WHILE headaches, digestive issues and dizziness are common complaints when taking statins there’s one more serious side effect that warrants a doctor’s appointment.
Typically, the major health benefits of taking statins outweighs the minor side effects. The medication is used to lower cholesterol thereby reducing the risk of a deadly heart attack or stroke. Statins do save lives, but if you’re feeling generally achey all over the body, and it lasts longer than a few days, you might need a different dosage. The cholesterol charity Heart UK said: “If you experience this don’t ignore it, you should talk to your doctor.”
Be prepared to keep taking your statins until you get the most up-to-date advice on your situation from the doctor.
Trials involving more than 170,000 people have shown that statins reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels.
In addition, the study revealed that for every 1mmol/L drop in LDL cholesterol there was “an important drop” in a person’s five year risk of cardiovascular disease.
What’s LDL cholesterol?
There are two types of cholesterol – low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).