I was listening to the radio the other morning and came across a programme called “Inside Health” that caught my interest and sparked my frustration.

Inside Health was talking about statins. I was hoping to hear more detail on the controversies on statins, and fair enough, a few tiny snippets hinted at these. However, they were touched on so briefly, that they were easy to miss.

• Statins cannot replace healthier eating choices and exercise to reduce cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease risk
• The number of people needed to treat with statins is around 200 to prevent even one cardiovascular event (angina, heart attack, stroke), with no definition of severity of the event
• Statins increase the risk of diabetes by around 30% – so an increased risk in nearly 1 in 3 of people taking them, but no mention of the 200-400% increased risk of cardiovascular events associated with diabetes[i], so nearly everyone with diabetes is offered a statin.
• Statins might cause “muscle aches” but no acknowledgement that this is NOT the usual muscle aches after exercise where you are gaining strength and improving circulation – no, this is your muscle cells breaking down, dying and your muscles shrinking and weakening – rhabdomyolysis[ii]
• A mention that heart failure is on the rise these days[iii] – and of course, the heart is a muscle. The programme didn’t join the dots there
• A mention of increased rates of dementia and memory problems – not surprising when the brain and nerve insulation is made of cholesterol. Less cholesterol means less available for maintaining the brain, and dementia was the leading cause of death in England and Wales in 2019 [iv]. Diabetes, exacerbated by statins, is also associated with almost double the risk of developing dementia.[v]

• When about a third of the UK over 75 population is taking a statin, it’s hard to avoid the correlations, and the probable causative actions of statins on the underlying biochemistry of heart failure, diabetes and dementia.  Nevertheless, The American Diabetes Association still recommends that all patients with diabetes aged 40-75 should be taking statin therapy of at least a “moderate-intensity.”[vi]

I felt so frustrated that I’m offering a programme called “3 Months to a Healthier Heart”  so that you can be confident that you can kick heart disease into the long grass, for life.

You can transform your heart and health in three months, and it’s easier than you think.

 the way, you can let go of some spare weight, think clearer, lower your risk of diabetes and dementia, get your energy back and stop your family worrying about you so much.

Yes, you can eat butter and eggs. No, you don’t have to count calories. No, you don’t have to do hours of cardio (unless you already enjoy it).

How does that sound, in three months flat?  Good?  It’s easier than you think, when you know how.

If you are on medications, we can discus how you can reduce the need for them and work with your doctor to reduce or stop them as your health improves.

There’s the group side of it too.  It’s good to be with folk who understand your nagging concern about what heart disease might mean for you and your family. You can support each other and cheer each other on as you succeed.

You will have an initial health review with a plan, tailored to your unique circumstances, then join the easy-to-digest, fortnightly group sessions, to discover how to tackle the underlying causes of heart and blood vessel disease and prevent them coming back. It’s easier than you think.

There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions, share stories and keep on track with the small shifts that will lead to great results for you.

You will discover what delicious foods you can eat (yes, to butter, eggs and chocolate) short exercises that get fast results (no, to long cardio sessions unless you already enjoy them) while opening your eyes to what nobody told you has been increasing your heart disease risk.

We’ll have another individualised review at the end of three months. By then, not just your heart, but every system in your body, including your brain – will be functioning clearer, better and safer.

If you are already on medication, you may well have been able to reduce it or leave it behind completely, working with your prescriber.

There’s an evening and a lunchtime option, starting on Monday 9th September at 7-8pm, or Tuesday 10th September, starting at 12:30-1:30pm, and the whole investment, for an hour once a fortnight, between now and Christmas, is less than for a set of tyres.

You can use natural methods to get a healthier heart, before Christmas, for life.

If that sounds good to you, please click the link below for more details and a complementary 20 minute chat, and find out how you can transform your health.

References:

[i] Dal Canto E, Ceriello A, Rydén L, Ferrini M, Hansen TB, Schnell O, Standl E, Beulens JW. Diabetes as a cardiovascular risk factor: An overview of global trends of macro and micro vascular complications. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2019 Dec;26(2_suppl):25-32. doi: 10.1177/2047487319878371. Epub 2019 Nov 13. PMID: 31722562.

[ii] Tournadre A. Statins, myalgia, and rhabdomyolysis. Joint Bone Spine. 2020 Jan;87(1):37-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2019.01.018. Epub 2019 Feb 6. PMID: 30735805.

[iii] Sayed A, Abramov D, Fonarow GC, Mamas MA, Kobo O, Butler J, Fudim M. Reversals in the Decline of Heart Failure Mortality in the US, 1999 to 2021. JAMA Cardiol. 2024 Jun 1;9(6):585-589. doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2024.0615. PMID: 38656398; PMCID: PMC11044007.

[iv] https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/Care-and-cure-magazine/spring-17/statistics-dementia-leading-cause-death

[v] Cao F, Yang F, Li J, Guo W, Zhang C, Gao F, Sun X, Zhou Y, Zhang W. The relationship between diabetes and the dementia risk: a meta-analysis. Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2024 May 14;16(1):101. doi: 10.1186/s13098-024-01346-4. PMID: 38745237; PMCID: PMC11092065.

[vi] https://www.diabetesdaily.com/learn-about-diabetes/treatment/other-drugs/diabetes-and-statins/