Statins are a group of drugs prescribed to treat high cholesterol and triglycerides. They may be effective for preventing heart attacks and helping to reduce plaque in your arteries. When taking statin medications, you may experience side effects. There is differing research regarding whether exercise is helpful in reducing these side effects.
Importance of Statins
Statins help reduce cholesterol levels. They prevent cholesterol from being made in your body. The arteries in your body can have plaque, which contains cholesterol, building up on their walls. Statins help reabsorb that cholesterol and prevent future blockages that can cause a heart attack. Your physician may assess if you need to take a statin drug. He may check your cholesterol level and ask you questions about your family's health history. He may also look at factors like your age, if you have diabetes or are overweight, and whether you smoke.
Side Effects of Statins
The Mayo Clinic states that if you do begin taking a statin, you may experience certain side effects. Common side effects are constipation, diarrhea and nausea. The most common side effect is muscle aching. Two more serious side effects could be liver damage and significant muscle pain. If you think you are having side effects from your statin medication, your physician may recommend a break from taking the medication or changing your dose. The Mayo Clinic says it's not appropriate to take any over-the-counter pain relievers for statin-related muscle pain without consulting your physician. Muscle pain caused by statin drugs is different than other muscle discomfort and these pain relievers are ineffective.
Statins and Exercise
Exercising may make your muscle pain and aching worse. The Mayo Clinic suggests reducing your exercise level to see if the muscle pain subsides. Your exercise program should be discussed with your physician. However, the American Heart Association states that if you are taking a statin medicine, it is important to eat healthy and remain physically active. In an article published by the British Pharmacological Society, it is suggested that when professional athletes who were prescribed statins for elevated cholesterol, many of those athletes could not tolerate taking a statin due to the exercise-induced muscle pain they began experiencing. There is question about whether exercise may cause more of the statin-related muscle pain in those who are taking statins.
Warning About Statins
While you are encouraged to exercise to be healthier, there is some concern that exercise may worsen the side effect of muscle achiness due to taking a statin drug. Your physician may have suggestions for the side effects you are having and you may be able to adapt your exercise program to reduce this side effect. If you are experiencing any possible side effects from a statin, talk to your physician. If you are considering stopping your statin medicine, talk to your physician before doing so.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Statins: Are These Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Right for You?
- Mayo Clinic: Weigh the Benefits and Risks
- American Heart Association: Cardiac Medications
- British Pharmacological Society: Professional Athletes Suffering From Familial Hypersholesterolaemia Rarely Tolerate Statin Treatment Because of Muscular Problems
