The Great Cholesterol Con - Kindle bargain

[Northerner]

Just spotted that one of today's Kindle Daily Deals is The Great Cholesterol Con by Malcolm Kendrick - only 99p. I wrote a review of this a while back 🙂

 

[Lurch]

Bought the paper version. Anthony Colpo book of exact same title is even better, I think, tho' he's not a medic. Might also be available on a gizmo. 🙂

 

[Bessiemay]

Just spotted that one of today's Kindle Daily Deals is The Great Cholesterol Con by Malcolm Kendrick - only 99p. I wrote a review of this a while back 🙂

Thanks north I downloaded this and have read quite a bit the last 2 days. I know you wouldn't give medical advice but if someone was going to stop taking statins could they just stop or need to wean off. Also what sort of time span would you expect before a change would show.

 

[Vicsetter]

I just stopped but, hey I'm a rebellious old man. Theoretically you should tell your GP that you wish to stop taking them.

 

[Bessiemay]

Thanks north I downloaded this and have read quite a bit the last 2 days. I know you wouldn't give medical advice but if someone was going to stop taking statins could they just stop or need to wean off. Also what sort of time span would you expect before a change would show.

Just asked him about it today but he doesn't think there's anything to worry about with statins!

 

[Northerner]

Thanks north I downloaded this and have read quite a bit the last 2 days. I know you wouldn't give medical advice but if someone was going to stop taking statins could they just stop or need to wean off. Also what sort of time span would you expect before a change would show.

Well, in my particular case I researched things (including reading this book and others) and decided that I really didn't need the statins since they had resulted in my total cholesterol dipping to 2.4. I did have some side-effects, including cramps and nausea, but it was hard to determine if it was due to the statins since I was on many other medications at the time. However, the cramps did disappear within a couple of weeks. I just stopped them, no need to taper off.

I did discuss it with my GP at the time and she was happy for me to try without them. As a consequence, my cholesterol went up into the 4s, but since my 'good' (HDL) cholesterol was at a good levels I wasn't persuaded to start taking them again.

I just feel that, in my case, there was more risk in taking a drug long-term when I didn't really need it. But there are people with problems I don't share who will benefit from them, so it does need to be discussed with someone who knows your full medical history. At the end of the day though, it's your decision. 🙂

 

[Bessiemay]

Thanks for that. I realise it's not something to do without thought.

 

[Northerner]

Thanks for that. I realise it's not something to do without thought.

Indeed. It's also good to know the arguments from both sides so you can make an informed decision, so good to read up on it 🙂 What I object to is the blanket prescribing of drugs without consideration of the individual. The studies may statistically show benefits, but it depends on how closely you match the population being studied as far as I can see. One doctor didn't seem to believe there was a lower limit for cholesterol levels and tried to persuade me to take them because 'a tribe in Northern China had very low cholesterol levels and hardly any cardiovascular disease'. Erm, their lives are probably very different to mine! 🙄

 

[Bessiemay]

Indeed. It's also good to know the arguments from both sides so you can make an informed decision, so good to read up on it 🙂 What I object to is the blanket prescribing of drugs without consideration of the individual. The studies may statistically show benefits, but it depends on how closely you match the population being studied as far as I can see. One doctor didn't seem to believe there was a lower limit for cholesterol levels and tried to persuade me to take them because 'a tribe in Northern China had very low cholesterol levels and hardly any cardiovascular disease'. Erm, their lives are probably very different to mine! 🙄

Yes and on the other side of the coin the book mentions the Masai people who only eat meat and fat and have very high cholesterol. We had a Masai guide in Kenya once and met his tribe and they were extremely healthy and energetic people.