High Cholesterol Support Group
High cholesterol is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. It is not a disease but a metabolic derangement that can be secondary to many diseases and can contribute to many forms of disease, most notably cardiovascular disease. If you have high cholesterol, join the community to find support and share your experience.
I am in my 50's. Like everyone else, I grew up being taught saturated fat and cholesterol cause heart disease.
Does it?...Does serum cholesterol levels cause heart disease? And will lowering serum cholesterol by any means lower a persons risk for cardiovascular disease?
I think it would be fair to venture to say that the vast majority of the population would answer yes. Understandably, that is what we have all been taught.
But is it true? If I consume a low fat, low cholesterol diet, and take a statin drug to reduce blood cholesterol, do I reduce my risk for heart disease?
If I drive my cholesterol levels to record lows, do I reduce my risk of a heart attack or stroke?
I have spent years studying this very issue. But to gain a clear picture I had to kick aside industry sponsored studies that showed a link between cholesterol levels and risk for heart disease. I had to look at the real world. Not listen to somebody trying to sell me something.
After studying the real world. Making geographic comparisons from one country to another, comparing death rates from heart disease to intake of saturated fats, serum cholesterol levels and "bad" cholesterol levels, I found absolutely no relationship.
If I had to tie cholesterol levels to risk of heart attacks and strokes to save my life, I couldn't do it. I am 100% unable to correlate cholesterol levels with risk for heart attack and stroke.
Does it?...Does serum cholesterol levels cause heart disease? And will lowering serum cholesterol by any means lower a persons risk for cardiovascular disease?
I think it would be fair to venture to say that the vast majority of the population would answer yes. Understandably, that is what we have all been taught.
But is it true? If I consume a low fat, low cholesterol diet, and take a statin drug to reduce blood cholesterol, do I reduce my risk for heart disease?
If I drive my cholesterol levels to record lows, do I reduce my risk of a heart attack or stroke?
I have spent years studying this very issue. But to gain a clear picture I had to kick aside industry sponsored studies that showed a link between cholesterol levels and risk for heart disease. I had to look at the real world. Not listen to somebody trying to sell me something.
After studying the real world. Making geographic comparisons from one country to another, comparing death rates from heart disease to intake of saturated fats, serum cholesterol levels and "bad" cholesterol levels, I found absolutely no relationship.
If I had to tie cholesterol levels to risk of heart attacks and strokes to save my life, I couldn't do it. I am 100% unable to correlate cholesterol levels with risk for heart attack and stroke.
http://scienceray.com/biology/grizzly-bears-and-humans-2/
Meanwhile, lifestyle appears to be the most effective in prevention of heart attacks and stroke, and aiding in longevity.
Here is an ABC article on the bears:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=11187339
Once said that, If we already have CVD (as I have), I take them because it seems one of the few mechanisms to reduce inflammation and increase NO in the arteries.
By the way, at least in Spain, the new documentation of Zarator (Spanish version of Lipitor) indicates that should be carefully used in people older than 70 years).
Jesus
Life is a crap shoot. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
Dee