Statins and Low-Dose Aspirin (Off Topic)

All of us are in that age group that is offered statins or low-dose aspirin to decrease our risk of a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular problem.

How many of you take a preventive statin or low-dose aspirin? Lucky me, I have only one risk factor other than age: a low HDL. I took the test on one of the legitimate health web sites to calculate my odds of a cardiovascular event in the next 10 years and it came out 13.5% (Low-dose aspirin or a statin is recommended if the risk is above 7.5% or 10%, depending on which expert-opinion you read).

If you have considered taking a statin or low-dose aspirin and discussed it with you PCP or cardiologist, what did you decide? I currently take neither a low-dose aspirin nor a statin, but will discuss this with my PCP at my next vist.

My hematocrit runs high while on TRT, so I take full dose enteric-coated aspirin to prevent clots but also to relieve nightly low back pain. I also chew on a couple of Tums when I take 'em, and drink lots of fluids.

All my cholesterol numbers are good without prescription aids so I have never taken a statin. However, my dad had some moderate heart issues (two stents) and my mother passed away as a result of a heart attack at the age of 85 with stage 7 Alzheimer's. She had no coronary history at all so I'm not sure what precipitated that event......could have been a fall. I've never had any coronary issues except for mildly elevated blood pressure occasionally due to stress. I've discovered that getting older isn't always the walk in the park that some think it is.....lol....particularly when you spend some years as parental caregivers dealing with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. My GP prescribed an 81mg aspirin daily for me many years ago and I'm still on that regimen. I had an odd event that was somewhat like a stroke a couple years ago when I was under enormous stress with my elderly parents and subsequently went through a nuclear stress test. Coronary specialist indicated from the beginning that he thought I was suffering the effects of too much stress and he was correct. Heart checked out fine and once the stress reduced, I was all good.

I've been on daily aspirin for about 10myears. Two years ago I had 2 stents inserted, and was diagnosed with coronary artery disease. So yup, is sh I have risk factors. Since the stents and diagnosis, I've been on 10mg crestor. My ldl is 28. But it was never high, neither was my cholesterol. They always ran about 75 and 150mrespectively. My problem has always been low HDL (27 at last test), and high triglycerides. (357 at last test)

So I probably don't even need a statin, if I wasn't on low dose, I'd fight the dr on it.

Nevertheless, I realize I could be headed for trouble. I'm trying to get TG down, finding it not as easy as in the past. But I don't want to be on another med . So o keep trying.

I have risk factors that have varied over time, last time checked my HDL was kind of low and my total and LDL kind of high(all bad). OTOH, I had a fairly low BP and triglycerides, both in my favor(Good). My doc wanted me to have the Calcium Scoring Scan, to help convince me I needed the statins. But as I had a perfect score of zero calcification, he no longer pushed me in that direction. So, cholesterol risk factors high enough for statins, but some other tests in my favor plus evidence of actual blockage non-existent, so no meds so far at 70(in Jan). Actually no prescription or OTC meds at this time, but do take some supplements.

I take a statin and I take Metformin, primarily because of PC.