Feeling Tired, Weak, and in Pain? Losing Your Memory? It May Be Your Cholesterol Lowering Medication

A common presentation I see in my office are patients that have lost their strength, energy and they are in lots of pain, specifically in their muscles and joints. Along with that, their memory and focus are also impaired. When this occurs, I always check to see if they are on any cholesterol lowering medications such as; Lipitor, Crestor, Zocar or any other statin medication.

Statins are used to block the production of cholesterol by the body. However, statins drugs are abundant with severe, life threatening side effects. Most commonly, severe muscle cell damage, kidney failure, permanent and debilitating muscle pain and weakness, congestive heart failure, liver damage, memory loss and confusion. What most patients fail to recognize is, is that 75 percent of all heart attack patients have normal cholesterol levels(Fanarow, Geffen). Cholesterol is an outdated indicator for heart disease.

Another thing that your primary care physician and/or cardiologist will fail to mention is that, it is not if, it is when, you will go into heart failure. It is basic biochemistry. Statins block the production of Co-enzyme Q10. CoQ10 is critical for the function and health of the cellular mitochondria. As a result, skeletal and cardiac muscle begins to break down causing pain, loss of strength and energy and eventually leads to heart failure and permanent skeletal muscle damage and breakdown.

The whole idea that cholesterol is responsible for heart disease is based on a hypothesis in the 50's by Ancel Keyes that was never properly tested to begin with. Cholesterol is the smoking gun. Inflammation is the real culprit in heart disease. Inflammation brought on by too many carbohydrates in the diet as well as free radical damage leading to oxidative stress and damage to the inner lining of our arteries. Cholesterol is there to patch up the damage caused by inflammation and oxidative stress. Cholesterol is there to patch up the damage.

There are better, natural, safer ways to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress to our arteries. Omega 3 fatty acids, primarily EPA and DHA works best. Therapeutic doses are in the range of 2500 to 3000 milligrams a day. Also, supplementing with magnesium, b6, folic acid and b12, L-carnitine and L-arginine do wonders in keeping our arteries clean.

Getting back to statins, the best thing to do is find a good, open minded physician to get you off of statins all together. From there, supplementing with 200 to 300 milligrams a day of CoQ10 and 5000 milligrams of L Arginine along with upping your omega 3 fatty acids will bring back one's strength, energy, focus, memory and reduce and/or eliminate pain all together.

The current scientific studies that are not tainted by the pharmaceutical industries are showing that increased carbohydrates in the diet are the real culprit for heart disease, and the best indicators for predicting heart disease are C-Reactive Protein, homocysteine(markers for inflammation) and elevated triglycerides. Changing one's diet to a reduced carbohydrate diet and taking the supplements above will do wonders for the health of our hearts.

The information in this article is for informational and educational purposes only, not intended to examine, treat, diagnose or cure. Please seek out a qualified, competent medical provider before engaging in any traditional or non traditional endeavor.