Statins, Cholesterol

Statins are are drugs that inhibit a group of enzymes in the liver. The enzymes stimulate the production of cholesterol in response to demands perceived by the brain. Cholesterol is a much needed fatty acid that helps the body respond to physiological stress. Measuring cholesterol levels in the bloodstream gives us an indication of how much stress we are under. When we are under a lot of stress we make more cholesterol. If the level of cholesterol were a direct result of the amount that we consumed in our diets, vegans would have no cholesterol. Why? Because cholesterol is only found in meat and dairy based products. Sustained stress prompts the adrenal glands to make cortisol. The glands, which are pea sized organs next to the kidneys, also make androgens or sex hormones. Cortisol elevates fats in the bloodstream. The response is for the body to make macrophages (lit. 'big eaters'). The macrophages try to drive the fats out through the arterial walls leaving deposits of plaque containing cholesterol. This is very simplified but the implication is that because cholesterol was found in plaque therefore it must be responsible for clogging the arteries, therefore it must lead to heart disease. In come the role of statins. By preventing the liver from making cholesterol it must clear the arteries therefore lessen heart disease. Hmm, that sound too good to be true. So what else do statins do? As an holistic therapist I see a lot of people with pain including muscle spasm and weakness. Statins also inhibit the production of an enzyme called co enzyme Q 10. Co enzyme Q 10 helps the mitochondria or powerhouses in the cells to make ATP a currency of energy. Some people on statins find that their energy levels are wiped out leaving them with severe muscle weakness. That is good for my business, because I see more of them, but a tragedy for them. The heart muscles also need energy. For a number of years I suffered a heart arrhythmia. Treatment included six cardio version (electric shock treatment), and a left ventricle laser ablation. It was a 5 hour operation that threaded leads up from both groins to the heart and isolated the mis-firing cells by burning them off with a laser. When in hospital at the John Radcliffe in Oxford I interviewed the other heart patients (informally of course). Without exception they all had breathing problems as well. That makes sense because the heart is in the same cavity as the lungs. They would do well to learn prana or controlled breathing. The patients whom I listened to also said, without exception, that when the doctors put them on statins their energy levels were wiped out so they stopped taking them. Cholesterol is also used by the brain to make the synapses or junctions between neurones in the brain. Short term memory loss was another overlooked side effect.

If you are going to take any medication you need to agree with your doctor what are the hoped for benefits and what are the side effects you are prepared to put up with. Your doctor has a difficult decision to balance the potential benefits against the possible side effects. Too many people tell me that they take a whole number of drugs but they can't remember what they are for. They might not know that some heart medication results in swelling of the ankles or a dry cough. In the end it is your body and it often tells you what it needs. You cannot go far wrong with avoiding altered, hydrogenated fats and processed sugars but eating the rest of your food slowly with confidence and enjoyment.