Study Finds Seasons Affect Cholesterol

[CShine]

CHICAGO - Cholesterol levels tend to rise in the winter and fall in the summer — variations that in some cases could affect treatment decisions, researchers say.

Their study found the biggest seasonal changes occurred in women and in people with already elevated cholesterol, whose levels fluctuated as much as 18 points.

"It's important for physicians to know this because they need to factor it into how they treat patients," said lead author Dr. Ira Ockene, a University of Massachusetts cardiologist.

Ockene said the findings could be useful to patients who want to try lowering their cholesterol through lifestyle changes instead of drugs. He said many patients could end up getting discouraged if they started diets in the summer and did not see much change or even an increase by wintertime.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=541&ncid=716&e=7&u=/ap/20040426/ap_on_he_me/fit_cholesterol_seasons

[BlueEyedSon]

1. More reason to live in the Caribbean year 'round!

:bounce:

[RoyGBiv]

2. Great...

Next it'll be the seasons that cause cancer...

We must ban seasons. They are hazardous to our health.

[Zan_of_Texas]

5. While we're on the topic of cholesterol

I just saw a big ad in the daily paper touting a supplement with plant extracts (plant sterols and stanols) that claims to lower cholesterol.

"Nature Made Cholest-Off"

They actually recommend changes in diet and exercise too, so maybe it's not a total hoax?

Anybody ever try this stuff?

[hackwriter]

3. People get more exercise in summer

I showed up with high cholesterol last year, and after a month of daily exercise (not much, just 1/2 hour walk or bike ride every day) and just cutting out the chocolate, I got my count under 200, my HDL over 50, and my LDL down to 130.

[SOS]

4. If cholesterol is high

try policosanol. It's an alcohol chain derived from sugar cane.
Developed in Cuba. Works as well as Lipitor in most cases, but no side effects and 1/10th the price.
Also Guggul-lipid can be added to the mix.
Both available at most health stores.
Diet and exercise help, but sometimes our own livers produce too much.
Dietary cholesterol is found only in foods of animal origin, so adding more beans, rice, fruit, veggies is also helpful.

Chocolate is okay, just not milk chocolate....