 |
| High Cholesterol |
For most of us the concepts of high cholesterol and heart disease are quite familiar. But the fact that high cholesterol is the main cause of heart disease is being "quietly" argued in the medical community.
The experts are divided as to the main cause of heart disease. Some say that cholesterol is the main cause. Others, however, don't think so. Let's not forget that on one side of the argument is the pharmaceutical industry that produces cholesterol-lowering agents known as statin drugs. Lowering cholesterol is a multi-billion dollar facet of that industry.
High cholesterol is a contributing factor for coronary heart disease or (CHD), according to the experts from the Framingham Heart Study. That study shows that those with higher cholesterol levels are the most likely to develop CHD and that it would be unusual to incur the disease with low cholesterol levels.
Yet another group of experts confirmed a connection between high cholesterol and heart disease. The studies produced by this group of experts showed that by lowering the total LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels you could drastically reduce the risks of CHD.
A recent series of trials, using statin drugs to lower cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol indicated a greatly reduced chance of experiencing a heart attack, thereby avoiding angioplasty (a technique of enlarging the opening of a partially occluded artery), by-pass surgery, and/or dying of coronary heart disease-related causes.
Some risk factors that contribute to CHD cannot be modified. Some can be. Of all the risk factors, known and unknown, there are three known that cannot be changed. These are:
1. Genetics.
2. Age, (55 and above for most females, although 45 and above for most males).
3. Type-one diabetes (the risk of developing a heart disease is high if you are diabetic)
We do know that there are some risk factors that CAN be modified. These include:
1. Obesity, which can contribute to type-two diabetes (once again, the risk of developing a heart disease is high if you are diabetic)
2. Smoking.
3. Physical inactivity.
4. High blood pressure.
5. High total cholesterol and high LDL, (bad) cholesterol
6. Low HDL, (good) cholesterol.
If you are of the age, it would by wise to consult a physician for some blood tests if you think you may have high cholesterol and heart disease and to get your blood pressure checked.
As to whether you should take statin drugs if you have high cholesterol, the choice is ultimately up to you. There are other ways to lower cholesterol using diet and exercise coupled with natural remedies.
It would also be advisable do some research on the term "statin", using Wikipedia. You'll find the names of all the drugs on the market and you'll also read about the known adverse effects that can possibly come about when using statin drugs. Some are rather unsavory. Some, although rare, are quite debilitating, if not deadly.
You can also perform a Google search using the term "statin drug danger". You will find a plethora of information concerning the dangers of ingesting statin drugs. If you look far enough you'll find that the FDA considers death to be an acceptable side effect if the occurrences are minimal.