Statin scam exposed: Cholesterol drugs cause rapid aging, brain damage and diabetes
Monday, September 28, 2015 by: Jennifer Lea Reynolds
(NaturalNews) Statins, the widely prescribed class of drugs
said to lower "bad" cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart problems, has
recently come under fire after a study revealed that they destroy human health
more than they work to improve it.
Sadly, many people take statin drugs, which are commonly known by brand names
including Lipitor, Crestor and Zocor. Prescription drug spending in the U.S.
shot up to about $374 billion in 2014, representing the highest level of
spending since 2001. Statins undoubtedly made up a significant portion of this
spending, and now consumers who take such drugs have much more to worry about
than the dent it's making in their wallets.
The study, which was published in the American Journal of Physiology,
states that statins' "...impact on other biologic properties of stem cells
provides a novel explanation for their adverse clinical effects." Specifically,
the study states that such adverse effects include advancing the "process of
aging" and also notes that "...long-term use of statins has been associated with
adverse effects including myopathy, neurological side effects and an increased
risk of diabetes." Myopathy refers to skeletal muscle weakness.
Statins make cells unable to repair properly, create nerve problems and destroy memory
Experts involved in the study suggest that the health
problems associated with statins have likely been downplayed through the years.
In reality, those taking such cholesterol-lowering drugs have been experiencing
cataracts, fatigue, liver problems, muscle pain and memory loss. Simply put, the
drugs have been found to tamper with cells in such a way that their primary
purpose of reproducing and helping the body repair is thwarted. With that comes
the onset of terrible health issues or the worsening of existing ones.
Professor Reza Izadpanah, a stem cell biologist and lead author of the published
study, says, "Our study shows statins may speed up the ageing process. People
who use statins as a preventative medicine for [health] should think again as
our research shows they may have general unwanted effects on the body which
could include muscle pain, nerve problems and joint problems."
Despite health problems linked to statin drugs, FDA says people shouldn't be scared of them
While the FDA notes on its web site that "Cognitive
(brain-related) impairment, such as memory loss, forgetfulness and confusion,
has been reported by some statin users" and that "People being treated with
statins may have an increased risk of raised blood sugar levels and the
development of Type 2 diabetes," they also maintain its safety and
effectiveness. The site directs people's attention to the advice of Amy G. Egan,
M.D., M.P.H., who is the deputy director for safety in the FDA's Division of
Metabolism and Endocrinology Products (DMEP). She says, "This new information
should not scare people off statins. Their benefit is indisputable, but they
need to be taken with care and knowledge of their side effects."
Indisputable? Especially after this latest study, we beg to differ. What's
beneficial about accelerated aging, cells that don't properly function, muscle
weakness and memory loss?
The need to continually assess prescription drugs and older studies that tout their benefits
This finding demonstrates the importance of revisiting the
so-called benefits of prescription drugs, something that hopefully continues so
consumers can be fully informed and kept in the best health possible.
A similar eye-opening study involving the adolescent antidepressant Paxil
recently made headlines when a reanalysis of an original study exposed errors
and incomplete information. In reality, the drug was found not to be safe and
effective for its intended demographic after all, a finding that Brian Nosek, a
professor of psychology at the University of Virginia, says "signals that the
community is waking up, checking its work and doing what science is supposed to
do — self-correct."
Sources for this article include:
Express.co.uk
Blogs.WSJ.com
AJPCell.physiology.org[PDF]
FDA.gov
NYTimes.com
Learn more:
http://www.naturalnews.com/051636_statins_drug_scam_premature_aging.html#ixzz3pEJVBHWe