Cholesterol Levels Down - Good News?

Cholesterol Levels Down - Good News?

12/31/07

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced earlier this month that there has been a notable decrease in cholesterol levels over the last 10 years. This is certainly good news, but the reality is far less impressive than many of the news headlines suggest.

According to Susan Schober, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the lead author of the report, they only looked at total cholesterol levels. They admittedly did not include other risk factors, such as LDL levels (Low-density lipoprotein), often referred to as "bad" cholesterol.

Why is this a problem? The American Heart Association notes, "When too much LDL (bad) cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with other substances, it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, heart attack or stroke can result."

Additionally, the decrease was only seen among women 60 years and older, and men 40 years and older. There was no decline seen in other age groups, which strongly suggests that more needs to be done to educate the rest of the population about the dangers of high cholesterol... a good diet and exercise are essential to a healthy heart.

Why The Decrease?
Almost 50 years ago, we began to see a decline in cholesterol levels in the general U.S. population. This was primarily due to changes in diet, reducing or eliminating of high cholesterol foods, saturated fats and trans fats.

However, over the last 10 years the largest decrease appears to be the result of some highly prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs, including medicines such as Lipitor, made by Pfizer Inc.; Zocor, by Merck & Co.; and Pravachol, from Bristol-Meyers Squibb. These drugs dramatically reduce levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, but come with the usual laundry list of potentially serious side-effects.

The backlash of this increased use of prescription medications to lower LDL (bad ) cholesterol levels is that it makes us forget about the need to improve our diet and to exercise. We are more likely to eat what we want and let the medication correct the problem. The result is that our weight increases while we proudly watch our cholesterol level decrease. We’d do well remembering that our diet, weight, physical activity and exposure to tobacco smoke all affect our cholesterol level and our heart. So if you choose to use the prescription medications, don’t throw caution to the wind in these other important areas.

Natural Help - Omega-3
Some have reported great results from supplementing their diets with Omega-3 fish oils. While the real thing is always preferable, the reality is that the most widely available fish is "farmed" fish, which are not high in omega-3 oils due to their "unnatural" diets. So if you want to increase your omega-3 oils, you'll have to turn to high quality supplements.

Testimonial
"For several years my doctor has encouraged me to take Lipitor for my high cholesterol. I was already eating a heart-healthy diet and sticking to it, but the numbers were dropping very slowly. Eventually I was able to get my total cholesterol down to 233 and my LDL to 152. This was good, but not quite good enough…I have MS and a family history of heart disease. My doctor again wrote out a prescription for Lipitor and again, I threw it away. I was uncomfortable with the side-effects and the need for regular blood test to check for medication-induced liver problems.

Determined to find a natural way to improve my LDL, I spoke with a local nutritionist who is also well-versed in herbal supplements. It was suggested that I try omega-3 fish oil capsules. I took 3 capsules each day, 2 capsules in the morning and 1 with dinner. After 4 months my total cholesterol level dropped to 196 and my LDL to 131. My doctor was very impressed and agreed to give me a few more months to bring it down a little more. Another visit to the nutritionist added a product called "Cholarest SC" made by Metagenics, to my Omega-3 routine. Four months later and my total cholesterol level is 168 (well below the recommended 199) and my LDL is 98 (below the recommended 100)!!! I no longer have high cholesterol and my liver enzymes are, in my doctor's words 'perfect'". LDM – Virginia

Be well,
Medicine Plants™

Health Disclaimer! The information presented on this site should not be construed as personal medical advice or instruction. You should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to your health and well-being. The information and opinions provided here are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the authors, but readers who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions.

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