Toon: New Statin Guidelines

[n2doc]

[lunasun]

1. Statins for everyone!!!

that way one doesn't have to care about diet or exercise -it is so easy now

[longship]

2. What the fuck? nt

[jtuck004]

6. The guidelines for the prescribing of statins is being changed so that they will become FAR

more prescribed. Problem is that for many people a bit more exercise and watching their diet seems to be just as or more effective, and about 20% of people experience rather negative side effects.

It is seen by some as nothing more than a profit grab by the pharma industry, and people who sat on the board that made the decision stand to gain financially. I know that comes as a shock.

If they prescribe the older generic statins it's not so profitable, but it still comes with side effects and doesn't treat the underlying causes of lack of exercise and diet. The newer ones make more money, and come with more side effects, from what I have been reading.

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/know-your-numbers-not-any-more-under-new-heart-guidelines-2D11585027

[bananas]

16. Here's the fuck: "Risk calculator for cholesterol appears flawed"

Read the whole fucking article.
The guidelines are based on bad science.
Or, as some might say, the guidelines are woo-woo pseudo-science.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014651556

11/18/13 Risk calculator for cholesterol appears flawed

Source: New York Times

Risk calculator for cholesterol appears flawed
By Gina Kolata The New York Times

12 hours ago

Last week, the nation’s leading heart organizations released a sweeping new set of guidelines for lowering cholesterol, along with an online calculator meant to help doctors assess risks and treatment options. But, in a major embarrassment to the health groups, the calculator appears to greatly overestimate risk, so much so that it could mistakenly suggest that millions more people are candidates for statin drugs.

The apparent problem prompted one leading cardiologist, a past president of the American College of Cardiology, to call on Sunday for a halt to the implementation of the new guidelines.

“It’s stunning,” said the cardiologist, Dr. Steven Nissen, chief of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. “We need a pause to further evaluate this approach before it is implemented on a widespread basis.”

The controversy set off turmoil at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association, which started this weekend in Dallas. After an emergency session on Saturday night, the two organizations that published the guidelines — the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology — said that while the calculator was not perfect, it was a major step forward, and that the guidelines already say patients and doctors should discuss treatment options rather than blindly follow a calculator.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/health/risk-calculator-cholesterol-appears-flawed-2D11603376

[hvn_nbr_2]

3. Glad I'm not the only one thinking that.

I downloaded their spreadsheet to calculate whether you need statins. After I figured my score, being a geek, I played around with the spreadsheet to see who it said needs or doesn't need statins. Basically it says if you're male, over 65, and not Batman, you need statins. Since most people over 65 are on Medicare, and since the government forbids the government to negotiate drug prices, this new scheme basically says that Medicare should give Big Pharma whatever Big Pharma wants to charge for every senior in the country.

It's a scam.

[grasswire]

4. that's exactly what the integrative cardiologists say

Rx statins to males over 65.

It is inflammation that causes cardiovascular events, not cholesterol.

And I'm starting to have the same regard for the opinions of standard medicine as I do for the opinions of Republicans.

[DhhD]

10. Yes. Ratio of Triglycerides to HDL Cholesterol is important.

Less food initiates less cholesterol from the liver going into to the blood stream. Less fatty food is less triglycerides in the blood stream. There has to be enough HDL-High Density Lipid Cholesterol and other lipid proteins and vitamins dissolved in the blood to attach to triglycerides so plaque or clots will be kept from forming inside blood vessel walls.

Low Density Lipid-LDL Cholesterol can become part of the plaque. Usually the ratio of LDL to HDL is genetic. Some Statins leave HDL along and lock up LDL. Lipitor may reduce both which is important in Heart Rate Recovery (after a stress test).

http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/27/4/936.full

Exercise after eating can lower blood sugar therefore insulin. The more fat and sugar in the blood the more Cholesterol and Insulin.

Insulin Resistance is caused by inflammation of persistent plaque molecules present in the blood stream as they are attached to the wall of the blood vessels and signaling that they need to be metabolized.

Insulin Resistance causes Type 2 Diabetes at the site of the cell membrane and in the cell. That is another story. Feel free to look into how a cell opens up to receive glucose and how sugar is needed to produce 34 ATP Molecules. ATP provided the energy to open and close and move the cell organelles and molecules.

In my opinion, exercise and less food, trans-fats and high density saturated fat will lower the bad compounds. You must have enough cholesterol to dissolve fat and enough fat to bond with cholesterol. Having just enough is the key component.

[grasswire]

11. in my experience, standard cardiology is way behind.

I was very disappointed in my last appt with clinic cardiologist and professor at teaching hospital. Not only was he behind the curve, but pretty dismissive of my questions. Said he had never heard of the testing for particle size and he had just come from a major conference on cardiovascular disease. Said there was no need for anyone to have a C-Reactive Protein test.

[Liberal Veteran]

5. My cholesterol was borderline and had a widowmaker at 46.

I'm not overweight at all and a relatively healthy eater (including a lot of grains and nuts, very little red meat).

Doc wanted me to go on statins a few years before the heart attack. Sorta wonder what would have happened if I had. When I had the heart attack, they found a 100% occlusion in my left anterior descending.

That's anecdotal, of course, but wearing a portable defibrillator for 3 months after stent placement was a pain in the ass.

It's all good, though. I am on a statin now.

[LuvNewcastle]

7. I think they are a big help to a lot of people, especially those of us

who have naturally high cholesterol and family history of cardiovascular problems. I think the generics are just fine. I take a generic and it does the job just fine.

[airplaneman]

8. its not just statin that is more widely recommended.

Now BP is supposed to be 120/80 or lower.
It used to be your age plus 100 was perfectly OK.
Blood sugar for Type 2 diabetes dropped from 140 to 126 the diagnosis being 3 consecutive fasting glucose readings at or above 126.
My answer to the problem - if you get two readings at or above 126 then don't get the third reading and you wont be diagnosed with diabetes.
All kidding aside I do believe in looking after your own health.
I know people who have cholesterol readings of 360 in the family all living to very old ages.
Its just like the food industry - they do studies what motivates people to buy more. No real regard for what is healthy only what is profitable.
-airplane

[Bossy Monkey]

9. Personally, I'm sticking with smack. n/t

[reACTIONary]

13. +1 (nt)

[JEFF9K]

12. Switch to a plantarian diet. You'll have good cholesterol without enriching Big Pharma. ...

Plantarian = vegan.

[bananas]

14. At first I though you wrote plantain. nt

[LisaLynne]

15. And you were ready to go into hiding, huh, Bananas?

[JEFF9K]

17. I think the word "plantarian" is more logical than "vegan."

"Vegan" and "vegetarian" are terms that suggest the eating of only vegetables, even though that's not what they mean.

"Plantarians" eat only plants and plant products.