The Use of Statin Drugs May Have Value for Everyone

This isn’t hair-related, but it is quite interesting and may have applicability to many of you. After you review it, you might want to talk with your doctor about this subject.

Abstract from the study:

The use of statins is widespread and many patients presenting for surgery are regularly taking them. There is evidence that statins have beneficial effects beyond those of lipid lowering, including reducing the perioperative risk of cardiac complications and sepsis. This review addresses the cellular mechanisms by which statins may produce these effects. Statins appear to have actions on vascular nitric oxide through the balance of inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthase. The clinical evidence for these benefits is also briefly reviewed with the objective of clarifying the current status of statin use in the perioperative period. There is reasonably strong evidence that patients already taking statins should continue on them perioperatively. However, the evidence for the prophylactic use of statins perioperatively is weak and lacks prospective controlled studies.

Read the full text — Statins for All: The New Premed?

For years, I have been taking statins even with a normal cholesterol level. Many people who die of heart disease have normal cholesterol. Today’s regular Western diet may not be good for your health and as my father died from heart disease, the genes are there in my family line. Unfortunately, sudden death is often the first sign of heart disease (in 70% of those who have a heart attack). Although this article points to the risks associated with anesthetic risks and ways of mitigating them, my feeling is that there is a great value to taking a statin drugs routinely.