We talked about statins a few years ago, however, there is new evidence that suggests the use of statins might not be the best treatment for everyone with elevated cholesterol levels. It goes without saying that anyone with a history of cardiovascular disease and elevated LDL levels would likely benefit from statins, however, a recent study looked at whether patients …
For those of you who know me, I have been a longstanding proponent of fewer medications in our senior population, however, polypharmacy continues to plague our centers and seniors living in the community. Sure, there are medications that MUST be continued, such as insulin, cardiac medications, etc. however, I remember working the floor in a center (yes, years ago) and …
If you have ever had to use a statin medication for cholesterol control, you may have experienced muscle pain and overall weakness. These are a few of the side effects some people experience when taking statins and I have family members who have just these symptoms! So, when I read that a study was conducted to determine if there was …
One of the most recent articles published on the treatment of COVID-19 discusses the use of statins. Statins are usually prescribed to lower cholesterol levels in the blood however they also have anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic properties, which could make them appropriate for treating COVID-19. Given a lack of randomized clinical trial data to support the use of statins for the …
I remember when I was a child, my uncle who was insulin-dependent made a habit of eating whatever he wanted and adjusting his insulin on his own. He said it didn’t matter what he ate that the insulin would cover him. That obviously wasn’t the right thing to do, however, it appears that times haven’t changed much as a recent …
A study funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) will help determine if statin use can prevent dementia and disability in those patients 75 years or older. It has long been said that the side effects of statins often outweigh the benefits (muscle pain, weakness, etc.). Maybe now we can contribute something positive to this important medication and weigh …
