Parents are cautioned, “Be careful what your children watch on TV!” and rightfully so. Studies prove when children watch violent television content it can negatively impact their behavior and health. But apparently adults should take this advice, too. The latest research reveals disturbing findings – what adults watch on TV can also have serious health consequences.

A study reported in the Journal of General Internal Medicine reveals that direct-to-consumer advertising of statin drugs was related to an increase in high cholesterol diagnoses, and in turn, an increase in use of the drugs among both men and women. It’s clear that when a patient inquires about the use of a drug seen on TV, doctors are more likely to write a prescription. 

For six years, the research tracked 106,685 American adults who were exposed to television advertising of statin drugs on national, cable and local networks. The results indicated adults exposed to the statin drug advertisements were 16 to 20 percent more likely to be diagnosed with high cholesterol and 16 to 22 percent more likely to be using statins. Furthermore, the increase in high cholesterol diagnoses and subsequent increase in statin prescriptions more often applied to adults who were considered low risk for future heart problems. Conversely, the adults classified as high risk for heart disease were not more likely to be prescribed a statin drug.[1]

TV Ads Spur Rise in Prescription Drug Sales

This isn’t the first study to show an association between television advertising and an increase in the total number of prescriptions dispensed. In August 2007, the New England Journal of Medicine researchers published the following:

“Evidence suggests that direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs increases pharmaceutical sales and both helps to avert underuse of medicines and leads to potential overuse.”[2]

The Dangers of Statins’ TV Ads:

There’s a serious problem when a doctor prescribes a medication simply because a patient asks for it. Just because a person wants a particular medication, doesn’t necessary mean he or she needs it. The truth of the matter is – just like any other prescription medication – statins come with side effects. In fact, some health professionals argue that the dangers of statins outweigh the benefits, especially when it comes to individuals who are considered low risk for heart disease. As the researchers noted:

“This study provides new evidence that direct-to-consumer advertising may promote over-diagnosis of high cholesterol and over-treatment for populations where risks of statin use may outweigh potential benefits.”[1]

What are the dangers of statins?

Statin drugs have been associated with several serious side effects. In fact, the dangers of statins have been confirmed in hundreds of clinical studies! These side effects include:

• Statins zap cells of energy and rob the body of CoQ10
• Statins cause fatigue and excessive tiredness
• Statins are linked to cognitive decline, memory problems and more; over 900 studies show the dangers of statins!

If you’re concerned about high cholesterol or heart disease, here’s what you can do:

1. Instead of watching TV, try physical activity! The benefits are twofold: you won’t be enticed by clever advertising and you’ll be protecting your cardiovascular health.

2. If you see a television commercial promoting a pharmaceutical drug, don’t immediately run out and ask your doctor for it; rather, discuss your symptoms and diagnostic testing with your doctor. Let your doctor decide which treatments you need – not television commercials or what your friends recommend.

3. If your doctor does recommend a statin, ask the following questions:

• Is my heart disease risk severe enough to justify this drug treatment or can I pursue a trial of natural, non-drug treatments before beginning this medication?
• What are the side effects of this medication? Are there any ways to minimize these side effects?
• How long will I have to take this medication?
• Will this drug interact with any other prescriptions I’m taking?
• Are there any foods, drinks or other substances (vitamins, supplements, etc.) I need to avoid while taking this drug?

4. Next, consider getting a second opinion or schedule an appointment with an integrative cardiovascular physician.

5. Consider adopting natural approaches for lowering cholesterol. Our Comprehensive Guide on Natural Cholesterol Control: Achieve Healthy Cholesterol Levels Without Drugs gives the complete picture on the most effective and proven ways to lower cholesterol levels using food, supplements and other non-drug approaches. When you download this Guide, you’ll have an entire list of natural remedies – all in one place – so you can determine which ones are most appropriate for you.

*Never start, discontinue or change the dose of a medication without speaking with your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional.