New Guidelines for Cholesterol Readings

[alarmguy]

If you search for something specific on the internet chances are you will find it.

Here's my advice. If there's one type of advice to never take from random people on the internet (youtubers, forums, etc), it's medical advice.

Talk to your doctor. Get a 2nd (or 3rd, or 4th) opinion from other doctor(s).

Well said, you can use those sources for information to compile a list to ask your doctors.
Never be your own doctor because of what you read on the internet.

There are good sources of information on the internet but it's a tool to have a conversation with your doctor. NOT for someone to play doctor. My wife and I met with 3 different cancer specialists at a group meeting just for me to discuss my case, it lasted maybe 2 hours, each doctor in their respective specialty. Not to treat me or have me make a decision, a real conference to discuss my options.
I had about 6 weeks to prepare. I found reliable sources on the internet (real doctors and practices) to compile a list of questions for the specialists I was meeting with. I also wanted to learn what the different treatments and language used so I could understand them when we met.

I told them this upon meeting with them. They were impressed at my desire to understand everything and my efforts to be prepared. Most of all they acknowledged some of the sources I brought up. This was no Mickey Mouse cancer clinic. This was Duke University Cancer clinic with the whole (6 or 7th floor) dedicated to cancers of my type. (Im all good now, baring some battle scars, another thread)

I have another story on a heart timing issue, since corrected 2 years before that, using my Apple Watch, being proactive got me faster procedure to have it corrected.

BTW- I am in (depending on how you look at it *LOL*) good health, stellar blood workups my whole life, until prostate cancer. I eat right, do not eat fast food and weight what I am supposed to weigh (except now over weight after 6 months of a cancer drug) but losing it again.

I take a 5mg statin based on the insistence of 3 different cardiologists. Even though my LDL is low, my family history is a train wreck to put it nicely. SO far I have not needed intervention except for to correct a small timing issue.
PS, my current cardiologist in our new home area is a product of the Cleveland Clinic. Kind of weird as I get their heart publication monthly for years before even meeting him.

Back to listen to your doctor. With a high Lipo A and nothing that can control it, he wants to see my LDL, if I can get it there, in the 20s to 30s. Even without a statin years back it was NEVER over 100.

 

[mikeduf]

Well here is a good book that has opened my eyes about how we understand what cholesterol is and how it's produced in our bodies very simple book to read. you can read this in a couple of days. Attached is a photo.

 

[KGMtech]

If you could drain your blood, centrifuge the bad stuff out, and re-install, that would be a worthy BITOG post.

 

[Pablo]

If you could drain your blood, centrifuge the bad stuff out, and re-install, that would be a worthy BITOG post.

Funny I was thinking of a backpack bypass filter.

 

[mikeduf]

Funny I was thinking of a backpack bypass filter.

I think Super Tech might be making a pretty decent priced one!

 

[KrisZ]

Can’t question a drug because you’re not a doctor, but somehow people will say “find a good doctor”. How would you know a good doctor from a bad one without being a doctor yourself?

 

[Pablo]

There is one thing. YOU - You are in charge of your health. You should always question ANY medical advice. If a doc wants to do something or give you something, don't just be passive about it. Make the doctor prove without any certainty it's a correct path. This is the same for some lousy youtube, someone's advice, whatever. That's not to say you can't learn from a doctor, or the internet.

 

[CKN]

If you really want to live longer get OFF of those statin's now. They are a very nasty drug and do way more harm than good. You don't need them.

People take them for decades without issues.

 

[CKN]

Can’t question a drug because you’re not a doctor, but somehow people will say “find a good doctor”. How would you know a good doctor from a bad one without being a doctor yourself?

There are multiple web sources for comments about Doctors and their care, manner, etc.

 

[Al]

Muscle wasting, Digestive issues, Risk of type 2 diabetes, Liver damage, Cognitive impairment, Just to name a few. Honestly if cholesterol from your food is depositing in arteries then there is something else going on and the statin is just a band aid.

Cite me the medical date that supports your statements....yea..didn't think so.

 

[Pablo]

Citem me the medical date that supports your statements....yea..didn't think so.

They are listed as side effects actually

 

[Al]

They are listed as side effects actually

Every prescribed drug known to man lists "side effects" that occurr les then 1% of the time. If you took all these things seriously you probably would take zero drugs.

My brother in law has a family history of "hardening of the arteries" leading to death. He is 89 years old and has been taking 40 mg of statins since late 80's.. They celebrated his 40th wedding anniversary bc they figured he would not make 50 he celebrated his 62 year one.

 

[doitmyself]

Every prescribed drug known to man lists "side effects" that occurr les then 1% of the time. If you took all these things seriously you probably would take zero drugs.

Most data and articles about side effects include the words "rare", "may" and "some" (people). There is risk that we may die or be severely injured driving vehicles, but most of us determine that the risk/benefit ratio is acceptable. The same principle applies to health care decisions.

The bottom line is to be a self advocate for your own health care and make your own decisions.

I'm really surprised the moderators are allowing this thread to continue. Health care topics tend to be frowned upon unless they are helpful in nature. Maybe the divisiveness here is helpful???

 

[Lubener]

Muscle wasting, Digestive issues, Risk of type 2 diabetes, Liver damage, Cognitive impairment, Just to name a few. Honestly if cholesterol from your food is depositing in arteries then there is something else going on and the statin is just a band aid.

Amazing and ridiculous comment by an "internet" doctor.

 

[John105]

If you really want to live longer get OFF of those statin's now. They are a very nasty drug and do way more harm than good. You don't need them.

More needs to be known before simply saying you don’t need them. Jmoymmv.

If we were referring to a canine rather than a human, I agree. They don’t live long enough to be treated for cholesterol.

 

[Analog-1]

Amazing and ridiculous comment by an "internet" doctor.

It's not ridiculous it's fact. No i am not a doctor but have seen this drug first hand ruin lives. If you find that ridiculous then that's on you. Doctors don"t cure they treat as there is no profit in cures. Maybe you need to wake up and educate yourself.

 

[PontiacHO]

Except for the extreme cases (morbidly obese) statins will shorten your life quicker than just meeting the medical professionals numbers. I stopped taking them 12 years ago. Still here (obviously) with practically the same numbers. Now that I’ve aged, my numbers are within the guidelines for my age (per medical professionals). While taking a statin, I continually had such sore joints and pulled muscles that I couldn’t exercise. How’s that going to help anyone’s overall longevity and health?

 

[Kira]

I am going to read the book recommended in post 42.
"Don't listen to them" was my PCP's advice when I mentioned the "badness of statins" warnings.
A 20mg atorvastatin daily is the only med I take.

I trust my PCP 100% but patient involvement is something we "all gotta do". 1 med, 1 book, I'm in.

Thanks to the members who've mentioned seed oils' detrimental attributes and to those who remind us of preservatives' evils in fast food threads.
Also, I wonder if "inflammation" alone is a course in medical school.

 

[Pablo]

I am going to read the book recommended in post 42.
"Don't listen to them" was my PCP's advice when I mentioned the "badness of statins" warnings.
A 20mg atorvastatin daily is the only med I take.

I trust my PCP 100% but patient involvement is something we "all gotta do". 1 med, 1 book, I'm in.

Thanks to the members who've mentioned seed oils' detrimental attributes and to those who remind us of preservatives' evils in fast food threads.
Also, I wonder if "inflammation" alone is a course in medical school.

You make a great point- how many years ago when inflammation wasn’t even a thing in heart disease?

 

[OFFRD]

I’m 46 and very healthy. Never been on any meds in my life other than seasonal allergy OTC drugs. I’ve always been athletic. I exercise more than most people, and I do a lot of manual labor that has me sweating profusely most of the year. In addition, my buddies and I have been playing disc golf because it’s a good excuse to walk 2 to 4 miles in the woods and pass fun time. I had my annual physical last month. ALL of my blood work came back 100% perfect except my cholesterol which was around 185. Doc immediately mentioned meds.

I was telling some guys at work about it who are both older than me, one who is quite a bit older. Immediately both of them said “Don’t take statins. They’ll shave more years off your life than they’ve save.” And in fact, when my doctor sent me the follow up letter he did mention all the side effects people talk about.

I know that my cholesterol numbers are a result of genetics and poor diet and so I’ve just started to eat fruit and whole grains instead of donuts and Little Debbie snacks. I’m going to change my diet some and get tested again in a few months and see if those numbers look better… mostly out of curiosity because I am NOT wanting to take statins.