Holistic wellness interventions, including chiropractic adjustments and care, may be a better alternative to heart disease medications. Read on to find out why.
Heart Disease and Statin Studies
Statin drugs are the best-selling prescription drug class in the United States. Lipitor is the best-selling prescription drug in the world. Greater than 20% of the U.S. population between 40 and 75 take statins. What does research say? Read on.
In a Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles study of 6673 participants without known history of heart disease, 2413 of the volunteers were put on statins. Another 4260 volunteers received a placebo.
Statin users had more arterial calcified plaques obstructing their arteries at the end of the study than non-users. Because no participants had a history of heart disease initially it appeared that statins caused the calcification that is related to heart disease.
Another study, published in the journal Atherosclerosis, found that statins increase arterial plaques. Plaques limit blood flow. Less blood flow can equal more heart attacks and strokes.
A study published in Diabetes Care, found that frequent statin use speeds the progression of coronary artery disease.
Systematic reviews of the literature reveal dozens of high quality studies show that statin side effects include neuropathy, sexual dysfunction, high blood sugar, liver damage, high blood sugar, and muscle pain. Additionally, cognitive impairment such as dementia, memory loss, depression, anxiety and irritability is associated with statin use. More research indicates that almost half of all women taking statins develop diabetes. Diabetes is another significant risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease.
These studies show, just as the holistic community has said for decades, statin drugs do not appear to protect against heart disease. They may cause or worsen heart disease.
Holistic Chiropractic Alternatives
The truth is that heart disease is a suicide by lifestyle disease. It has little or nothing to do with the amount of cholesterol in your blood. The major heart disease factors are stress and diet that cause inflammation.
The good news is that the holistic wellness world has answers for those who are concerned about heart disease. Supplements, lifestyle advice and chiropractic adjustments are shown to be quite effective at protecting us from all of the suicide by lifestyle diseases. The objective of chiropractic care and adjustments is to stimulate the nervous system to function at it’s highest level possible. The better your nervous system functions, the healthier you become.
Please, let me know if you are interested in pursuing holistic options for any of your wellness concerns. But, never stop taking a prescribed medication without talking to your doctor first.
Pat Dougherty, D.C.
Chiropractic Lifecenter, Inc.
509 327 4373; www.spokane-chiropractic.com
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