Statins: How the drug prevents heart attacks and strokes
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Having too much “bad” cholesterol is classified as “dangerous” as it can harden and narrow your arteries, making you prone to heart disease. The main task of statins is to lower your cholesterol levels. But you might also take them if you already suffer from heart disease to avoid any further risks.
Side effects of any medication can’t be generalised as everyone is different.
Statins seem to be quite well tolerated so you might not experience any difficulties, the NHS reports.
However, there are some potential side effects you might spot while taking statins.
These side effects can differ based on the exact type of statin you’re taking.
The common side effects of statins include:
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Dizziness.
However, these three signs have been also linked to the Omicron variant.
Muscle pain and headache were shared by the South African doctor Angelique Coetzee.
The same doctor who first raised the alarm regarding the new variant.
Speaking to Sky News, Dr Coetzee listed myalgia and headache as new symptoms linked to Omicron.
Myalgia is another term used to describe muscle aches and pain, according to Hopkins Medicine.
The South African doctor explained that these symptoms seem to be more “intense” for unvaccinated patients.
She advised that if you wake up in the morning with muscle pain, this could be signalling Omicron infection and you should get tested.
Statin medication can also cause muscle pain as it occasionally causes “inflammation and damage” in muscles, according to the NHS.
The health service advises speaking to your GP if you have muscle pain or tenderness that isn’t caused by physical work or can’t be explained.
If your doctor suspects that statins are behind this, they might do a blood test to measure a substance, signalling that your muscles are inflamed or damaged.
You might be told to continue the statin treatment at a lower dose after this has been resolved.
When it comes to dizziness, this has been only listed as an Omicron symptom recently.
Dizziness is characterised by feelings of off-balance, giddiness, light-headedness, spinning and faintness.
However, this sign mainly seems to occur during long Covid, according to the NHS.
If you think you might have symptoms of Covid, the NHS advises to isolate and get a test.
Source: Read Full Article
