Tag: statins

The health risks of chronic inflammation and what you can do about it.

Posted on by bill
The health risks of chronic inflammation and what you can do about it. A number of years ago I was introduced to the idea of how chronic inflammation can affect health, energy levels, and overall health risks by a colleague. I learned that inflammation usually begins in the gut and results in multiple food sensitivities as gut inflammation allows for food to be improperly allowed to enter the bloodstream where the inflammatory processes of the immune system attack it.  He had explained that the process was known as leaky gut. I took a blood panel called the Alcat test which Read More »

Statins and diabetes; truth, consequences, or a combination of both.

Posted on by bill
Statins and diabetes; truth, consequences, or a combination of both. Statins are commonly given a bad rap for their side effects, one being the risk of type 2 diabetes. While it seems logical that high cholesterol increases the risk of some sort of cardiovascular event, many doctors including cardiologists place many folks on these medicines with the belief that they harmlessly will help us live longer.   Some of our patients who had relatively low cholesterol have found themselves taking these drugs. Before undergoing any medical treatment, the idea of benefits vs. risks should be considered.   Just recently, a patient who Read More »

A recent UCSF study shows how ketogenic diets keep us healthier by reducing inflammation.

Posted on by bill
A recent UCSF study shows how ketogenic diets keep us healthier by reducing inflammation. Ketogenic diets such as the Atkins diet restrict carbohydrates and have been controversial in their approach.  It was once thought that these diets couldn’t possibly be healthy for us except that people who were on these types of higher protein and low carb consumption diets often had a better cardiovascular function, epilepsy and other neurological illnesses.  Ketogenic diet critics often state that their diets are healthier and better for us.  Are they really, or do their diets reduce weight without improving health? Where is their proof? A Read More »

The cholesterol was lower but there was no difference in heart health; the questionable science behind cholesterol lowering drugs.

Posted on by bill
The cholesterol was lower but there was no difference in heart health; the questionable science behind cholesterol lowering drugs. Doctors acknowledge that many patients do not tolerate statin drugs, as they lower cholesterol, leaving a wake of damage to the liver, muscles and brain if not monitored closely. A new class of drugs which are expensive, and do not have the same side effects of statins had been recently studies for their potential of improving cardiovascular health.  CETP inhibitors such as evacetrapib were thought to be a better way to achieve what cardiologists wanted, a safer way to achieve improved cardiovascular Read More »

Cholesterol dogma; the government finally catches up to science and it does not look good for those selling cholesterol lowering drugs.

Posted on by bill
Cholesterol dogma; the government finally catches up to science and it does not look good for those selling cholesterol lowering drugs. Sorry big pharma, the message is now clear that using a potentially harmful drug (statins) to lower cholesterol is not only bad for your health, but it does not reduce your risk of having a heart attack from clogged arteries. As mentioned in previous blogs, the problem with cholesterol lowering drugs is that the benefit did not outweigh the risk and now the government has offered new guidelines which shows that dietary cholesterol is not the reason we have Read More »