Discover statins and diabetes

The discovery of statin as a cholesterol-lowering wonder drug may not suit older women, as results of a recent study seems to suggest. Researchers based at the University of Massachusetts Medical School conducting a study on postmenopausal women found they had high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Canada pharmacies paid close attention to the reasons being attributed for statins not to be prescribed for older women.

Statins have benefited most people by lowering cholesterol levels. In other words, statins are recommended for people having total cholesterol level exceeding 240 mg/dL or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) of 130 mg/dL or higher. Several other medical conditions such as family history of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle, old age, lifestyle habits like smoking, diabetes, and peripheral artery disease are risk factors as well.

Complications arise when healthy people are recommended statins to prevent heart disease. Recent findings adds to a list of potential complications arising when trying to control cholesterol levels, especially in those people who find it difficult to maintain diets and or indulge in regular exercise. Postmenopausal women like other older people may find it difficult to manage cholesterol. They can safely buy Zocor from Canada pharmacies to lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides. At the same time, it increases HDL levels, prevents hardening of arteries and heart disease. The drug effectively blocks an enzyme produced by the liver thereby ensuring lower cholesterol levels in the blood.

Another function performed by statins is to reabsorb cholesterol in the form of plaque lining the artery walls. It prevents blood vessel blockage leading to heart attack. It is important to note medical practitioners can accurately calculate risk of heart attack due to several factors.

For example, minimum heart attack risk factor of 10% over a period of 10 years can be accurately calculated in people. Benefits offered by statins must be measured against risk of cardiovascular disease. If the chance of getting a heart attack is higher by consuming statins, as in the case of recent research showing postmenopausal women having higher risk, then use of statins must be regulated and monitored by medical practitioners.

Sedentary lifestyle and inability to control weight often leads to type 2 diabetes. Experts have often expressed inability to determine whether statins could really cause blood sugar to rise initiating diabetes. Muscle pain is a common symptom, and in chronic cases can lead to breakdown of vital organs like the kidney. However, instances like these are rare.

As part of the study, researchers went through medical records of over 153,000 women without any indication of diabetes during enrolment into the Women's Health Initiative, which began over 20 years earlier. Records indicated around 7% women were taking in statins. By 2005, around 10% women who used statins developed diabetes. Researchers noted just 6.4% of older women not on statins developed the lifestyle ailment, clearly indicating a connection existed between statin usage and diabetes in older women.

Earlier studies have shown increased risk of diabetes with higher dosage of statin. A study conducted in 2008 showed for every 498 patients treated for statin side effects, one additional case of diabetes was recorded. Canada pharmacies agree with experts benefits of statins are proven; however, results of the recent study, though observational, can be used to control usage of statins among postmenopausal women and reduce risk of type 2 diabetes.