However, statins can cause side effects in older adults including gait disturbances, which can lead to falls; increased blood glucose levels and incidence of diabetes mellitus; development of cataracts; liver toxicity; and muscle complications such as rhabdomyolysis, which is a potentially life-threatening condition.
The most frequently reported side effects were nasopharyngitis, arthralgia, diarrhea, pain in extremity, and urinary tract infection.

Should 80 year olds take statins?

Adults age 75 and older may not need statins . Their doctors usually prescribe statins to prevent heart disease. But for older people, there is no clear evidence that high cholesterol leads to heart disease or death.

When Should statins be stopped in elderly?

Most societies, including the ACC and AHA, recommend shared decision making in this subgroup of patients. Now, a new study published this past week in the European Heart Journal suggests that discontinuing statins in patients older than 75 years of age may actually increase the risk of hospital admissions by 33%.

Why you should never take statins?

Very rarely, statins can cause life-threatening muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis (rab-doe-my-OL-ih-sis). Rhabdomyolysis can cause severe muscle pain, liver damage, kidney failure and death. The risk of very serious side effects is extremely low, and calculated in a few cases per million people taking statins .

Should everyone over 65 take statins?

Guidelines in the United States recommend statin therapy for primary prevention in men and women regardless of age . The guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology, however, do not provide recommendations for statin use in older people , Fonarow said.

Do statins make you age faster?

Telomerase activity is associated with longer telomeres. Statins do have side effects, all medication does to some extent. And some of those side effects reported could also be deemed to be signs of premature aging . Memory loss and weakness or fatigue are both listed under ‘uncommon side effects’ on the NHS website.

What should a 70 year old woman’s cholesterol be?

In general, healthy cholesterol levels for seniors are total cholesterol of below 200 mg/dl, including an LDL cholesterol level less than 100 mg/dl, and an HDL cholesterol level greater than 40 mg/dl for men or 50 mg/dl for women.

Should elderly be on statins?

Statin drugs have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in young and middle-aged adults. With older adults (those 75 and over), the benefits are less clear. But a recent study published in the European Heart Journal suggests that there is in fact a benefit to statin use in this older population.

Do you have to stay on statins forever?

Statins are typically very successful at lowering cholesterol, but they only work as long as you ‘ re taking them. Therefore, most people who begin taking a statin medication will likely take it for the rest of their lives.

What is the best cholesterol medication with the least side effects?

In the analysis of 135 previous studies, which included nearly 250,000 people combined, researchers found that the drugs simvastatin ( Zocor ) and pravastatin ( Pravachol ) had the fewest side effects in this class of medications. They also found that lower doses produced fewer side effects in general.

Do statins clear the arteries of plaque?

Statins help lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, in the blood. They draw cholesterol out of plaque and stabilize plaque , Blaha says.

What reduces cholesterol quickly?

A few changes in your diet can reduce cholesterol and improve your heart health: Reduce saturated fats. Saturated fats, found primarily in red meat and full-fat dairy products, raise your total cholesterol . Eliminate trans fats. Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Increase soluble fiber. Add whey protein.

What is the best natural alternative to statins?

7 cholesterol-lowering alternatives to statins Fibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis. Plant stanols and sterols. Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins. Niacin. Policosanol. Red yeast rice extract (RYRE) Natural products.

Do statins cause more harm than good?

If your risk is low, taking a statin or any cholesterol-lowering drug could do more harm than good . Statins have side effects — they can cause liver and muscle damage — and they require close monitoring.

Should everyone over 60 be on statins?

Almost all men over 60 and women over 75 should be eligible for statins , according to a new analysis. After examining guidance on which patients should be offered statin therapy, researchers calculated 11.8 million English adults are eligible for the cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Which is better Lipitor or Crestor?

Which Statin is Better : Lipitor or Crestor ? Lipitor and Crestor are both effective statins that lower levels of “bad” cholesterol and increase levels of “ good ” cholesterol. While Crestor is the more potent statin, both medications are effective and have slightly different side effects and drug interactions.