Many of my patients have been on statins for long periods of time. Having been educated that cholesterol is bad, they are very proud if their numbers are on the low side with the help of this medication. But this may be misguided. While some people - especially those that recently had a heart attack - can benefit from a statin as a cardio-protective agent, many people may not need to take it at all. In fact, statins have not really shown to extend lifespan or decrease mobility and mortality in general. This of course is not medical advice, please always discuss with your primary care doctor or your cardiologist before you make any changes.
But if you have been on a statin for a long time, have a discussion with your primary care doctor or cardiologist and see what your current numbers are. Do not only look at total cholesterol or just your LDL cholesterol. Your HDL and triglycerides are very important to make this decision. Also, the LDL can be further broken down according to density and give a better idea of how much of the LDL could be problematic.
One of the best ways to improve your cholesterol numbers is to decrease your intake of carbohydrates, eat healthy fats (that also includes some saturated fats), and focus on losing body fat.
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