Aspirin

[runner]

This was just a personal decision, for which I will take full responsibility. My cholesterol was 4.5, and I had asked for my HDL and LDL levels to be checked. There was a high proportion of 'good' cholesterol (above the minimum recommended amount). I don't have high BP and have also been told that type 1's are more at risk from the smaller organ/nerve complications, whereas type 2 are more at risk of complications of the major organs - heart etc. So, based on this, decided not to take them. I f my situation changes, I'll reconsider. Strange tho' that my husband has high BP and a higher cholesterol level, but has not been put on statins

Like you Northerner, I'm not convinced that the pro's outweigh the 'cons' at present.
(Sorry for any repetition - I know we've been thru' this on another thread!)

Guess I like my treatment decisions to be based on my individual health situation too, not a 'blanket' policy.

 

[Northerner]

Just got my NHS choices newsletter, and it had this report about the aspirin study. If you go right to the end there is a bit about how they are currently investigating whether aspirin may have 'substantial benefits' to diabetics, who have or haven't had 'vascular events' (heart attacks or strokes). Hmm.. the jury's still out!

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/05May/Pages/AspirinBloodThinningDanger.aspx

 

[C*5_Dodger]

You don't have a lot of faith in your GP do you Caroline!😉 I'm not convinced about statins, in much the same way as I'm not convinced about aspirin. My cholesterol was 2.4 when I was on statins. Because I was getting side effects from something and we were trying to determine what it was I stopped talking them for a month. My cholesterol went up to 3.7 - still very much an acceptable figure for a diabetic, as they like us to be under 4.0. I went back on them and went back to a level of 2.4. But they say that, even if your cholesterol level is good the statins still help protect you. I'm just not too keen on drugs I guess - these things have quite major effects on your body's systems, and it just seems very crude and drastic sometimes to alter your body's chemistry in this way.

Dear Northerner,

I agree with your stance that we should be wary of Changing our cholesterol level by using very powerful, (and hence possible side effects) drugs such as the Statins. Here is a history of how cholesterol came to be fingered as the cause of heart disease, given the following: How did we ever make cholesterol the villian of the peace?

http://www.spacedoc.net/kilmer_mccully_cholesterol_1

Regards Dodger