How Millions are Tricked into Ingesting Harmful StatinsElizabeth Renter Are Statins Safe? According to the Harvard Health blog, more than half of American men between the ages of 65 and 74 and 39% of women over the age of 74 are on statin drugs. Thats huge, and accounts for millions of older adults. Whats so frightening about this isnt that these people might have high cholesterol and be at risk for heart disease (the cholesterol myth has been debunked, by the way), but that the statins they are taking could actually be making things worse. A study recently published in Atherosclerosis found that statins actually increase the risk of calcified arteries. This doesnt just mean a little plaqueit means the plaque has gotten so bad, it is in the latter stages of hardening of the arteries. As GreenMedInfo.com reports: Coronary artery disease is one of the primary risk factors for heart attack and cardiac mortality, and calcification marks the end-stage of atherosclerosis, the gradual plaque-driven narrowing of the arteries, as the lumen (opening of the artery) can no longer compensate for the obstructive build-up of plaque by expanding, once the calcification process has taken place. Whats more, statin drugs have actually been linked to over 300 different adverse effects in peer-reviewed research, while pulling in around 25 billion dollars in annual sales. The dangers of these drugs are nothing new. Some of the issues triggered by statin use include cancer, liver disease, memory loss, diabetes, and most recently, arterial calcification. But dont some people need statins? Everyone will make their own decision for personal medical care. But, dont you think taking a drug made to fight heart disease that actually increases the risk of one of the biggest causes of heart attacks might be a little backwards, slightly counter-productive? So, are statins safe? What if you could reduce your cholesterol and heart disease risk factors without taking drugs and without the scary risks and uncomfortable side effects? Well, you can. Its called proper diet and fitness. Weve grown so accustomed to making bad health choices and them fixing them with a pill that many people dont realize the wondrous, self-maintaining, and naturally healthy thing that their body is. But, it all starts with proper nutrition. So, rather than seeking out a magic pill, start looking into the myths associated with cholesterol and natural ways to keep it in check. This article first appeared at Natural Society, an excellent resource for health news and vaccine information. 