Posted on 03/02/2013 10:24:14 PM PST by neverdem
Revised guidelines for heart health are set to move away from target-based approach.
Soon after Joseph Francis learned that his levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol sat at twice the norm, he discovered the shortcomings of cholesterol-lowering drugs — and of the clinical advice guiding their use. Francis, the director of clinical analysis and reporting at the Veterans Health Administration (VA) in Washington DC, started taking Lipitor (atorvastatin), a cholesterol-lowering statin and the best-selling drug in pharmaceutical history. His LDL plummeted, but still hovered just above a target mandated by clinical guidelines. Adding other medications had no effect, and upping the dose of Lipitor made his muscles hurt — a rare side effect of statins, which can cause muscle breakdown.
So Francis pulled back to moderate Lipitor doses and decided that he could live with his high cholesterol. Later, he learned that other patients were being aggressively treated by doctors chasing stringent LDL targets. But Francis found the science behind the target guidelines to be surprisingly ambiguous. “You couldn’t necessarily say lowering LDL further was going to benefit the patient,” he says.
--snip--
Clinical trials have shown repeatedly that statins reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, but lowering LDL with other medications does not work as well. The benefits of statins may reflect their other effects on the body, including fighting inflammation, another risk factor for heart disease.
Krumholz’s scepticism is rooted in experience. In 2008 and 2010, the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) clinical trial challenged dogma when it reported that lowering blood pressure or blood sugar to prespecified targets did not reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. In the case of blood sugar, the risks were worsened...
(Excerpt) Read more at nature.com ...
‘_______the drug company reps tell doctors they are.’
Bingo
Wow, that is a great post.
I do not have Celiac disease, but I have more than a few autoimmune problems that are intensified whenever I eat gluten. My rheumatologist insists that bread has nothing to do with it, but my body says otherwise. Good thing I don’t lsten to her.
Wow, that is a great post.
I do not have Celiac disease, but I have more than a few autoimmune problems that are intensified whenever I eat gluten. My rheumatologist insists that bread has nothing to do with it, but my body says otherwise. Good thing I don’t lsten to her.
Wow, that is a great post.
I do not have Celiac disease, but I have more than a few autoimmune problems that are intensified whenever I eat gluten. My rheumatologist insists that bread has nothing to do with it, but my body says otherwise. Good thing I don’t lsten to her.
I thought I hit “post” just once....sorry!
Good place to get niacin that gives you a flush >>>> http://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-premium-niacin-vitamin-b-3-500-mg-250-caps They have good prices mail order vitamins
You get a bigger flush if you take it every other day
http://www.sott.net/article/242516-Heart-Surgeon-Speaks-Out-On-What-Really-Causes-Heart-Disease
THANKS!! I have forwarded this to few people. 95% of the time I am not eating the junk he mentions. I never eat doughnuts or sweet rolls. I can guess what a sweet roll is but never touch them or it. A cinnamon bun I suppose
Oil laden fried junk chips and cheeses doodles in cellophane bags and lil Debby pies? Never ..... potato chips a few times a year
I worked in the Pharma industry for a number of years, both as a rep and manager and sold statins. We had to learn about these drugs inside and out as managers and from that experience I can tell you that I will NEVER take statins... body and bone aches, rhabdomylosis, liver damage all are real possibilities.
No one talks about deaths caused by the most popular statins on the market, but they are there.
Additionally, there are numerous studies that show that low cholesterol levels can affect the production and repair of the myelin sheaths around nerve fibers... so one has to wonder if the guideline suggested by Big Pharma and adopted by doctors to get cholesterol levels below 100 can lead to other issues like dementia and Alzheimers?
I worked in the Pharma industry for a number of years, both as a rep and manager and sold statins. We had to learn about these drugs inside and out as managers and from that experience I can tell you that I will NEVER take statins... body and bone aches, rhabdomylosis, liver damage all are real possibilities.
No one talks about deaths caused by the most popular statins on the market, but they are there.
Additionally, there are numerous studies that show that low cholesterol levels can affect the production and repair of the myelin sheaths around nerve fibers... so one has to wonder if the guideline suggested by Big Pharma and adopted by doctors to get cholesterol levels below 100 can lead to other issues like dementia and Alzheimers?
I worked in the Pharma industry for a number of years, both as a rep and manager and sold statins. We had to learn about these drugs inside and out as managers and from that experience I can tell you that I will NEVER take statins... body and bone aches, rhabdomylosis, liver damage all are real possibilities.
No one talks about deaths caused by the most popular statins on the market, but they are there.
Additionally, there are numerous studies that show that low cholesterol levels can affect the production and repair of the myelin sheaths around nerve fibers... so one has to wonder if the guideline suggested by Big Pharma and adopted by doctors to get cholesterol levels below 100 can lead to other issues like dementia and Alzheimers?
Sorry about the triple post. Computer got stuck.
How is the niacin given?
The whole cholesterol issue is BS to begin with full of disinformation i.e.just another scam to get you to take unnecessary medication whose side affects should scare the hell out of anyone. It’s all about your genes and everyone is different.
I use the convenience and safety of our neighborhood stores for walking.
Too much niacin can also cause a feeling of tightening of the chest. Statins may have too many downsides, but people believe in them.
It seems that LDLs come in about 5 different densities. Even within LDLs there are smaller denser versions and larger fluffier ones. If your LDLs are low, but almost all of the smaller, denser types, that can still be dangerous. These can get trapped in lesions in the blood vessels caused by inflammation largely as a result of things like wheat/gluten, thus causing plaque in the vessels.
On the other hand the larger fluffier type, tend to not cause plaque beacuse they pass through the blood vessels. A higher LDL count if it’s mostly this sort is not an issue. Most cholesteterol tests don’t test for the diiferent types of LDL and are purely a calculated figure rather than several measured ones. You have to ask for that specifically.
My overall cholesterol would be considered high, however ny doctor in South Africa is happy with the component parts, ie high HDL with low triglycerides, LDL irrelevant because it doesn’t split the diiferent types. Next time I have a test done, I’ll ask him to get the full details - dependant on costs.
Excellent read. Thank you posting.
Is there any evidence anywhere that high cholesterol causes heart attacks? Is it true that 50% of all heart attack victims have “normal” cholesterol levels?
My Cholesterol is about 250 and hasn’t changed in years. The ratio of HDL to LDL is something horrific as well. I have had every non-invasive heart test I can think of - and every comment (especially the sonograms) have stated “very minimal signs of plaque”. I am 62.
I have passed the stress tests, nuclear stress test, and all that as well.
Yet my doctor, for some reason thinks it is important to get the cholesterol down to “target”. I won’t take the medicine due to the side effects.
My Mother had bypass surgery at 70. They put her on Lipitor. I went to visit one day and she could not move due to the muscle pain - she was 75 then. I went with her to the doctor and questioned the need at that age to do what he was doing. He insisted she stay on them - at a reduced dosage and Mom went along. She died at 80 - still with muscle pain so she couldn’t exercise. I believe to this day she died because she couldn’t move anymore.
Doctors don’t know all the answers and in fact in many cases what they say is at best a guess. I listen with half an ear, then research, then decide. The doc doesn’t like it, but since I am the one paying the bills I guess he has no choice!
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