Cholesterol lowering medication is the #1 selling prescription medication in this country. Somehow, everyone has ended up on these drugs. While I am not anti-medication, I believe there should be a discussion that weighs the risks and benefits to see if this prescription is right for you. Let’s review your alternatives to taking a statin.
Myth #1: Lowering my cholesterol will lower my risk of heart disease and death
While this may be true for some of you, for most, the studies do not prove this. Conventional medicine classifies people into risk categories, and for the highest risk people, getting your cholesterol down to a very low number and quickly, might be the right answer. However, who is at high risk? Certainly not women after menopause who naturally have a rising cholesterol level— they all do not need a statin. There are many side effects from statins including impaired memory, which is a concern for many people as they age. Studies are now emerging that show that post-menopausal women without a personal or strong family history of cardiovascular disease are in the low risk zone.
So who is in the high-risk zone?
- Anyone who has diabetes or knows they have atherosclerosis or plaque because they had a test from a cardiologist
- If one of your parents had a heart attack or stroke when they were in their 50's or younger
- If your advanced cholesterol test (NMR Lipoprotein Analysis or VAP) shows that you are at high risk
All of us should do an advanced cholesterol test, which looks at the size and number of your cholesterol particles before it is deemed too high or a problem and before deciding if you are in the high risk category. The routine numbers done in a basic lipid panel do not tell the whole story.
Myth #2: Treat the number, it is all that matters
Wrong. Just getting your total cholesterol and/or LDL cholesterol numbers down is not good enough to prevent heart disease. We know this because 50% of patients who experienced a heart attack or stroke had normal total cholsterol and LDL cholesterol. We need to make sure your cholesterol is not damaged from free radicals because that is what makes them sticky and leads to arterial plaque formation. This happens if your body is inflamed or deficient in antioxidants. We need to look at this and treat it, no matter what your cholesterol numbers are.
Myth #3: The only way to lower cholesterol is with medication
Wrong again. First, think about WHY cholesterol goes up? There are some people who have genetically high cholesterol, but they are the minority. For most people it is about lifestyle. Since cholesterol is used as a raw material to make the stress hormone cortisol, too much ongoing stress will prompt the liver to make more cholesterol to support your hormones. The other big cause is the foods you are eating. A diet filled with processed flour, sugar, saturated fat, and lots of animal foods like dairy will increase cholesterol. Fixing your food by eating a plant based diet filled with fiber, plant sterols, and essential fatty acids is the best way to lower cholesterol and get the antioxidants needed to keep the cholesterol you do have from getting sticky and making plaque. Of course, taking fiber, fish oil, and plant sterol supplements will help, but nothing works better than actually changing the food you eat.
Myth #4: If I take medication, I can eat whatever I want!
This idea can really get you into trouble. Studies have shown that people who take statins are at an increased risk of diabetes. You cannot keep eating all those processed sugar and flour products while your medication keeps your cholesterol down. This false sense of security will make you sick and increase your risk of heart disease.
The Bottom Line
First, get a good risk assessment before you decide to just treat the numbers. Then, work on making a few dietary changes to lower your cholesterol. When you are ready, we are here to help you achieve your goals. We know you can do it because we have already helped hundreds of people make this transition off their medication. Now it is your turn!
