Statin Stats
You want statins with that?
The above numbers give me grief for a few reasons. First, people who are on statins commonly get side effects such as loss of libido, muscle pain, drug-induced nutrient depletion and weakness; they may come to the chiropractor for relief and find none. But more than that, the statin problem illustrates the great divide we Americans face when we must decide between health care and a healthier lifestyle. To me, the question isn’t “should I or should I not take this prescription my doctor ordered?” The question is, “what healthier lifestyle choices can I make to protect my health?”
Recently I had a patient who decided to seek some answers for himself. He knew his cholesterol was high, but what he really needed to know was whether he was at risk of having a cardiovascular event. Besides the lipid panel, there are laboratory tests available that do a better job of telling us whether we are at risk. For about $100.00, we tested for fibrinogen, cardiac C-reactive protein, and homocysteine levels. These three tests together gave us a good picture of the level of inflammation inside our patient’s body. The results showed that he had an average risk of a near-future cardiac event. We decided that he would follow a plant-based diet, supplement with some anti-inflammatory herbs, and re-test six months from now. We’ll be able to see if these changes help him move from average to low risk of a future cardiovascular event.
It’s easy to imagine that, ten years from now, the guy behind the counter at McDonald’s could be asking, “would you like statins with that?” If you’d rather not be part of these burger and statin stats, let’s talk.
