Illogical or not? - High Cholesterol Message Board

chj · 01-27-2007, 09:47 AM

There are so many people that, however hard they try to lower their cholesterol with diet, fail. Then there are people who can eat a lot of fat and have cholesterol within "normal" levels. Does this not show that, genetically, we are all different and so is our cholesterol. Mayby some need more cholesterol than others? Most middle aged women in Scandinavia has a cholesterol of 250. Are they all sick? Then there is an area in Italy where they have genetically low cholesterol. Are they sick too? Nobody knows the whole story, but for me personally, it does not make sense that we should be aming at the same numbers, which are getting lower the whole time.I also think that that it is very irresponsible for doctors to insist that unless we are under 200 we must take statins. After all they are very powerful drugs and can have terrible side effects for some people.

JJ · 01-27-2007, 11:01 AM

chj...I have tried statins as well as my husband, and although he tolerated them for almost 7 years, side effects were there, we just never associated them with the statins. After I was put on them and became sick within 4 months, I researched them thru this site and learned ALOT! We both tried a few different ones, and I especially just couldn't handle them, and also couldn't handle Welchol, Zetia and some other thing I can't remember the name of off hand, but it didn't agree with me, so I said ENOUGH!!

WE both have not been on anything since 2000, and although our numbers are up and down, we have told our drs. we will not try them again. Naturally we have gotten some nasty comments from a few drs., but his cardio dr. told us, if they mess up the QUALITY of your life, they are not worth taking.

Your remark about all of us not being the same, is the exact arguement we try to present. Just because some folks have low numbers, doesn't mean I have to, as maybe my body needs higher cholesterol. I have known people with heart problems with great numbers, so I am skeptical whether all this high numbers stuff is really the culprit. Oh well, guess time will tell.

Best wishes for a great day.....

Lenin · 01-28-2007, 07:02 AM

Quote:

it does not make sense that we should be aming at the same numbers

CHJ,
That's why there are three distinctly different goal levels depending on the degree of risk we face:

1. no risk factors
2. several risk factors,
3. Heart Disease.

Thus we are NOT aiming for the same numbers when follow the guidlines.

chj · 01-28-2007, 08:25 AM

Lenin hello. The trouble is that some doctors seem to be hellbent in prescribing statins if your numbers are not below 200 although there are no other risk factors. When should you start prescribing statins or recommend reducing ,or increasing cholesterol as the case may be, to someone when there is no other risk factors? Is there an unbiased upper and lower level? I don´t think there is a clear cut answer to that and we all get lumped together regardless of genetics etc.

Connie122516 · 01-28-2007, 01:43 PM

Doctors who prescribe statins FIRST without trying diet and exercise changes (and I would add other natural choices) first are not following recommended guidelines.

Read the American Heart Association guidelines. They are based on the National Cholesterol Education group work (may not have that title exactly right but when you find it, their info is also readily available. It very clearly states that unless there are risk factors, statins are NOT the first treatment of choice.