# What is Normal

**URL:** <https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/what-is-normal/106169>\
**Category:** Health\
**Created:** [August 21, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/what-is-normal/106169 "2025-08-21T17:23:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 14\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BridgeMaven](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@BridgeMaven](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/BridgeMaven)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/what-is-normal/106169/1 "2025-08-21T17:23:32Z")

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The numbers for normal blood pressure and normal cholesterol level are lower now than they were a few decades ago. With this in mind do you think people should be put on statins or blood pressure medication for numbers that were considered to be normal a few decades ago

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**Author:** ![branchkin](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/branchkin/32/113_2.png) [@branchkin](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/branchkin)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 8:24pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/what-is-normal/106169/2 "2025-08-21T20:24:36Z")

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Normal ain’t normal anymore. Part of the credit/blame goes to the pharmaceutical industry.

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**Author:** ![crparrothead](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/crparrothead/32/6648_2.png) [@crparrothead](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/crparrothead)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 8:26pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/what-is-normal/106169/3 "2025-08-21T20:26:37Z")

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I don’t know about blood pressure and cholesterol, but the definition of “obese” has changed over the years

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**Author:** ![jimtoo](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/jimtoo/32/16415_2.png) [@jimtoo](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/jimtoo)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/what-is-normal/106169/4 "2025-08-21T20:44:21Z")

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BM, my wife has taken a statin for several years. She’s had to change types due to other problems it causes, such as night leg cramps and others. She still has them. She had to get a stent last last year despite otherwise being in good health. Why? Heredity. Her father had many heart troubles, as have her sisters.

I am in fairly good health and eat healthy, yet my BP and glucose levels are creeping up. 8-9 years ago my then doctor had an app on her iphone that allowed the entry of all the relevant info and it would identify problems and possible solutions and effects. I asked what was the main issue driving the result and she laughed and said about 80% was age. Not much anyone can do about that.

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**Author:** ![billinin](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/47e85d/32.png) [@billinin](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/billinin)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 8:55pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/what-is-normal/106169/5 "2025-08-21T20:55:17Z")

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> [@jimtoo](#):
>
> I asked what was the main issue driving the result and she laughed and said about 80% was age.

My doc said that too, I’m not dealing with it very well.

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**Author:** ![mcarley](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/mcarley/32/5644_2.png) [@mcarley](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/mcarley)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 8:57pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/what-is-normal/106169/6 "2025-08-21T20:57:59Z")

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> [@jimtoo](#):
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> such as night leg cramps

I just got a horrible leg cramp in the middle of the night last night. Happens once in a while. But I think they predated my taking a statin.

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**Author:** ![crparrothead](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/crparrothead/32/6648_2.png) [@crparrothead](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/crparrothead)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 8:59pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/what-is-normal/106169/7 "2025-08-21T20:59:30Z")

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> [@mcarley](#):
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> Happens once in a while.

I used to get them as a kid, I also would have what can best be described as “body jerks” in the middle of the night. Pretty much ended in my 20’s.

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**Author:** ![jimtoo](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/jimtoo/32/16415_2.png) [@jimtoo](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/jimtoo)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 9:41pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/what-is-normal/106169/8 "2025-08-21T21:41:22Z")

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I do get them, but not very often. Probably something age related. For some reason, about 80% of the time it’s my right leg. My wife gets up at least one night a week and walks it off up and down the hallway for 10-15 minutes.

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**Author:** ![mcarley](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/mcarley/32/5644_2.png) [@mcarley](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/mcarley)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 11:51pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/what-is-normal/106169/9 "2025-08-21T23:51:40Z")

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> [@jimtoo](#):
>
> I do get them, but not very often. Probably something age related. For some reason, about 80% of the time it’s my right leg. My wife gets up at least one night a week and walks it off up and down the hallway for 10-15 minutes.

The only thing I hear is eat more potassium (bananas.)

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**Author:** ![jimtoo](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/jimtoo/32/16415_2.png) [@jimtoo](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/jimtoo)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 3:57am UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/what-is-normal/106169/10 "2025-08-22T03:57:03Z")

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> [@mcarley](#):
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> The only thing I hear is eat more potassium (bananas.)

That helps, if the cause of the cramps is a potassium deficiency. We do eat bananas, just in case.

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**Author:** ![glasspilot](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@glasspilot](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/glasspilot)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 11:15am UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/what-is-normal/106169/11 "2025-08-22T11:15:58Z")

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I think keeping hydrated will help leg cramps too. I keep a glass of water on my nightstand at night. And I try to drink water whenever I think of it. I’m 68.

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**Author:** ![Payless](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/payless/32/17422_2.png) [@Payless](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/Payless)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 4:47pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/what-is-normal/106169/13 "2025-08-22T16:47:17Z")

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> [@glasspilot](#):
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> I think keeping hydrated will help leg cramps too. I keep a glass of water on my nightstand at night. And I try to drink water whenever I think of it. I’m 68.

Speaking ofwater, how did you make out with Erin?

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**Author:** ![glasspilot](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@glasspilot](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/glasspilot)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 6:44pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/what-is-normal/106169/14 "2025-08-22T18:44:17Z")

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Thanks for asking! Erin stayed well off shore.We got 30 mph winds out of the north and just a little rain. But we’re only mid season. Hurr season runs to the end of Nov. Peak is mid Sept.

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**Author:** ![kcflyer](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/kcflyer/32/5299_2.png) [@kcflyer](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/kcflyer)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/what-is-normal/106169/15 "2025-08-22T21:01:54Z")

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> [@jimtoo](#):
>
> She’s had to change types due to other problems it causes, such as night leg cramps a

I’ve had to do the same thing. All the statins I tried gave me leg cramping/weakness. I finally take a lower dose of rosuvastatin and don’t have the weakness problem any more.