ROSUVASTATIN CAUSES DIABETES? Does it attack the LIVER? Cardiologist ALERT about cholesterol medications!
Hello! Many people do not want to take the medicines prescribed by their doctor because of the side effects. And one of the most prescribed, and feared, medications are statins Perhaps you, like many other people, are concerned about the risks of these medications and are even thinking about avoiding them.
Are its risks really greater than its benefits? Today, I will show you the truth. As a cardiologist, I deal with these questions every day.
In this video, you will understand what happens in the body when using these medications and how to make the right decision. It's not just about numbers or cholesterol, it's about your long-term health. So, stay with me, because this video will transform your view of these medications.
But first, give your thumbs up, subscribe to the channel and activate the bell so you don't miss tips like this. And tell me: do you have high cholesterol? Do you take or have you ever taken any statins?
What part of Brazil or the world are you from? Write it down below. Let's go!
Is it worth risking your heart health for fear of side effects? The answer may surprise you. But before the details, it is essential to understand why statins are so prescribed.
Let's talk about cholesterol. He is often said to be the villain of the story, but the truth is that cholesterol is essential for your body to form cell membranes, hormones. The problem isn't the cholesterol itself, it's the excess!
Cholesterol, which circulates in the blood, comes from two main sources: first, it is produced by our liver 70-80%, and second, it comes from the foods we eat. And here's something important: it's not the cholesterol in foods, like that in eggs, that you should fear. The real problem is the saturated fats and trans fats that we find in many processed foods and fried foods.
LDL is known as the 'bad cholesterol' for a reason. It builds up in inflamed arteries, forming plaques that can be silent but fatal over time. If these plaques rupture, it can trigger a heart attack or stroke, changing your life in a second.
Statins such as rusuvastatin, atorvastatin, simvastatin and pitavastatin work by reducing the production of cholesterol in the liver. Your liver will produce less cholesterol, and blood cholesterol levels will soon begin to fall. You may think: I eat well, why would I need these medications?
For some people, even with a balanced diet, cholesterol production is so high that the risk of heart disease is high. So, for these people, statins are essential to reduce this risk. But what are the risks of taking the medicine?
Do statins have side effects? Yes, they do! But are they worse than the risk of not treating high cholesterol?
Let's see. First, it's important to understand that not everyone who takes statins will experience side effects. Most feel nothing.
But what are the main side effects of statins? 1st Side Effect: Muscle and joint pain Muscle pain, especially in the calves and arms, is one of the most common side effects of statins, affecting between 1 and 10% of patients. These pains can also appear in the hips, shoulders, neck or back and can even cause weakness and difficulty in simple everyday tasks, such as walking or climbing stairs, which can be very frustrating.
If you notice this type of pain or fatigue, it is very important that you tell your doctor, as there are several ways to help. He could reduce the dose of the medication, change the statin to another or even combine another medication. The goal is always to ensure that treatment does not harm your quality of life.
Ideally, you shouldn't feel anything after the treatment! Aren't the cards silent? So, the medicine also has to be.
. . Have you ever felt muscle pain when taking statins?
Comment below! 2nd Side Effect: Headache Headache is one of the most common side effects, affecting between 1 and 5% of people. Although it is uncomfortable, it is generally a temporary effect and, in many cases, we adjust the dose or change the medication and the problem is resolved.
3rd SIDE EFFECT - CONSTIPAGE 1-2% of people, being something unusual and manageable with adjustments to the diet or doing more exercise. 4th Side Effect: Rhabdomyolysis Very serious, but extremely rare! This is a condition that can cause serious damage to muscles and even damage their ends.
However, it is important to highlight that this effect affects less than 0. 1% of patients. I've never seen it!
Not for statins. 4th Side Effect: Neurological Problems There is a myth circulating that they can cause permanent damage to the nerves. But, let's take it easy!
Scientific studies prove that these problems are extremely rare. What can happen, in some cases, is that people with pre-existing neurological conditions may notice a worsening of symptoms. But for the vast majority of healthy people, statins are not the villain in the story.
It might make your memory a little worse. So does it cause dementia? I have patients who come into the office saying: "Doctor, I saw on TikTok that I'm going to end up with Alzheimer's if I keep taking these statins!
" And then, I have to hold back and explain that the tiktoker didn't do his homework or is trying to gain fame by spreading lies. In fact, recent studies show exactly the opposite! And a meta-analysis by the European Society of Cardiology, carried out in 2022, clearly showed that statins do not increase the risk of Alzheimer's or dementia.
In fact, it's the opposite — they help reduce this risk, especially in those with high cholesterol. And a study published in the Lancet in 2024, followed a large population and revealed that the use of statins, in addition to reducing cholesterol, can also protect the brain! The results showed that people taking statins had a 20% lower risk of developing dementia overall.
Specifically, the risk of Alzheimer's was reduced by 28%, of vascular dementia by 18%. You see. I'll leave the link below.
You can check it out! Now, I want to see tiktoker find a more recent or more incisive study than these, right? 5th Side Effect: Diabetes Doctor, can statins cause diabetes?
The answer is: yes, they can increase the chance. But before you panic, let me explain. This depends on the dose and type of statin you take.
And, mainly, it depends on whether you already have a tendency towards diabetes. If so, the statin can give you that “little push” and cause your glucose levels to rise. Let me tell you the story of one of my patients.
He was 65 years old, overweight, sedentary, with high cholesterol and a very bad diet. He arrived at the office worried: “I don't want to take statins, because I'm going to become diabetic! " Then, I explained to him what I'm going to explain to you now.
If the person is already pre-diabetic because of a lifestyle that doesn't help — yes, statins can slightly increase the risk of developing diabetes. But here is the most important thing: if this person decides to change their life, starts to lose weight, eat better, practice physical activities and improve their sleep, the risk of developing diabetes. diabetes drops drastically.
In other words, if you use a statin, it is in your hands, with these changes in habits, to prevent your glucose levels from getting worse: the cholesterol of those who are diabetic is different, it is small and dense. which greatly facilitates accumulation in the arteries. Therefore, statins are very interesting for those with diabetes.
Now , yes, some statins can affect glucose—pitavastatin is the one that affects this the least. Even though he was pre-diabetic, they managed to improve this, even with statins. And you can do the same.
What about liver damage? Several patients ask me: "Doctor, if statins can cause liver problems, why should I continue taking them? " The truth is that, in rare cases, there may be a slight increase in liver enzymes.
This may suggest some stress on the liver, but, Most of the time, this increase is small and temporary. After a few weeks or months, enzymes usually return to normal. And most importantly: this is something we monitor closely.
If we notice something isn't right, we adjust treatment to ensure your safety. So, rest assured. If your TGO or TGP has gone up a little, your doctor will know what to do.
. . Now you may be asking yourself, "If these risks exist, why continue taking statins?
" The answer is simple: the benefits outweigh the risks. For every thousand patients taking statins, less than one may develop a serious problem such as rhabdomyolysis. But, at the same time, for every thousand patients, between one and two people are saved every day from a heart attack, stroke or other serious complication.
If your cholesterol is too high, or you have plaque in your carotid arteries, aorta or coronary arteries, without intervention, your arteries will be compromised over time. If they are already obstructed, high cholesterol will make this obstruction worse. Not to mention that statins deinflame the arteries, a pleiotropic effect, greatly reducing the risk of serious problems, such as heart attack and stroke.
Even if you make lifestyle changes – which I suggest you do! improve your diet, eat more oats, chia, flaxseed, fruits and vegetables, exercise, sleep better – these changes alone usually only reduce cholesterol by 15% to 20%. Of course, that's great!
But to achieve more significant reductions, we need the help of medication. Combining statins with these lifestyle changes is the key to truly protecting your heart and arteries. Therefore, the use of statins is not just about the risk of side effects, but about the enormous benefit they can bring in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
And, with the right monitoring, we can do this safely. For young, low-risk patients with intermediate cholesterol, the initial solution is not medication. And of course, there's no point taking medication and continuing with bad habits.
Treatment is only effective when both sides are balanced. I hope this conversation has clarified your doubts about the side effects of statins and helped you make more balanced decisions about your health. Remember: small changes today can guarantee a long and healthy life in the future.
If you liked this content, leave a like, subscribe to the channel and activate the bell for more health tips. And what will be the next video you watch? I'll leave two recommendations - My video on how to measure blood pressure correctly - Are you measuring it wrong?
And my video about tadalafil. What are the 5 powerful effects that no one tells you about? My name is André Wambier, cardiologist, and this is cardiodf.
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Thank you very much.
