A Longer Life on Statins? 

A Longer Life on Statins? 

What are the pros and cons of relative risk, absolute risk, number needed to treat, and average postponement of death when taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs? In response to the charge that describing the benefits of statin drugs only in terms of relative risk...
The Real Benefits of Statins and Their Side Effects 

The Real Benefits of Statins and Their Side Effects 

A Mayo Clinic visualization tool can help you decide if cholesterol-lowering statin drugs are right for you. “Physicians have a duty to inform their patients about the risks and benefits of the interventions available to them. However, physicians rarely communicate...
Are We Being Misled About the Benefits and Risks of Statins? 

Are We Being Misled About the Benefits and Risks of Statins? 

What is the dirty little secret of drugs for lifestyle diseases? Drug companies go out of their way—in direct-to-consumer ads, for example—to “present pharmaceutical drugs as a preferred solution to cholesterol management while downplaying lifestyle change.” You see...
Should You Take Statins? 

Should You Take Statins? 

How can you calculate your own personal heart disease risk to help you determine if you should start on a cholesterol-lowering statin drug? The muscle-related side effects from cholesterol-lowering statins “are often severe enough for patients to stop taking the drug....