It is about time the American Heart Association changed the cholesterol guidelines for 25 percent of Americans over 40. Too many people are walking heart attacks waiting to happen. At least they’re acknowledging that there is a problem, but are statins the answer?

The new guidelines suggest that patients whose “bad” cholesterol is in the “very high” range (190 and above) should be on statins. People under that range should not need to take statins or cholesterol lowering meds unless they have other health risks, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, but watch their diet and exercise more. However, with this new government guideline, 35 million more Americans could be on their way to the statin highway.

Statins are not a “risk free” drug, by any means. And with heart disease coming in as the #1 killer in America – it’s a good sign that someone is paying attention.

Are the risks such as; muscle pain and damage, atherosclerosis, liver damage, kidney failure, digestive problems, rash or flushing, increased blood sugar or type 2 diabetes, neurological disorders, cataracts, anemia, cognitive loss, sexual dysfunction, increase in cancer risk, immune system suppression, pancreatic dysfunction and more… worth lowering your cholesterol with this dangerous drug?

Have American’s really become that indifferent to the risks these cholesterol-lowering drugs can cause? Wouldn’t it be much more effective, not to mention safe to do it the old-fashioned way, change your diet and start exercising more?

A very effective physician from the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, has proven that cholesterol lowering drugs do more harm than good. He has also proven via a 20-year study on heart disease and discloses his findings in his book, “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease” that diet alone can lower cholesterol. As stated, “A groundbreaking program backed by the irrefutable results from Dr. Esselstyn’s 20-year study proving changes in diet and nutrition can actually cure heart disease.”

In the meantime, we have to wonder what’s the impetus of putting 35 million more Americans on these drugs. Is there something that they’re NOT telling us, and could it be profit driven, perhaps?

Skeptics of this so called “miracle cholesterol lowering drug” also noted that some experts on the panel, as well as the AHA and ACC, have financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

When you think about this new guideline, it should make you wonder if your health isn’t quite the motive here.

Image via FDA