Getting everyone on two cholesterol medications

[tim-from-pa]

My favorite Internet doctor, Dr Douglass, can be melodramatic at times to the point of causing a chuckle. But he does have a valid point in one of his articles aimed at people with "cholesterol" problems. And the "treatment" we can be watching for these days according to him is one pill to lower LDL and another to raise HDL. Keep an eye open next time you go to the doctor, because they'll be pushing for this stuff.

Already, I noticed a dangerous unhealthy trend in dummying down the numbers over the years. This is so that virtually nobody passes and "need" drugs. I am old enough to remember blood tests where they did not blink an eye until the cholesterol was above 300 or BP higher than 140/90 (The WHO use to consider BP as high as 160/100 without treatment as still being OK, but not optimal). Now it's under 200 and "heart disease" patients under 160! And BP over a healthy 115/75 is considered "pre-hypertensive" high! My next cholesterol prediction is watch for the total "optimal" value to decrease to 140.

Here's the article: http://douglassreport.com/2011/12/05/barking-wrong-tree-cholesterol/

 

[Pizzaguy]

I"m going to admit something... my doctor wants me on Lipitor.

I have, so far, refused. My total is around 222 and I am determined to lower it thru diet. I also have slacked off my exercise program, mostly due to the heat.

The ellipitcal is gonna get a WORK OUT over the next weeks, 'cause I am not about to go hiking... not for a while. It was 108F on the way home from visiting my sister just now!

 

[elizabethbraddock]

My favorite Internet doctor, Dr Douglass, can be melodramatic at times to the point of causing a chuckle. But he does have a valid point in one of his articles aimed at people with "cholesterol" problems. And the "treatment" we can be watching for these days according to him is one pill to lower LDL and another to raise HDL. Keep an eye open next time you go to the doctor, because they'll be pushing for this stuff.

Already, I noticed a dangerous unhealthy trend in dummying down the numbers over the years. This is so that virtually nobody passes and "need" drugs. I am old enough to remember blood tests where they did not blink an eye until the cholesterol was above 300 or BP higher than 140/90 (The WHO use to consider BP as high as 160/100 without treatment as still being OK, but not optimal). Now it's under 200 and "heart disease" patients under 160! And BP over a healthy 115/75 is considered "pre-hypertensive" high! My next cholesterol prediction is watch for the total "optimal" value to decrease to 140.

Here's the article: http://douglassreport.com/2011/12/05/barking-wrong-tree-cholesterol/

The more important number to look at is the diastolic pressure, since a high pressure when the heart is in diastole is definitely not a good thing.

 

[tim-from-pa]

I"m going to admit something... my doctor wants me on Lipitor.

I have, so far, refused. My total is around 222 and I am determined to lower it thru diet. I also have slacked off my exercise program, mostly due to the heat.

The ellipitcal is gonna get a WORK OUT over the next weeks, 'cause I am not about to go hiking... not for a while. It was 108F on the way home from visiting my sister just now!

Don't you dare go on that dangerous drug! Research the cholesterol lies yourself and see that statins do not really help that much. It does not extend life. It does not even prevent people from getting cardiovascular disease or heart attacks in a situation like yours where there's no known case. For those with the disease (e.g. already had a heart attack), statins lower the risk slightly, but that's not because they remove cholesterol, but because they have an anti-inflammatory effect which is the reason cholesterol builds up to begin with. Instead, the B-complex helps that, and indeed especially folic acid, B6, and B12 (helps with the homocystine levels which cause inflammation, if I spelled that right).

222 level is absolutely, positively normal and in the "old days" they would not have done anything about it or even blinked an eye--- you don't have to lower your cholesterol because cholesterol is not dangerous, but a beneficial substance your body needs. Today they would treat it, and people are "being treated left and right" and yet heart disease is "as rampant as ever". If the answer was in a simple pill, I would have expected these health issues to plummet by now. But they don't. They get worse.

I say this to Christians because in Christ we are healed, and he gives us good food and nutritional wisdom to keep this fleshy body healthy. Doctors, on the other hand, tell us "we are sick" and have to contrive an illness and that we must be "constantly under their care" as if the Lord can't properly watch over us.

Now don't get me wrong. There's a time and place for doctors if a person has a known medical condition. Then one can get treatment for a season. But the trend I noticed lately is the message "everyone is perpetually sick with something" and then for the treatment is, "Here's some pills you'll have to take the rest of your life and come back to me monthly for a follow-up." Big difference.

 

[tim-from-pa]

The more important number to look at is the diastolic pressure, since a high pressure when the heart is in diastole is definitely not a good thing.

Glad to hear there's some young people with some sense about this, because you are correct. In the olden days the bottom number is what they looked at more --- now the newest fad is the systolic. I'll be honest, I get white coat hypertension and even with ambulatory monitoring (which was normal) they still don't believe my readings or their own ambulatory monitoring. I get the same flack which is why I don't really go to doctors -- I don't even know my cholesterol readings, but suspect it is in the mid 200's which I'm happy with. They just want to push drugs now that I'm middle aged.

I'll tell you what is even better. Convert the BP to mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure. I convert my BP to mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure (that's more important) and write down those numbers. When I tell doctors my mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure, it drives them nuts as if I have some "insider" information that us ignorant peons ought not to know. They ask me why I use such numbers and I tell them it's easier for me to understand. Then if they ask what that is in terms of BP, I tell them they are the doctor and ought to know how to convert it!

 

[farouk]

The more important number to look at is the diastolic pressure, since a high pressure when the heart is in diastole is definitely not a good thing.

BTW, elizabethbraddock:

Hi; do you happen to know if tattooing can affect choloesterol or blood pressure?

Thoughts?

Blessings.

 

[elizabethbraddock]

Glad to hear there's some young people with some sense about this, because you are correct. In the olden days the bottom number is what they looked at more --- now the newest fad is the systolic. I'll be honest, I get white coat hypertension and even with ambulatory monitoring (which was normal) they still don't believe my readings or their own ambulatory monitoring. I get the same flack which is why I don't really go to doctors -- I don't even know my cholesterol readings, but suspect it is in the mid 200's which I'm happy with. They just want to push drugs now that I'm middle aged.

I'll tell you what is even better. Convert the BP to mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure. I convert my BP to mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure (that's more important) and write down those numbers. When I tell doctors my mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure, it drives them nuts as if I have some "insider" information that us ignorant peons ought not to know. They ask me why I use such numbers and I tell them it's easier for me to understand. Then if they ask what that is in terms of BP, I tell them they are the doctor and ought to know how to convert it!

I hope to be a more holistic physician when I'm done with med school.

 

[elizabethbraddock]

BTW, elizabethbraddock:

Hi; do you happen to know if tattooing can affect choloesterol or blood pressure?

Thoughts?

Blessings.

lol...since tattooing causes pain, you would expect to see a transient increase in blood pressure.

 

[jasoncran]

so taking in omega 3 fatty acids is bad tim? that is what lipitor is.

im not in the position to say that cholestor idea is bad or good.i have no issues with cholestorol at present my body doesn make it in massive amounts never has.

 

[elizabethbraddock]

so taking in omega 3 fatty acids is bad tim? that is what lipitor is.

im not in the position to say that cholestor idea is bad or good.i have no issues with cholestorol at present my body doesn make it in massive amounts never has.

Lipitor is not an omega-3 fatty acid, all it's double bounds are found in the benzene rings and pyrrole ring substituents of the parent carboxylic acid.

Most people don't have to worry about blood cholesterol levels; hypercholesterolemia is usually a genetic trait that is inherited.

 

[tim-from-pa]

so taking in omega 3 fatty acids is bad tim? that is what lipitor is.

im not in the position to say that cholestor idea is bad or good.i have no issues with cholestorol at present my body doesn make it in massive amounts never has.

Scratching my head on that one, Jason. That's the first I heard of that. If that were true, then I'm sure the pharmaceuticals would have a monopoly on fish oil and one could only get that by prescription.

BTW, if you know of anyone on Lipitor, tell them not to forget to take Co-Q-10 as it makes the body deficient in that and you can have muscle wasting, and a much increased risk of heart attack.....oh, wait. That's what Lipitor is supposed to prevent. Silly me!!

 

[reba]

Lipitor is not an omega-3 fatty acid, all it's double bounds are found in the benzene rings and pyrrole ring substituents of the parent carboxylic acid.

Most people don't have to worry about blood cholesterol levels; hypercholesterolemia is usually a genetic trait that is inherited.

sheesh do you speak English? :biglol

 

[elizabethbraddock]

sheesh do you speak English? :biglol

Only when I have to. :D

 

[elizabethbraddock]

Scratching my head on that one, Jason. That's the first I heard of that. If that were true, then I'm sure the pharmaceuticals would have a monopoly on fish oil and one could only get that by prescription.

BTW, if you know of anyone on Lipitor, tell them not to forget to take Co-Q-10 as it makes the body deficient in that and you can have muscle wasting, and a much increased risk of heart attack.....oh, wait. That's what Lipitor is supposed to prevent. Silly me!!

That's because Lipitor is not an omega-3 fatty acid (see my above post).

 

[evenifigoalone]

My doctor told me I have high cholesterol and have to change my diet. Not sure what the numbers are--didn't look. (EDIT: Went and checked the paper they gave me. It's 272.9.)
I also have "borderline" BP--it's something like 134/83-ish. Varies a lot, both higher and lower, but seems to stay around that area.
So in addition to changing my diet I'm supposed to keep an eye on my BP.

High cholesterol and high blood pressure both run in my family, according to my mom. Ho boy.:help

I don't want to go on medication, so I'm going to really try improving my diet...I hope. xD I messed up over the holiday...but come on, it was the 4th of July! Not eating a lot of grilled/barbequed hotdogs and hamburgers on that day is simply unpatriotic...;)

 

[tim-from-pa]

My doctor told me I have high cholesterol and have to change my diet. Not sure what the numbers are--didn't look. (EDIT: Went and checked the paper they gave me. It's 272.9.)
I also have "borderline" BP--it's something like 134/83-ish. Varies a lot, both higher and lower, but seems to stay around that area.
So in addition to changing my diet I'm supposed to keep an eye on my BP.

High cholesterol and high blood pressure both run in my family, according to my mom. Ho boy.:help

I don't want to go on medication, so I'm going to really try improving my diet...I hope. xD I messed up over the holiday...but come on, it was the 4th of July! Not eating a lot of grilled/barbequed hotdogs and hamburgers on that day is simply unpatriotic...;)

272.9 eh? They're really getting a tad precise these days. So, what kind of diet you have in mind? 134/83? Yeah, I see your numbers. I'm not fazed. I'm more concerned with what you (or what they been telling you) is a "good" diet because more times than not it does more harm than good. High cholesterol and high BP never killed anyone. Rather they are symptoms analogues to a headache when you have a brain tumor. You don't just take aspirin to control the headache. The issue is still there.

Obviously, if you eat a lot of junk food, that has to go. Hamburgers are bad. Yeah. Those white rolls will kill you every time. (There's a saying here 'the whiter the bread, the sooner you're dead') Substitute rolls with something like Romaine lettuce, put lots of veggies on it so that it's essentially meat and veggies. Then that's healthy.

 

[evenifigoalone]

I do eat a lot of junk food. Supposed to cut down on that, lose weight, and just try to balance my diet better.

 

[tim-from-pa]

I do eat a lot of junk food. Supposed to cut down on that, lose weight, and just try to balance my diet better.

Junk food= processed food (man made altered stuff that God did not make)

Problem is some food the medical establishment calls "junk" is actually healthy, e.g. meat, eggs, butter, salt (provided it's natural). Whatever you hear is the right thing to do today, just reverse it 180 degrees and you'll probably be OK.

To lose weight, cut down on the carbs (especially sugars), breads, excessive fruit. Eat more proteins, eggs, meats, saturated fats as in butter. Also avoid vegetable based oils, i.e. polyunsaturated fats are the worse, e.g. margarines (even low cholesterol) are heart attacks waiting to happen.

My son lost 75 pounds eating basically meat and vegetables more of a Southbeach diet (with some alcohol as he likes to socially drink) rather that Atkins, although I'm more of an Atkins fan. Both seem reasonable, and his diet was suggested by a dietician. I'm glad there's some smart dieticians out there that are not caught up in the medical establishment or "Weight-Watchers" idiotic mentality. That dietician rates an A+ with me. A rare breed indeed.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Yeah, I have to say I don't necessarily buy everything they tell me...they said to skip out on the egg yokes, but isn't that the healthiest part of the egg?
...if I'm remembering correctly. I know more about canine nutrition than I do human nutrition. Not that I'm an expert on that, either, but let's just say my dog eats a MUCH healthier diet than I do. xD (He gets a homeprepared diet instead of processed kibble.)

They said to try to eat less red meat. What do you think about that?

 

[tim-from-pa]

Yeah, I have to say I don't necessarily buy everything they tell me...they said to skip out on the egg yokes, but isn't that the healthiest part of the egg?
...if I'm remembering correctly. I know more about canine nutrition than I do human nutrition. Not that I'm an expert on that, either, but let's just say my dog eats a MUCH healthier diet than I do. xD (He gets a homeprepared diet instead of processed kibble.)

They said to try to eat less red meat. What do you think about that?

Yeah, separating the egg yolks is the most lame-brained thing anyone can do, or suggest to do.

Yes, red meat is OK and is very healthy (of course ideally if you can afford it undrugged grass-eating cattle meat is the best from a local butcher shop). Lots of good nutrients there more than a cardboard-tasting "healthy" bowl of oatmeal does not have. It's better to eat foods that fill you instead of being a "filler". What about the fats? Eat some of that and you won't be hungry an hour later like you would be that bowl of oatmeal, or that "fat-free" container of yogurt we see a smirking self-assured advertzing lady eating, or whatever else. In the long run, you'll most likely eat less calories if you fill up your dinner table with a juicy grilled steak, and hot buttered vegetables that they tell you to avoid (as well as anything else that brings a little pleasure in this messed-up world of theirs). Once you eat that, you won't feel like snacking an hour later.

I think the issue is that people are not aware of the types of nutrients out there, and the balance involved. And the problem with much of doctor's dietary advice is that they basically label some nutritional stuff "bad" when actually it's good. You're average doctor probably flunked his nutrition class.

Your big cholesterol enemy: Low fat sugary stuff (esp high fructose corn syrup). Low fats and high sugars will raise the cholesterol and make you fatter. Also, polyunsaturated fats in vegetable oils. There's way too much soy in stuff so as it is.

I'm a big vitamin/mineral fan as well, and by that I don't mean taking merely an establishment based Centrum A to Z, either. But that's a big subject in and of itself.