Tom D. Naughton Straightens You Out On Crapthink About Cholesterol And Statins
An excerpt:
I said earlier that we'd come back to the statement that high cholesterol being one of the best-known causes of clogged arteries. If that's true, then we'd expect most heart-attack victims to have high cholesterol. But that simply isn't the case. Several months ago, I posted about a study showing that nearly three-quarters of heart-attack victims have normal or even low LDL levels - and course, it's LDL that statins beat into submission.If you look at heart disease rates and cholesterol levels around the world, you won't find any correlation whatsoever. The French and the Swiss both have average cholesterol levels over 230. They also have the first and second lowest rates of heart disease among industrialized nations. Russians have an average cholesterol level of 190 - below that magic number of 200. Russians also have the highest rate of heart disease in Europe.
...Here's a crazy idea, Dr. Arnold: Given what you just said, perhaps high cholesterol isn't the problem. Perhaps inflammation is the problem, and the only reason statins provide any benefit at all is that they lower inflammation. We don't need drugs to reduce inflammation. We can do that with a proper diet. Beating down our cholesterol levels isn't a benefit of statins; it's a nasty side-effect.
More here from Naughton on what statins do to your muscles.
via @ee4ee
The only real question is: Is Tom D. Naughton prettier than Nigella Lawson?
clinky at December 2, 2011 11:13 AM
Haven't met Nigella Lawson, but as a female and a friend of Tom's, I would definitely say: YES!
After doing a Google search on Nigella, I think Tom's wife is prettier than Nigella Lawson, too :-)
gharkness at December 2, 2011 1:03 PM
Two years ago I had six-tuple bypass surgery. I was going to die in a matter of days.
It was the worst experience a person can go through; the PTSD was unimaginable. I would never inflict it on someone I care about. If I had to face that again, I'd tell them to send me home to die in peace instead.
The docs never looked at my cholesterol levels, but they still gave me Lipitor, which gave me insomnia. I had to stop taking it. Lipitor is supposed to control cholesterol... Does it seem odd that they would prescribe Lipitor and never look at my cholesterol?
I had to quit taking beta-blockers because they zapped my energy. I would practically black out when I stood up.
I walked out on my cardiologist.
Regarding inflammation: Nobody ever called for me to be tested for Helicobacter Pylori, which is the same bacteria that causes gum disease and stomach ulcers. It's also being found in the arterial lesions of stroke and heart attack victims. Cholesterol builds up on the lesions to stop the damage, and only coincidentally stops the blood flow. Taking aspirin can mitigate the inflammation but not the damaged lesions. Linus Pauling wanted to publish his view on Vitamin C giving the arteries the health to fend of Pylori, but he was rejected instead.
I haven't got the budget to spend on more doctor visits. My blood pressure is way down and I'm gaining strength gradually. I can ride my bike 60km in under 3 hours. I can even look at myself in the mirror.
Jefe at December 3, 2011 12:53 AM
It's medical knowledge that the real factor in controlling cholesterol is the bile secreted by our gall bladder, not a lack of Lipitor in our diets or an excess of Burger King. I never see anyone looking at gall bladder health as a function of cholesterol.
Jefe at December 3, 2011 9:06 AM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/12/tom-d-naughton.html#comment-2825560">comment from JefeCholesterol is not a problem -- it's important for health.
And Dr. Michael Eades explains cholesterol, bile, and the gall bladder here:
http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/uncategorized/carbohydrates-and-gallstones/
Amy Alkon
at December 3, 2011 10:20 AM
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