Posted on 03/14/2022 6:19:28 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
New research from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences has revealed that the link between 'bad' cholesterol (LDL-C) and poor health outcomes, such as heart attack and stroke, may not be as strong as previously thought.
Published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the research questions the efficacy of statins when prescribed with the aim of lowering LDL-C and therefore reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Previous research has suggested that using statins to lower LDL-C positively affects health outcomes, and this is reflected in the various iterations of expert guidelines for the prevention of CVD. Statins are now commonly prescribed by doctors, with one third of Irish adults over the age of 50 taking statins, according to previous research.
The new findings contradict this theory, finding that this relationship was not as strong as previously thought. Instead, the research demonstrates that lowering LDL-C using statins had an inconsistent and inconclusive impact on CVD outcomes such as myocardial infarction (MI), stoke, and all-cause mortality.
In addition, it indicates that the overall benefit of taking statins may be small and will vary depending on an individual's personal risk factors.
The lead author on the paper is Dr. Paula Byrne from the HRB Centre for Primary Care Research based in RCSI's Department of General Practice. Commenting on the findings, Dr. Byrne says that "the message has long been that lowering your cholesterol will reduce your risk of heart disease, and that statins help to achieve this. However, our research indicates that, in reality, the benefits of taking statins are varied and can be quite modest."
The researchers go on to suggest that this updated information should be communicated to patients through informed clinical decision-making and updated clinical guidelines and policy.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
How does one game a blood test?
Feldman protocol. I normally stay on a keto diet which lowers triglycerides but raises LDL and HDL. Three days before a cholesterol test I start eating a lot more fat and introduce a moderate amount of carbs. This has the effect of keeping the triglycerides low and HDL high while lowering LDL.
Since cholesterol blood tests really only tell you how you’ve been eating the last three days they are pretty useless.
One thing you do not want to do is fast any longer than required for the test. If you take a cholesterol test after an extended fast you will give your doctor a heart attack when he sees your numbers.
A Thousand pardons, my FRiend. I badly misread your statement as 5% and your punchline didn’t register. No excuse, as I had already finished a full cup of coffee. Please accept my apology. There is a reason we are supposed to measure twice and cut once. I went off half cocked. Sorry about that, Chief.
LOL...that’s fine. When I write indirectly like that, it’s very easy to misunderstand! That’s a risk that I take and I also take responsibility for people who don’t pick up on it, which is why I explain, rather than name-call people don’t read it correctly the first time.
Your writing was fine. It was all me. Thanks.
my understanding is that the main cause of heart disease is inflammation causing plaquing. then the plaque drips out in to the blood stream, chokes off a blood vessel which causes heart attack/stroke
Therefor do everything to minimize inflammation.
Also increase nitric oxide to promote blood vessel flexibility
i’m given to understand that the main problem is not cholesteral levels but rather inflammation.
On this score crestor does a better job of reducing inflammation than lipitor
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