Are cholestrol lowering drug safe or even necessary?

[Guest guest]

Lowering your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol with statin drugs may not reduce the rate

at which plaque builds up in the arteries surrounding the heart, according to a

recent study.

Researchers concluded that the commonly held belief that lower cholesterol is

better does not extend to the reversal of calcified plaque progression with

drugs.

 

Source: American Journal of Cardiology August 1, 2003;92(3):334-6

 

According to NDS Health, a health-care information services company based in

Atlanta, more than 110 million prescriptions were written for statin drugs (anti

diabetic drugs) in 2001-- they're expensive … and they're not without risk.

 

The hidden side effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs-

Unfortunately, like most pharmaceuticals, these drugs usually have side effects.

 

The symptoms vary depending on the type of cholesterol

drug is being taken, but they include:

 

• Hot flashes

• Nausea

• Allergic reaction (skin rashes)

• Heartburn

• Dizziness

• Abdominal pain

• Constipation

• Decreased sexual desire

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Indigestion

• Peptic ulcers

• Gout

• High blood sugar

• Cholesterol gallstones

 

 

In addition to the above side effects, some drugs may carry the risk of serious

side effects, such as:

 

• Rhabdomyolysis - a "muscle condition" that can cause kidney failure

• Muscle pain or weakness

• Liver abnormalities

 

References:

Vella, C.A., Kravitz, L., & Janot, J.M. (2001). A review of the impact of

exercise on cholesterol levels. IDEA Health & Fitness Source, 19, 10, p. 48.

Retrieved March 26, 2002 from Expanded Academic ASAP.

Lane, Jane, "Cholesterol Conundrum," Energy Times Feb. 1999, pg. 53.

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For more information please read;

http://www.mercola.com/2003/sep/6/cholesterol_plaque.htm

As new research suggests cholestoral has no link to heart disease or dementia.

[Guest guest]

My girlfriend has very high triglycerides and is on statin drugs,is

there something natural she could take to lower them?

 

I had read in a magazine about the Masai people eating a diet with

lots of cholesterol but they eat a plant food that has something that

absorbs the excess.

 

I have to find that magazine

 

ayurveda, Jagannath Chatterjee

<jagchat01> wrote:

> Lowering your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol with statin drugs may not

reduce the rate at which plaque builds up in the arteries surrounding

the heart, according to a recent study.

> Researchers concluded that the commonly held belief that lower

cholesterol is better does not extend to the reversal of calcified

plaque progression with drugs.

[Guest guest]

the masai people don't take herbs to lower cholesterol, they take them

for some other benefit that makes sense to them

 

a high cholesterol diet does not equal high serum cholesterol, in fact,

the more cholesterol you eat the amount of serum cholesterol tends to

go down - remember, most of the cholesterol in your blood is

synthesized by the body - eating more cholesterol inhibits cholesterol

synthesis

 

and nor does high total serum cholesterol increase the risk of dying

from CVD, which is why they divided it up into LDL and HDL, and then

came up with the idea of "oxidized cholesterol," and now have moved on

to apolipoprotein A:B ratios, and on and on it will go ignoring the

obvious cause(s) while pursuing their single-origin theories that have

to remain based on cholesterol because the medicos have invested so

heavily in this idea - but they are barking up the wrong tree

 

elevated triglycerides, which is NOT cholesterol, usually parallels

elevated insulin, and almost always occurs in the presence of

truncal-abdominal obesity and the metabolic syndrome X pattern

 

see my website: www.toddcaldecott.com->support->syndrome X

 

get her to lose weight around her belly by walking 2 hours daily,

taking herbs like garlic and guggul, and lowering the glycemic index of

the diet by reducing carbs to less than 15% of the caloric intake -

omega 3 oils are also helpful, as are minerals like magnesium and

chromium (i.e. a good high potency multi vit/min)

 

statins deplete CoQ10, and can lead to neuropathy and cardiomyopathy -

they are dangerous and should be avoided at all costs

 

following the protocols on my website i can get most folks off statins

and normalize blood lipids and blood pressure in about 3 months

Caldecott

www.toddcaldecott.com

 

> I had read in a magazine about the Masai people eating a diet with

> lots of cholesterol but they eat a plant food that has something that absorbs

the excess.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Todd.

Another inquiry though.

 

If eating larges amounts of cholesterol does not cause heart

disease,what about large amunts of saturated fats,as well as refined

carbohydrates?

 

Does minerals like iron cause heart disease because it is highly

oxidative? I had seen a show(maybe 20/20 or Dateline) where a man eats

all the high fat and cholesterol he wants,and his heart health and

overall health is excellent.

 

 

What he does is drain all the iron out of his blood,of which is

suppose to prevent heart and vessel damage/disease.

 

 

My father has athersclerosis,which is is too much cholesterol in his

vessels,which has led to clogging,heart disease;he has has several

heart attacks and by pass.

 

 

I appreaciate your professional answers and replies to my never

eneding questions

 

Chotawa

 

> a high cholesterol diet does not equal high serum cholesterol, in fact,

> the more cholesterol you eat the amount of serum cholesterol tends to go down

- remember, most of the cholesterol in your blood is

> synthesized by the body - eating more cholesterol inhibits cholesterol

synthesis