Cardiovascular Medicine

Videos

Watch Mayo Clinic cardiologists and others discuss many conditions and treatments related to cardiovascular diseases and cardiovascular surgery.

People who have statin side effects or a family history of statin intolerance are served by the Statin Intolerance Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

Statins are sometimes prescribed for people who have high cholesterol and other heart disease risk factors, such as a family history of heart disease. Taking statins lowers the body's production of cholesterol and may lower the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart-related death. But taking statins can sometimes cause side effects, such as muscle aches, pain, weakness and liver damage.

Your care team

When you visit the Statin Intolerance Clinic, you'll likely first be seen by a doctor trained in heart disease (cardiologist). Your care team also may include specialists in other areas. This team works together to evaluate your condition and develop a treatment plan tailored to you.

Diagnostic testing

At the Statin Intolerance Clinic, you'll undergo a full cardiovascular evaluation to determine if your symptoms are due to statin intolerance or other conditions. As part of the evaluation, your doctor will likely ask you to stop taking statins, to see if your symptoms decrease or change.

An evaluation also may include:

• Blood tests. Your doctor may order blood tests.
• Discussion of your family medical history. Your doctor will discuss your family medical history with you, including family members' experiences with statins.
• Genetic tests. Genetic tests may help determine if you may be prone to side effects from statins or if you may be more prone to benefit from statins.
• Percutaneous outpatient muscle biopsy. In this test, your doctor makes a small incision the size of a pen tip in the skin to remove a small amount of muscle for testing.
• Symptoms questionnaire. You may take a questionnaire to describe what symptoms you're experiencing and what statins you have taken.
• Muscle strength tests. Your doctor may order tests to evaluate your muscle strength.

If your doctor diagnoses you with a different condition, you may be referred to another area of Mayo Clinic for treatment.

Treatment

Your treatment plan may involve the following:

• Statin changes. Your doctor may change the type or amount of statin you're taking.
• Lifestyle changes. Your doctor may recommend that you increase physical activity, incorporate a healthy-eating plan and quit smoking.
• Supplements. Your doctor may recommend that you take other agents to block muscle pain, including vitamin D and coenzyme Q10 supplements.
• Medicine changes. Your doctor may recommend that you take cholesterol-lowering medicines instead of statins.
• Natural therapies. Certain natural substances or supplements — including fish oil, substances found in some plants (sterols and stanols), and soluble fiber, such as oat bran — may lower cholesterol.

Appointments

You may be referred by your primary doctor, or you may make an appointment without a referral.

Nationally recognized expertise

Mayo Clinic is top-ranked in more specialties than any other hospital and has been recognized as an Honor Roll member according to the U.S. News & World Report's 2023-2024 "Best Hospitals" rankings.

Mayo Clinic campuses are nationally recognized for expertise in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery:

• Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., are ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
• Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota, and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2023–2024 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.