GP Wants to Put Me on Statins
Discussion
Long time gout sufferer. Recently I've been getting weird aches and pains in my wrist, shoulder and knee. Spoke to GP and it was recommended that once the pain subsided, wait a period of time and then go for a blood test.
It took some time before I felt clear of pain. My results came through a day later (impressed) and I was given quite a clean bill of health; good cholesterol was good; bad cholesterol was within tolerance; kidney and liver function appeared normal and the only area of slight concern was that I was borderline pre-diabetic (I'm putting that down to too much brandy the weekend before).
A week later I went in to see the practice nurse for a general health check and aside from being on the heavy side, it was noted that my blood pressure was high. The first reading was 186. She took it again and it was 184. A third test read 191. My anxiety was increased when she suggested that I keep my phone in my hand and dial 999 if I felt dizzy or experienced blurred vision.
An hour later, a GP checked again and the reading was slightly lower at 171. He immediately recommended that I start taking statins without any delay. I want to give myself a few days and monitor my BP to see if it comes down. I bought myself a machine and after checking yesterday the reading was 154.
I really don't like the idea of jumping straight into a daily tablet, not without checking for a few more days. My thinking is, and for example, I have pain and discomfort in my shoulder, perhaps this will affect my BP?
Cautious GP or a bit overzealous?
It took some time before I felt clear of pain. My results came through a day later (impressed) and I was given quite a clean bill of health; good cholesterol was good; bad cholesterol was within tolerance; kidney and liver function appeared normal and the only area of slight concern was that I was borderline pre-diabetic (I'm putting that down to too much brandy the weekend before).
A week later I went in to see the practice nurse for a general health check and aside from being on the heavy side, it was noted that my blood pressure was high. The first reading was 186. She took it again and it was 184. A third test read 191. My anxiety was increased when she suggested that I keep my phone in my hand and dial 999 if I felt dizzy or experienced blurred vision.
An hour later, a GP checked again and the reading was slightly lower at 171. He immediately recommended that I start taking statins without any delay. I want to give myself a few days and monitor my BP to see if it comes down. I bought myself a machine and after checking yesterday the reading was 154.
I really don't like the idea of jumping straight into a daily tablet, not without checking for a few more days. My thinking is, and for example, I have pain and discomfort in my shoulder, perhaps this will affect my BP?
Cautious GP or a bit overzealous?
Buy your own BP device and check at home. White coat hypertension is a real thing and so is home test anxiety until you become familiar with the vagaries of the test. Failing all that ask for a 24h BP monitor loan. I was continually being nagged by my GP to address my borderline mild hypertension which I knew was illusory as it was absent in the home environment, and had been extant for decades. The 24h monitor result had the practice nurse sending me home with a dismissive wave and a "figures are fine" comment.
Admittedly my numbers were better than yours but why medicate a symptom that could be a fleeting phenomenon. I am not a doctor but this is my personal experience.
Apart from which I was led to believe that statins were used to treat high cholesterol and beta blockers for BP.
Admittedly my numbers were better than yours but why medicate a symptom that could be a fleeting phenomenon. I am not a doctor but this is my personal experience.
Apart from which I was led to believe that statins were used to treat high cholesterol and beta blockers for BP.
Statins are not blood pressure meds.
They also have a rather poor risk:benefit ratio. They seemingly only benefit men who have had a heat attack, hundreds of people need to take them daily to prevent one heart attack, and the lifespan gains after years of taking them are measured in days.
I would not ignore the blood pressure, those readings are high, but I would get a second opinion on the treatment.
They also have a rather poor risk:benefit ratio. They seemingly only benefit men who have had a heat attack, hundreds of people need to take them daily to prevent one heart attack, and the lifespan gains after years of taking them are measured in days.
I would not ignore the blood pressure, those readings are high, but I would get a second opinion on the treatment.
grumbledoak said:
I would not ignore the blood pressure, those readings are high, but I would get a second opinion on the treatment.
Yes - mine was lower than OPs readings, only discovered when I went for a prostate biopsy and they wouldn’t do it. Checking at home I was still getting the same readings. Quack put me on one tablet that made little difference, then added another and together they brought it down.I also take statins - it seemed like it was more routine than anything else.
grumbledoak said:
They also have a rather poor risk: benefit ratio. They seemingly only benefit men who have had a heart attack; hundreds of people need to take them daily to prevent one heart attack and the lifespan gains after years of taking them are measured in days.
But it's not just about mortality. What about the increased quality of life given patients didn't have a heart attack or a stroke?Every doctor I've seen (up to & including cardiac consultant level) said they were a good thing: can you point to research that says they are a bad thing to take - ie the damage they do outweighs the benefit?
Are you doing 2-3 hours of moderate cardio a week? That's the first step to most of this stuff, especially if you don't fancy jumping into meds.
If the numbers don't improve, I'd be personally pushing to see a cardiologist, if you have funds, I think it costs something like 150 quid for a session. Worth it imo.
GPs IME are on rails on the headline guidance on the numbners, and don't spend enough time on the context. Also the guidlines are quite slow to update. Most countries say 120 is the blood pressure to aim for. I think UK is still stuck on 135
Seeing a specialist for preventative guideane is the cheap bit. It's the treatmetn down the line that is costly in every sense
If the numbers don't improve, I'd be personally pushing to see a cardiologist, if you have funds, I think it costs something like 150 quid for a session. Worth it imo.
GPs IME are on rails on the headline guidance on the numbners, and don't spend enough time on the context. Also the guidlines are quite slow to update. Most countries say 120 is the blood pressure to aim for. I think UK is still stuck on 135
Seeing a specialist for preventative guideane is the cheap bit. It's the treatmetn down the line that is costly in every sense
Edited by lizardbrain on Monday 15th July 10:09
Glassman said:
A week later I went in to see the practice nurse for a general health check and aside from being on the heavy side, it was noted that my blood pressure was high.
Forgive me, but - thats not an 'aside', or something to ignore. Consider that the two are more than likely linked. As a nation, and particularly as blokes of a certain age, we are terrible for jumping to 'forget the fact I'm overweight,t what about all the other issues...'craig1912 said:
Whilst statins can help lower blood pressure, that’s not their primary use.
I’d be asking the GP why he isn’t prescribing blood pressure medication like Amlodopine.
This would be my advise having just been through what you're going through. Also ask about Allopurinol for the goat, I've been on this for three years and not suffered a single attack.I’d be asking the GP why he isn’t prescribing blood pressure medication like Amlodopine.
I have a friend (60) who purposely went on statins without specific direction from his GP. His thoughts they’re there to reduce the risk of serious life changing events such as heart attack or stroke and if they reduce that risk then that’s a better option irrespective of the side effects some of them can produce.
He’s not overweight, in good shape and doesn’t have any cholesterol or BP issues outside of normal parameters.
He’s not overweight, in good shape and doesn’t have any cholesterol or BP issues outside of normal parameters.
Statins are nothing to do with blood pressure but the systems are all linked.
The combo of obesity, high blood pressure and raised cholesterol is a time bomb for cardiovascular disease however.
Without knowing your results, if your GP has recommended a statin, then its a safe bet you need one. I'd recommend starting it. Work on your weight and your BP might come down, but record your home readings twice a day for a week and drop them into your surgery and they'll tell you if you also need blood pressure control.
The combo of obesity, high blood pressure and raised cholesterol is a time bomb for cardiovascular disease however.
Without knowing your results, if your GP has recommended a statin, then its a safe bet you need one. I'd recommend starting it. Work on your weight and your BP might come down, but record your home readings twice a day for a week and drop them into your surgery and they'll tell you if you also need blood pressure control.
I’ve been on them (aspirin and ramipril too) for 3 years or so after discovering I have mild atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries/plaque)
Zero side effects and after the initial fright with lots of anxiety while waiting for tests everything is fine now.
Take your Drs advice and as above movement and diet are so important, we all know it deep down. I’ve lost 3 stone after my scare, I’d rather live than eat junk!
Zero side effects and after the initial fright with lots of anxiety while waiting for tests everything is fine now.
Take your Drs advice and as above movement and diet are so important, we all know it deep down. I’ve lost 3 stone after my scare, I’d rather live than eat junk!
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff