These are important questions for the 100 million Americans with high cholesterol and the millions more with family histories of heart disease or stroke. Today, 20 million Americans take a statin, and 25 million more are slated for statin treatment. Many people require and obtain benefit with statin treatment, but others do not.

Despite the success of statin drugs, the fact is that 90% of people placed on statins discontinue treatment within a few years. Many quit treatment within a few months. Why is the discontinuance rate so high?

Dr. Cohen explains that doctors frequently prescribe the most powerful statins at the most powerful doses. Many people cannot tolerate these strong doses, side effects occur, and people stop treatment. Some people tell their doctors about their side effects, but many doctors ignore patients' complaints and instead tell patients to continue taking the statin. When the side effects persist, people discontinue treatment. Who can blame them?

Some people are prescribed statin drugs when no statin treatment is necessary. Doctors often misinterpret laboratory results for cholesterol levels and inappropriately prescribe statins. Doctors often they fail to order tests for other cardiac risk factors, factors as important as high cholesterol levels.

When doctors prescribe statins, they often prescribe excessive amounts. Doctors prescribe maximum-strength statins when a milder, safer statin would do. Doctors often prescribe statins to people who are unlikely to benefit from statin drugs.

Doctors often prescribe the most expensive statins (Lipitor, Crestor) when less expensive yet equally effective statins will do. Doctors frequently fail to suggest any natural therapies. Natural therapies can be highly effective in reducing cholesterol, and they are safer and less expensive.

Dr. Cohen helps people avoid all of these problems. In consultation he determines if a statin is the right choice and if the dose is the right amount. He provides information about how to reduce the risk of side effects, and what to do if a side effect has occurred. If a statin is not necessary, he informs people about natural alternatives that can reduce elevated cholesterol and triglycerides. Most important, he tells people about natural therapies that reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death far better than statins do.

Dr. Cohen is not a cardiologist, but because of his work, his knowledge of statin side effects and natural alternatives is unique. In a consultation, Dr. Cohen will provide you with the information you need to understand your cardiac risk, to know whether treatment is needed and, if so, your many choices. Some people ask Dr. Cohen to communicate with their doctors, which he is glad to do. If you are interested in a consultation with Dr. Cohen, please contact our office at 858-345-1760.

50 million Americans have high blood pressure (hypertension), and 90% of us will develop hypertension in our lifetimes. Hypertension is a devastating disease that causes hardening of the arteries, heart attacks, and strokes. Many experts consider hypertension far more dangerous than high cholesterol. One of these experts is Dr. Cohen.

While many medications are available to combat this condition, these drugs come with many side effects. Side effects are the main reason that half of all hypertension patients discontinue treatment. Side effects vary from dizziness, slow heart rate, cold hands and feet, and sexual dysfunctions. People call Dr. Cohen for his input of these and other side effects. They ask, "Is there a better medication regimen?" Quite often, Dr. Cohen can suggest a better medication regimen.

People with high blood pressure also ask, "Are there other things I can do to bring my blood pressure down?" Indeed, there are. Diet, exercise, and weight control can be more important than medications when it comes to reducing blood pressure. Dr. Cohen is a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition and is knowledgeable about these natural methods.

"What about alternative therapies?" This is a question Dr. Cohen hears often. He has several natural supplements to suggest. As the author of The Magnesium Solution for High Blood Pressure, Dr. Cohen finds that magnesium is one of his favorite recommendations. And there are several other natural remedies he can recommend.

Dr. Cohen is not a hypertension specialist, but his knowledge of medication side effects and natural alternatives is unique. Some people ask Dr. Cohen to communicate with their doctors. Dr. Cohen is glad to do this.

Migraines are one of the most painful disorders suffered by humans. Indeed, the World Health Organization rates severe migraines as one of the most disabling chronic disorders in the world.

Migraine headaches occur in all civilizations and existed at the dawn of recorded history. Today, 25 million American adults and children -- 18.5 million women and 6.5 million men -- suffer from migraine headaches. Cluster headaches affect another five million people.

Prescription medications are helpful for some people, but for others they are ineffective or cause intolerable side effects. These are the people who contact Dr. Cohen. Dr. Cohen's expertise in this area includes the use of magnesium for migraine headaches. He is the author of The Magnesium Solution for Migraine Headache. As Dr. Cohen says in the book, magnesium is as effective and much safer than many of the pricey drugs for migraines.

Dr. Cohen's expertise also covers some of the lesser known medications, including herbs, for migraine prevention.

People contact Dr. Cohen about their use of anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as Advil (naproxen), Motrin (ibuprofen), and Celebrex (celecoxib). It is now known these drugs can increase the risk of heart attacks, so it is imperative to use the safest drugs and doses. People ask Dr. Cohen about hormones such as Premarin and Prempro, and whether bio-identical hormones are really better. Another group are the fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as Levaquin and Cipro, discussed on a separate page.

The most frequent problem Dr. Cohen is asked about is the use of multiple medications in people, especially the elderly. At the heart of this problem is the failure of a person's doctors to communicate with each other. No doctor takes control of the situation and drugs are prescribed without any consideration of the many medications the patient is already taking. This situation, known as "the prescribing cascade," can be very harmful, even lethal. Over the years, many people have told Dr. Cohen that their elderly parents did not die from their maladies, but from their drugs. Dr. Cohen is able to analyze the medications, to check for drug interactions, and, if asked, to intervene with the doctors.

If you are interested in seeing Dr. Cohen at his office or consulting with him by telephone, please call 858-345-1760.

Optimal Wellness Center. Statins -- Lipitor, Zocor, Mevacor -- Is the Danger in the Dose? Aug. 25, 2001.

Life Extension Magazine. The Problem with Maximum-Dose Lipitor.
Over-Medicating Patients and Its Consequences. Aug. 2007.

Life Extension Magazine. Why You Should Be Concerned about High Blood Pressure Whether You Have It (Yet) or Not. Sept. 2004;10(9):40-48.

View all of Dr. Cohen's medical articles, consumer publications, and presentations.