You did challenge my beliefs on the reasons people are obese. It was very enlightening conversation and one that has helped shape some of my current beliefs.
I hadn’t even gotten into the other side of the ledger which is side-effects … Nonetheless, when independent researchers looked at the published trials (which almost certainly inflated the benefit of statin therapy) they found22 that taking a statin daily for approximately 5 years resulted in you living, on average, 3-4 days longer. Sadder still, large trials have found23 this minuscule “benefit” is only seen in men. In short, most of the benefit from statins is from creative ways to rearrange data and causes of death, not any actual benefit. The Great Cholesterol Scam and The Dangers of Statins
I can remember when it was total cholesterol. Then it was triglycerides. Then it was LDL. Then it was ratio. Then it was “fluffy” vs. “non-fluffy” LDL. :0
Is there a history of heart disease in your family ? Not so much in mine, not that that immunizes me.
Wow! I can understand why you’d be as observant as you are. Did they catch it during a treadmill stress test ?
Went in for my yearly physical and made a comment about shortness of breadth when running up 4 flights of stairs every morning. Doctor said that probably because I’m not in as good shape as I think I am. He said my blood work has always been good but since I’m over 50, might as well get a stress test. Next day did a stress test and failed. Cardiologist said I probably have a small blockage. Sent me to Hopkins the next day for angioplasty. Cardiologist doing the procedure decided that there was more blockages than expected and would like to have me meet with a cardiac surgeon the next day. Cardiac surgeon then said that best option is bypass due to age and no damage to the heart. He said the blockage had existed for a while.
my cholesterol #s aren't great & I take a statin. My doc friend said he has patients with horrible cholesterol #s & no blockage/buildup & he has patients with great #s & blockage/buildup. He recommended that I get my neck arteries utlrasound-ed & that I get a CT scan on my heart. I did both & the results were not great...I have some buildup in both places. Anyway, I am sure you are on it due to your history, but I don't know how well know these procedures are. Turns out my insurance did not cover it. I had had a CT scan due to concerns that a ski wreck injured my spleen. Cost ins $6000, so I was expecting to get fleeced.....cost w/o Ins of the CT scan was $200!?!?!
Prior to the surgery they did an ultrasound of the carotid artery but no idea what those results were. I still go to my cardiologist yearly for stress tests and echocardiogram. No issues after 10 years.
Strangest thing about the surgery was that they had me walk from my room to the operating room and get up on the operating table.
I had a patient yesterday that hadn't been on their BP meds in 2 months. BP was 256/140. I'm sure they will live just as long with her BP that high rather than having it controlled. Of course controlling it with diet and exercise would be ideal but so many aren't discipline enough so meds are a better alternative than having an aneurysm or kidney failure.
One doctor I used to work for said there was a theory that cholesterol was not a significant factor in heart health but rather clotting cascade factors that contribute to plaques. He prescribed statins but readily distrusted their effectiveness as a preventative.
I agree that we live longer because of meds. I think the distinction between life span and health span is also important. I don't want to live to 90 if I can't do most of the things I enjoy for 20 of the last years. Contrary to what some think (not saying you), eating healthy doesn't have to make people miserable. Not being able to run or ride with my sons would make me miserable.
