Bodybuilder Gets Boost From Scripps Cardiologist

When James Kusuda decided to get serious about bodybuilding a few years ago, a medication side effect posed a potential roadblock: muscle pain caused by his cholesterol lowering statin medication. 

Stopping the medication wasn’t an option for the 53-year-old San Diegan because he had an elevated risk of heart problems related to high cholesterol. 

He turned to his cardiologist, Jorge Gonzalez, MD with Scripps Clinic, who suggested switching his medication to a relatively new family of cholesterol fighting drugs called PCSK9 inhibitors that is less likely to trigger muscle pain. 

Now, Kusuda has won two national titles, and he recently joined Dr. Gonzalez to share his story with 10News.