Tag: Cardiovascular Health

  • Are You Worried About Statin Side Effects? Why 47% of Patients Stop Their Medication

    Are You Worried About Statin Side Effects? Why 47% of Patients Stop Their Medication

    Have you been prescribed a medication, like a statin, and worried about side effects? Did you stop your medication? Or maybe you never even started it.

    Traditionally doctors have relied on a ‘trial and error’ approach to medication.

    The “Trial-and-Error” Gamble with Statin Prescriptions

    Over 5 million people in the UK are prescribed statin medication every year. But we know that approaching 50% of patients stop them in the first year, or never even get their tablets.

    Either experiencing side effects or worry about them are two of the biggest reasons for this. This is a big problem for your health. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, but a massive 80% of cardiovascular disease is preventable. Controlling lipids with medications like statins is a key weapon to prevent deaths from cardiovascular disease.

    What is Pharmacogenomics (PGx)? The End of “One-Size-Fits-All” Medicine

    Pharmacogenomics analyses your DNA, looking at specific genes which dictate how your body responds to medicines. We have excellent detailed data that can predict how your body will metabolise drugs. This impacts not just whether the drug is effective, but also the risk of nasty side effects.

    In the clinic we take a simple blood sample which is analysed in a specialist genetic laboratory in Germany. The result gives us a detailed profile of your pharmacogenomics.

    How a Simple Genetic Test Can Predict Your Body’s Response to Statins

    The SLCO1B1 gene in your DNA codes for making a protein that is vital in controlling the metabolism of statins by your liver. We all have slightly different copies of this gene, called polymorphisms.

    Up to 36% of people tested have a copy of SLCO1B1 with decreased function. This means that the body has trouble clearing statins from the bloodstream to be metabolised by the liver. This means levels of the statin drug can build up in the blood stream, and cause side effects such as muscle pain and inflammation.

    A Patient Story: Replacing Statin Fear with Confidence

    In the clinic we can check your pharmacogenomic profile before starting medication. This means we can then choose a statin or other cholesterol lowering medicine which is much safer for you. You will be less likely to experience side effects and the drug is also more likely to be effective.

    We had a patient recently who wanted to start a statin to reduce their long-term risk of heart disease, they had read a lot about people experiencing muscle pain. As a really fit and active person they didn’t want anything which would impact their busy lifestyle. Their pharmacogenomic profile showed they have decreased SLCO1B1 function and were at high risk of side effects with the most commonly prescribed statins, atorvastatin and simvastatin. We were able to choose a low dose of rosuvastatin for them, this is the most effective and safest choice for them.

    Take the Guesswork Out of Your Heart Health

    We are incredibly lucky to be alive in a time where medical advances give us the chance for preventative healthcare. This chance was denied to many generations before us.

    We know though that many patients worry about taking medications, especially about unwanted side effects. Pharmacogenomics is a key tool we can use make sure you get the right medication. We can go from ‘trial and error’ to a truly personalised cardiovascular disease prevention plan.

    Interested in finding out your pharmacogenomic profile and what real-life personalised medicine means? We’d love to help you, so book today or get in touch.

    DR LUCY HOOPER
    MB BS BSc MRCGP MA DRCOG DCH

    Lucy is a GP and co-founder of Coyne Medical. She graduated with honours from Imperial College London, trained at St Mary’s Hospital, and holds a Master’s in Medical Ethics and Law. Her clinical interests span women’s health, preventive medicine, and genomics, with a particular focus on using advanced biomarkers to build a more complete picture of long-term health.

    British Society for Genetic Medicine  ·  European Atherosclerosis Society  · 
    Independent Doctors Federation

    As seen in BBC, The Guardian, Women’s Health, The Times and Tatler

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    For educational purposes. This article is written by a practising GP and is intended to inform, not replace a consultation with your own doctor. It does not constitute medical advice. A note on clinical guidelines: Coyne Medical is an independent private clinic. Our approach is guided by the best available evidence, tailored to each individual. This may go beyond standard NHS or NICE guidance, which is designed for population-level care and weighted by resource constraints.

    Read More Lab Tests & Results Guides
  • Blood Pressure Is the Most Important Number You’re Ignoring

    Blood Pressure Is the Most Important Number You’re Ignoring

    When people talk about longevity, they usually mention things like cold plunges, mushroom powders, or the latest supplement that “everyone in Silicon Valley is taking.” But if you ask most doctors,  the kind who deal with real patients, not just podcasts, the top of the list is something far less glamorous, blood pressure.

    Blood Pressure: The Silent Killer That’s Surprisingly Common

    High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often called the silent killer. And for good reason. It doesn’t usually cause symptoms. There’s no rash, no pain, no warning light. But over time, it quietly raises your risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and dementia.

    When it comes to blood pressure, there’s a simple rule worth remembering. It’s known as the “Rule of Halves”:

    • About half of all adults have high blood pressure.
    • Half of those are undiagnosed.
    • Half of those who are diagnosed aren’t treated.
    • And half of those treated aren’t treated properly.

    That’s a lot of people wandering around thinking they’re in good shape because they “feel fine.”

    But I Had My Blood Pressure Checked at My GP Surgery…

    Let’s talk about how blood pressure is usually measured. You sit in a clinic. You’ve walked fast to get there or worried about parking wardens, probably had a coffee beforehand. Someone wraps a cuff around your arm and tells you to relax.

    That one-off reading might be useful, but it’s also a bit like checking the weather by glancing out the window for five seconds. You’re not getting the full picture.

    Enter the Hilo Band

    The Hilo Band is a wearable device that takes a different approach. It uses photoplethysmography (PPG),  a light-based sensor on your wrist, to monitor the shape and flow of your pulse wave. It’s not just counting your pulse. It’s analysing how your blood pressure behaves throughout the day and night using Pulse Wave Analysis (PWA).


    Hilo gives you multiple readings over 24 hours, including while you sleep. And the band only records when you’re still, which improves accuracy. It’s like having a calm, unobtrusive nurse quietly checking your pressure in the background. And yes, it looks good too. Like a minimalist fitness tracker had a child with a hipster bracelet.

    Real Life Data, Not Waiting Room Guesswork

    This continuous monitoring means you get a clearer, more accurate view of your blood pressure patterns. As opposed to a single, possibly elevated reading in a GP’s office. It can help catch masked hypertension (normal readings in clinic but high at home) or white coat syndrome (high in clinic, normal elsewhere).

    That matters because earlier detection means earlier action, which can include everything from lifestyle tweaks to proper medication, guided by real-world data rather than guesswork.

    Blood Pressure and Longevity: The Real Biohack

    If you’re serious about healthspan (although I hate that word as it sounds like management consultant jargon!), not just how long you live, but how well, then keeping your blood pressure in check is arguably more effective than most so-called biohacks.

    You don’t need exotic pills or 18-step routines. You need good sleep, a Mediterranean-ish diet, regular movement… and control of your blood pressure.

    If you’re going to invest in a wearable, make it one that actually improves your health, not just a random, clinically meaningless “health score.”

    If you’re ready to try it, check them out here: Hilo Band

    Blood pressure control isn’t new or flashy. But it works. And with a tool like the Hilo Band, it’s easier than ever to track, understand and act on. Because knowing your numbers, in your real life, not just under fluorescent clinic lights, is one of the smartest longevity moves you can make. 

    DR J HUGH COYNE
    MBBS BSc PGDip (with merit) MRCGP DRCOG DCH

    Dr Hugh Coyne is a GP and co-founder of Coyne Medical, a private preventive health clinic at 660 Fulham Road, London. He trained at Imperial College London and has been in practice for over twenty years, with a particular focus on cardiovascular risk, metabolic health, and exercise medicine. After qualifying as a GP he went on to train in sport and exercise medicine, bringing a distinctly practical approach to prevention and long-term health.

    British Association of Sports and Exercise Medicine  ·  European Atherosclerosis Society  · 
    Independent Doctors Federation

    As seen in The Independent, The Daily Mail and Tatler

    Book a Health Screening

    For educational purposes. This article is written by a practising GP and is intended to inform, not replace a consultation with your own doctor. It does not constitute medical advice. A note on clinical guidelines: Coyne Medical is an independent private clinic. Our approach is guided by the best available evidence, tailored to each individual. This may go beyond standard NHS or NICE guidance, which is designed for population-level care and weighted by resource constraints.

    Read More Cardiovascular Health Guides