As a result, not only is the theory about low cholesterol increasing the risk of heart disease in doubt, but so too are the efficacy of statins.
Statins are recommended by the NHS as “a group of medicines that can help lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood”.
A review of scientific studies into the effectiveness of statins found around one in every 50 people who take the medicine for five years will avoid a serious event, such as a heart attack or stroke, as a result.
Just like other forms of medicine, statins can come with side effects.
Common side effects include headaches, dizziness, feeling sick, feeling unusually tired or physically weak, constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion, farting, muscle pain, sleep problems, and low platelet count.
