Hello, I read in newspaper that American Medical Association has said that there is no relevance of high cholesterol levels with CAD or heart conditions. Whether levels are within limits with tablets, Can an effort may be made to discontinue anti cholesterol tablets?

Dr. Anoop AgrawalCardiologist11yrs exp

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The statement that "AMA has said that there is no relevance of high cholesterol levels with CAD or heart conditions" is wrong. High levels of cholesterol is commonly implicated in coronary artery disease beyond doubt. What we know now is that levels of cholesterol which were earlier thought to be the prime determinant of disease seems untrue. People have various risk profile for same cholesterol level. More so, people with some risk for CAD who take cholesterol lowering drug called statins have lowered risk for heart disease even with similar cholesterol levels. Cholesterol medicines (statins) can be stopped at any time since they are preventative drugs. Its not a good idea though since they work very well. I don't think any doctor will have a problem stopping the medicine if you request them to. At the end, it's for your benefit, and if you don't want it, doctor should oblige. There are other ways to reduce cholesterol as well, but as mentioned before, risk profiles for individual patients are different, and to some, statins offer benefit regardless of cholesterol levels. Hope this helps.  

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