Statins Reduce Exercise
Researchers discovered that men who began to take statins also experienced a major drop in physical activity. The study participants wore accelerometers for a week during the study in order to help the researchers track their level of activity per minute.
This could decrease the benefit of the medication. If someone is already weak, frail, or sedentary, they may want to consider this issue, and consult with their doctor to determine if statin use is still appropriate.
Exercise has the greatest effect on lowering triglycerides and raising HDL, the "good” cholesterol. Exercise does not have much impact on LDL, the "bad” cholesterol unless combined with dietary changes and weight loss.
Statins are prescription drugs used to lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and raise HDL cholesterol in the blood. Men who take statins to lower their cholesterol have been shown to exercise less, according to Oregon State University.
Approximately 35% of the United States population takes statins to lower cholesterol levels.
As many as 75% of patients who take statins to treat high cholesterol levels may suffer from muscle pain. Many patients quit the drugs after experiencing debilitating muscle pain and cramps, which in some cases left them unable to carry out everyday tasks or even rendered bed-ridden.
In the studies, men who took statins experienced an average of 40 minutes reduced moderate physical activity over a week compared to those who never consumed statins drugs.
"For an older population that's already pretty sedentary, that's a significant amount less exercise. Even moderate amounts of exercise can make a big difference," said one of the lead researchers.
Side effects of statins may also include muscle aches, diarrhea, and constipation. They have also been linked to more serious side effects, like liver damage, increased blood sugar and Type 2 diabetes risk, and neurological side effects like memory loss. Sexual dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling in the hands and feet), depression, irritability, headache, and sleep problems have all been reported by many people while taking statins.
There’s no argument that patients who have already had a heart attack or heart disease can lower their risk of further heart problems by taking a statin. What’s less clear is whether people who are otherwise healthy could lower their risk enough to justify their exposure to the side effects of the medications.
Make exercise a regular part of your healthy lifestyle, and try to exercise at the same time of day so it becomes a habit.
Use caution when exercising right after meals, when it is very hot or humid, or if you do not feel up to exercising. Use a variety of exercise to keep up your interest. Try things such as yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, or kickboxing. Join an exercise group, health club or the YMCA. Many churches and senior centers also offer exercise programs.
Look for chances to be more active during the day. Some examples would be walking the mall before shopping, parking your car farther away from your destination than necessary, choosing a flight of stairs over an escalator, or taking 10 to15 minute walking breaks while watching TV or sitting for some other activity.
The body makes the cholesterol it requires. In addition, cholesterol is obtained from food. Dietary cholesterol comes from animal sources such as egg yolks, meat (especially organ meats such as liver), poultry, fish, and higher fat milk products. You can keep your cholesterol intake at this level or lower by eating more grain products, vegetables and fruits, and by limiting intake of high cholesterol foods. Researchers emphasize the importance of maintaining a heart-healthy diet that's low in red meat and high in fish and other foods that lower bad cholesterol, such as olive oil, whole grains and nuts.
There are many options for helping lower your cholesterol. Changing from an unhealthy diet to a healthy diet can reduce a cholesterol level. However, dietary changes alone rarely lower a cholesterol level enough to change a person's risk of cardiovascular disease from a high-risk category to a lower-risk category. However, any extra reduction in cholesterol due to diet will help.
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