Men Who Take Statins May Exercise Less
Activity declined most among those just starting the drug, study finds
In an editorial accompanying Lee's study, Dr. Beatrice Alexandra Golomb, a professor of medicine at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine in La Jolla, said that the potential impact of statins on exercise patterns is something that "physicians and patients alike should bring into the discussion when assessing how these drugs may affect a patient's overall quality of life."
"Over the course of one day the drop in activity may seem small," she noted. "But over time it really adds up, particularly when most people are already shortchanging themselves in terms of the amount of exercise they need. We know that exercise has profound benefits for people in virtually every aspect of health, particularly in older age."
"So this is not to say that people who clearly merit statin therapy shouldn't take it," Golomb stressed. "For many, the benefits will surpass these sorts of considerations. But there are many people on the margins for whom this medication's impact on exercise is an issue worth discussing."
Men Who Take Statins May Exercise Less
Activity declined most among those just starting the drug, study finds
In an editorial accompanying Lee's study, Dr. Beatrice Alexandra Golomb, a professor of medicine at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine in La Jolla, said that the potential impact of statins on exercise patterns is something that "physicians and patients alike should bring into the discussion when assessing how these drugs may affect a patient's overall quality of life."
"Over the course of one day the drop in activity may seem small," she noted. "But over time it really adds up, particularly when most people are already shortchanging themselves in terms of the amount of exercise they need. We know that exercise has profound benefits for people in virtually every aspect of health, particularly in older age."
"So this is not to say that people who clearly merit statin therapy shouldn't take it," Golomb stressed. "For many, the benefits will surpass these sorts of considerations. But there are many people on the margins for whom this medication's impact on exercise is an issue worth discussing."
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