The Benefits of Taking Statins

14 The Northern Echo TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017 OPINION northernecho.co.uk/comment The Northern Echo The North’s campaigning newspaper Founded 1870 Issue No 45,601 COMMENT The benefits of Sun cold on MacKenzie taking statins THE Echo would normally show solidarity with a fellow newspaper worker who has lost their job but in the case of Kelvin MacKenzie With fresh we are prepared to make an exception. The columnist’s contract with the Sun has research been “terminated by mutual consent”, the pa- adding a further per’s publisher said yesterday. About time too. It follows criticism over a cretinous opinion dimension to piece penned by MacKenzie in which he com- pared Everton footballer Ross Barkley, whose the debate on grandfather is Nigerian, to a gorilla. Some columnists are paid to stir up contro- statins, North- versy in a bid to fill their paper’s letters page with torrents of raging debate, but MacKen- East GP Dr zie’s bitter, backward-looking, bigotry should have no place at a modern media company. Zak Uddin looks at a The former Sun editor said there were “plen- medication that seems to ty of opportunities out there”. Let’s hope that does not mean another paper will give Mac- always spark controversy Kenzie a platform to spout his hateful claptrap. He was editor of the Sun when it wrongly claimed that Liverpool fans were to blame for EW research suggests that the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. In 2016, Mac- thousands of people could be Kenzie used his column to criticise Channel 4 unnecessarily placing them- News presenter Fatima Manji for wearing a selves at an increased risk hijab while reporting the Nice terror attacks. of heart attack or stroke, due Last month, he told The New York Times his Nto exaggerated concern over side effects ultimate fantasy headline would be: “Jeremy attributed to the cholesterol lowering Corbyn Knifed By Asylum Seeker”. drugs known as statins. Like so many scoundrels MacKenzie used a The study, led by Professor Peter Sever, quote from Churchill to try and make his lat- from the National Heart and Lung institute est bungle appear as if it was part of some col- at Imperial College London, observed al- ourful, buccaneering crusade, saying: “I agree most 10,000 patients. In the first part of the with Winston Churchill who said: ‘Success trial, half of the patients were prescribed a consists of going from failure to failure with- low dose statin, and the other half a placebo. out loss of enthusiasm’.” Both doctors and patients were unaware of The veteran provocateur might heed another which patients were assigned to the statin Churchill aphorism: “Courage is what it takes or placebo group. to stand up and speak; courage is also what it For the second phase of research, those takes to sit down and listen.” patients taking statins were made aware of this fact. It was demonstrated that reported What do you think? side effects rose massively once patients be- came aware that they were taking a statin, [email protected] the so-called “nocebo effect”. TESTS: GPs consider a range of factors before prescribing a statin The authors suggest therefore that re- Write to: The Editor, Hear All Sides, ported side effects, including muscle ache, cle ache, the main reason cited for discon- been proven to promote the formation of The Northern Echo, PO Box 14, Priestgate, insomnia and erectile dysfunction, are not tinuing the statins. The one life-threatening plaques as well as their chance of rupture, Darlington, DL1 1NF. actually due to the medication itself, and complication associated with statins is so any attempts at smoking cessation will Fax: 01325-360754 are calling on the Medicines and Healthcare rhabdomyolysis, where muscle tissue is bro- undoubtedly help. Regulatory Authority (MHRA), to remove ken down by the drug. This leads to excess Despite their best efforts, there will still be [email protected] email: these side effects from the product litera- muscle protein in the circulation, which can a group of people whose cardiovascular risk The Northern Echo is published by Newsquest ture. block the kidneys this preventing them from remains above ten per cent and in these in- Yorkshire & North-East, a division of Newsquest Media Cardiovascular death, including heart removing waste products, resulting in life- dividuals, statins may be appropriate. Group Limited, with trading address at Priestgate, attacks and strokes, is the cause of over a threatening renal failure. The current belief, which I wholeheart- Darlington, DL1 1NF. Newsquest Media Group Ltd is quarter of all mortalities in the UK, with The decision for a person to commence a edly ascribe to, is that statins do more good registered in England and Wales at Loudwater Mill, statin is not based entirely on the level of than harm, and that the benefits outweigh Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP10 160,000 deaths a year, or one every three 9TY, co number: 01676637. Registered at the Post minutes. It is estimated that statins prevent cholesterol in the blood stream. Using an al- the risks. Even if you are on a statin, it re- Office as a newspaper. Price 80p Mon-Fri, £1.10 Sat around 80,000 deaths per year, yet despite gorithm which takes into account sex, age, mains important to address lifestyle issues, this tens if not hundreds of thousands of blood pressure, smoking status and family as this will still help to lower your risk of a patients have discontinued these medica- history, the risk of heart attack or stroke in heart attack or stroke. I do not believe that tions, often without consulting a medical the next ten years is calculated. If the risk the side effects of statins are entirely due to professional beforehand. is greater than ten per cent, current advice the nocebo effect. One of the limitations of When levels of circulating cholesterol are is that the clinician considers commencing the study is that the dose of statin used was high, some of this is deposited in the walls a statin, after an informed discussion with lower than that traditionally prescribed, of arteries. These deposits, or plaques, the patient. and side effects can be dose related. hinder smooth blood flow. If the plaques As suggested above, reducing your cardio- If you are struggling with symptoms you rupture, this can lead to immediate and vascular risk relies on addressing multiple feel may be down to your statin, it is worth complete blockage of the vessel. When this lifestyle aspects. Regular mild to moderate discussing these with your GP. Much can be happens in the arteries supplying the heart, exercise and a healthy diet low in saturated done including lowering the dose, changing a heart attack may ensue, or if in the brain, fats, as well as a reduction in alcohol con- to an alternate preparation, or even having a stroke. Permanent disability and even sumption to sensible levels has long been a temporary statin holiday, providing you death may be immediate. Statins work by recognised as a starting point. Smoking has are followed up in a timely manner. reducing the total amount of cholesterol manufactured in the liver. As a result, the liver takes up more cholesterol from the cir- It is estimated that statins prevent around QUALITY culation. A secondary benefit is that statins If you have any comments or stabilise plaques, reducing their chance of 80,000 deaths per year, yet despite this tens suggestions about the print quality of rupture. today’s copy of The Northern Echo, Despite their obvious benefits, statins if not hundreds of thousands of patients please contact our customer care are not completely risk free. The list of po- department on 01325-505151. tential side effects encompasses the entire have discontinued these medications body and ranges from general unwell and stomach upset through to intolerable mus- Dr Zak Uddin.

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