemia, Angitis, Myocardial infarction, Cerebral thrombus, Cerebral embolism, Platelet Hypercoagulability, DVT or Deep Vein Thrombosis, also sometimes called Traveler's Thrombosis, Blood Clots, and predisopsition toward thrombus

Focus on Circulatory Health: What is a pulmonary embolism? PE, or pulmonary embolism, is a condition called by a blockage in a person's lung artery. It is tyically caused by blood clots but can also result from tumors, fat or even air. The most common cause of PE is DVT, or Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Lipitor News Resource for additional side effect information: You can learn more about the side effects of Lipitor, the importance of Vitamin C supplementation for cardiovascular protection and more at this excellent resource site: New Media Explorer: Lipitor Side Effects and Natural Remedy

Atrial Fibrillation Information

Cardiovascular Health Disclaimer: Plaque build up in the arteries is a very serious medical condition and can be life-threatening. The educational information contained in this heart health article not presented as substitution for medical care that may be indicated. Any action taken based on this article on cardiovascular health is at the sole discretion of the reader. Please consult with your chosen heart specialist on matters relating cholesterol, plaque build-up and other cardiovascular concerns.