Cholesterol Is A Hoax & Statin Is Bad. Is That True?

‘The whole cholesterol story is a hoax made up by big pharmaceutical companies! Do you know how much they earn each year from these medications?’

‘Report claims there’s no link between bad cholesterol and heart disease’¹

‘High cholesterol does not cause heart disease, so treating with statins a waste of time.’²

Many of us have encountered such conversations and articles. They can be very convincing and alluring. Controlling the level of cholesterol has been the mainstay of the management of heart attack and stroke risk. However, there have been several articles challenging this approach. Are we all, patients on cholesterol medication and health care providers, mules cheated by big pharmas as claimed by many? 

Many people buy into these stories and back their claim with a simple term: Research shows. Not all studies are equal and not all studies carry the same quality.

One study that backs the claim has been refuted repeatedly by other reputable sources citing its ‘serious weaknesses and, as a consequence, has reached completely the wrong conclusion’.² While the authors have called for a re-evaluation of the guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, the study was unable to quash the proven benefits of statins (a major class of cholesterol lowering medication).³ 

This brings us to the second concern when it comes to cholesterol management: Statin is bad. Or is it?

For those who are new to Statin, Statin is a class of cholesterol lowering medication. Statin works by blocking an enzyme involved in the production of cholesterol in the body.⁴ There are various types of statins in the market such as simvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin. 

Statin has been widely proven to be effective in lowering cholesterol. This in turn lowers the risk of stroke and heart attack. Statin also has a good anti-inflammatory effect on heart vessels.⁵

Statin is generally well-tolerated but this class of medication do carry certain risk of side effects such as nausea, vomiting, muscle aches and elevation in liver enzymes.

No medication is free from side effects. Statin has largely been demonized. Statin, similar to many other medications, has its pros and cons. The choice whether to take a statin can only be made after weighing the risk and benefit. This makes it crucial for you to speak to your pharmacist to get a better understanding on this class of medication. Your health care providers have the obligation to help you to make an informed choice.