Statins are a group of medicines that target "bad" cholesterol levels in your blood. They are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the UK, with around seven to eight million adults in the UK taking them.
They work by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver and helping it remove cholesterol that is already in the blood. Statins can also reduce inflammation in the artery walls.
Like any medicine, statins can also cause side effects that some might experience with varying degrees of severity.
One of the most common symptoms is headaches, which is believed to affect up to 17% of people taking them.
In a small study of 200 patients taking statins, of those who did experience side effects, 16.5% complained of headache.
According to previous research, the two biggest side effects caused by statin use include muscle pain and headaches.
What causes the headache?
In a study published in the Sage Journals, the association of statin use and risk of severe headache or migraines accompanied with vitamin D levels was further investigated.
The cross-sectional study looked at people aged over 40, who then self-reported their symptoms, which included severe headache or migraine.
“We found a significant interaction between statin use and Vitamin D levels with the prevalence of severe headache or migraine,” noted the study.
It concluded: “Statin use in those with higher serum vitamin D levels is significantly associated with lower odds of having severe headache or migraine.”
How to reduce statins headache
The NHS advises to drink plenty of fluids when taking statins to help reduce your headache symptom.
The health body added: “It's best not to drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller.
“Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking atorvastatin.
“Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe.”
Other possible side effects from statin use include:
- Feeling sick (nausea) or indigestion
- Aches and pains in your back and joints
- Nosebleeds
- Sore throat
- Cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, blocked nose or Sneezing
- Constipation or wind
- Diarrhoea
Lower cholesterol levels naturally
You can also lower high cholesterol levels by making lifestyle changes.
"To reduce your cholesterol, try to cut down on fatty food, especially food that contains a type of fat called saturated fat," advises the NHS.
This is because saturated fats will increase the levels of "bad" cholesterol in your blood.
Bad cholesterol, also known as LDL cholesterol clings to the inside of your artery walls and is a precursor to heart attacks and strokes.
