What are the facts with regards to cholesterol and heart disease? is it truth or pharmaceutical company propaganda i.e statins?

Different answers: You'll hear different opinions from different physicians here. I suspect we'll all agree that (1) there are people whose health has benefited from statins used as cholesterol-lowering agents; (2) lifestyle changes are more important overall than jumping right to medication; (3) medicolegal concerns in our dysfunctional health care system drive much of our prescribing.

It is a potent meds: The question is whether you need them. 90% or more of mix hyperlipidemia is secondary, but if you were one of the 10% with familial hypercholesterolemia or if you had high risk coronary heart disease such as having diabetes or evidence of coronary or vascular disease -- then you would likely need a statin to lower and improve your cholesterol profile.