Dr. Aseem Malhotra exposes statins: A 1% benefit with hidden costs—time for informed consent
Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a renowned cardiologist, has raised critical concerns about statins, one of the most prescribed drugs globally, with 30 million users in the U.S. and up to a billion worldwide.
In a recent discussion, he unpacked the shocking truth about their efficacy, urging patients to question the widespread use of these cholesterol-lowering medications.
Drawing from industry-sponsored trial data, Dr. Malhotra highlights that for most people—those not at high risk of heart attack—taking a statin daily for five years offers just a 1% chance of preventing a non-fatal heart attack or non-disabling stroke. Critically, this comes with no evidence of prolonging life by even a single day.
He emphasizes that this information, available at
http://thennt.com, is rarely communicated to patients due to systemic gaps in medical training, where doctors are not taught to interpret and convey such data effectively.
Dr. Malhotra advocates for informed consent, presenting patients with these facts without coercion. Many, he notes, are dismayed by the minimal benefit when weighed against potential side effects, which affect 20-50% of users.
These include muscle pain, fatigue, brain fog, erectile dysfunction, joint pain, and stomach issues. Strikingly, he has witnessed elderly patients misdiagnosed with dementia or frailty regain memory and vitality weeks after discontinuing statins.
This is not a call to stop medication abruptly, but a plea for patients to engage in informed discussions with their doctors. Dr. Malhotra’s book, A Statin-Free Life, available on Amazon, delves deeper into these findings, offering a comprehensive resource for those seeking clarity on cholesterol management and drug benefits.
For evidence-based insights on statins and other medications, visit
http://thennt.com. Dr. Malhotra’s mission is clear: empower patients with knowledge to make health decisions that align with their values and quality of life.