But wait, there's more! The statin drug spin is starting to remind me of a Ginzu knife commercial.
Remember those? "It slices! It dices!" Then an overenthusiastic actor would demonstrate how the amazing Ginzu could cut a tin can in half - as if that is a pressing need in every suburban kitchen.
Over the last several years, statin manufacturers have embarked on a similar campaign to convince us that these cholesterol-lowering drugs are equally miraculous: they prevent all kinds of cancer! They prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease! They prevent multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis!
But wait, there's more! Now, they're telling us statins can minimize the effects of smoking.
A few weeks ago, scientists from the University of Oklahoma Medical Center reported their findings at a meeting of the America College of Chest Physicians. Basically, they found that smokers who used statins lost less lung function over a 30 month period than smokers who did not take statins. In a Yahoo News report, the lead researcher was quoted in typically breathless terms: "Until now, no medication has shown to slow smoking-induced lung damage."
Here's an idea: Instead of spending money on a prescription drug with a laundry list of potential side effects, how about you stop smoking-induced lung damage by, er, quitting smoking?
If the drug companies get their way, statins will soon be added to the water supply so everyone can reap their "benefits." Already, the drugs are recommended for all diabetics and for everyone within the ever-widening definition of "high cholesterol." No medical organization has yet recommended statins for smokers, though nothing would surprise me anymore.
The truly amazing thing about this is, no one has been able to demonstrate that these drugs actually save lives! Sure, they're usually very good at lowering total cholesterol. But they've yet to conclusively show an impact on the death rate from all causes, including heart attack and stroke.
What they have shown is a propensity for side effects and complications. There are plenty of documented reports of statins causing liver damage, dizziness, cognitive impairment, serious muscle pain and weakness (a condition doctors call rhabdomyolysis), and weakness, tingling and pain in the hands and feet (what doctors call neuropathy).
Plus, statins are known to deplete the body's stores of CoQ10, an important antioxidant enzyme that supports heart strength, and suppress the immune system by interfering with T-helper cells. And sometimes, statins take cholesterol levels too low, which can cause depression, confusion, memory loss and mood changes and may even increase your risk of stroke.
All of this is so unnecessary. In most cases, cholesterol and the risk of heart disease can be suitably controlled with safe and natural approaches. For example, we know that eating a tasty Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables and moderate amounts of whole grains and lean meats with plenty of healthy fats from nuts, olive and canola oil and fatty fish is at least twice as protective as a statin in preventing the reoccurrence of heart disease -- without any of the dangerous side effects and at a fraction of the cost. Add regular exercise and you're even better off. Drugs come in a distant third, maybe.
And if you're concerned about protecting your lungs, I've got two words for you: stop smoking. You can help heal the damage done by getting plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E in your diet and through well-chosen supplements. They'll do a lot more for you than any drug.
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 There are times when medical news is too urgent to wait until the next issue, so Dr. Alan Inglis keeps in touch with you through House Calls.
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