Re: Ask for evidence

[Guest guest]

>

> I recently talked my 67 year-old brother into stop taking Lipitor --

> but now he is wavering.

>

> He saw a GP the other day and she told him that stopping statins was

> unwise.

>

> My brother replied that nobody ever checked him for fatty build-up

in

> his arteries and it did not make sense to take medicine for a

> condition he might not have.

>

> The GP replied that Lipitor was preventative and if he had a fatty

> build-up, the damage would already be done and hard to reverse.

>

> I told him that argument was essentially fallacious because there

has

> never been a reliable test that showed (1) cholesterol caused fatty

> arterial build-up and (2) reducing cholesterol will significantly

> reduce your chance of heart attacks or strokes, without (3)

> significantly adding to your risk of death from other causes.

>

> I suggested he ask his GP and cardiologist the following questions.

>

> What EVIDENCE do you have that:

> (1) Cholesterol causes fatty arterial build-up?

> (2) Reducing cholesterol reduces the chance of getting fatty build-

up?

> (3) Reducing cholesterol will reduce the chances of getting a heart

> attack or stroke?

> (4) Taking statins will not increase the chances of death from other

> causes?

> (5) I will not get the same protection from exercise and/or diet.

>

> In my opinion, unless you get satisfactory answers to those

questions,

> it does not make sense to take statins. Do not accept general

> statements as evidence.

>

Hi ,

Three years ago I started taking Zocor and within six weeks time

I had developed Periperhal Neuropathy of which there is no cure, just

the 24 hour pain of burning of the feet and legs, not to mention the

limited ability to walk around. Statins don't affect every body, but

if it does your screwed for a life time