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Dr. Richard A. Huntoon

Newburgh Chiropractor

 

Confused about cholesterol guidelines? Talk to your doctor

Joan Raymond Published 14 November 2013 on MSNBC (Dr. Huntoon’s comments are found in black bold throughout the article)

The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology have issued the new guidelines on the use of cholesterol-reducing statins that could double the number of Americans already taking the drugs. (No incentive to increase profits going on here.)

Nick Ragone doesn’t seem like the type of guy whose cholesterol is out of whack. He’s an athlete, a gym rat, and he even likes vegetables. But a few months ago, routine blood work showed a total cholesterol reading of 288, far above the gold-standard reading of 200 or below. Plus, his so-called “good” cholesterol or HDL, and “bad” cholesterol, or LDL, readings were also less than optimal. Now, Ragone, 42, is eating lots of fish and whole grains (I hope that doesn’t mean wheat and corn or semolina found in pasta because that will increase his bad LDL numbers and total cholesterol along with his triglycerides), and upping his cardio workout — all in hopes of staying off medication.

But he wonders if new guidelines issued by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association this week outlining the groups of individuals who will most benefit from heart attack and stroke reduction from cholesterol-lowering statin medications (It does not reduce the risk of either of these and the FDA has already been clear about this) means that a prescription for one of the drugs is in his future. “I don’t want to be on a drug since I’d rather see if I can get my cholesterol in line with diet and exercise,” says Ragone of Bethesda, Md. “But if I’m really at risk for a heart attack and stroke and a drug helps protect me, I guess I will be amenable.”

Ragone may not be alone. Many more people — maybe up to one-third of the U.S. adult population — may soon be having a conversation with their doctors about their risk for heart attack and stroke and how a cholesterol-lowering statin, such as Lipitor, Mevacor, Crestor or Zocorm, can protect them.  (Protect them meaning by increasing their likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes which will continue to increase their risk of a heart attack and or a stroke)

The new guidelines call for doctors to place less emphasis on cholesterol levels and more emphasis on an individual’s specific risk for heart attack and stroke. That means doctors should prescribe statins to patients who are at high risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the short-term, such as those who have had a previous heart attack or stroke, people with Type 2 diabetes (just as an aside here: statin medication has as a side effect Type 2 Diabetes.  So if you are already leaning in that direction, let’s prescribe the medication that will bring it all the way home and then have other serious complications.  Not sure how they justify this recommendation.  See the next article I comment on), and those with very high levels of LDL cholesterol linked to a familial risk.

Among other things, the guidelines also call for doctors to prescribe statins to patients who have a 7.5 percent risk of suffering a stroke or a heart attack over the next 10 years. (How do they quantify that?  Do they have a test that objectively shows this?  Do they have a screening?  OR is it just a total crap shoot and prescribe it to anyone you as a doctor feels should be taking another prescription drug without any thought of addressing the underlying cause)

“What we are trying to do is save lives and improve quality of life, and we can do that by getting the right people on the right statin at the right amount,” says cardiologist Carl Orringer, M.D. of University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland. “Statins reduce cholesterol but, the emphasis isn’t really on the numbers. Statins reduce a patient’s likelihood of a heart attack and stroke. (NO they do not.  There is no evidence according to the drug manufacturer that it reduces the risk of either a heart attack or a stroke.  This is why they removed the commercials with the inventor of the artificial heart because the FDA said they were making claims they could not make.  And so here is a high ranking Cardiologist stating things that are not true and people will believe it as truth) For patients who are particularly at risk for problems, these guidelines can help protect them from potentially devastating consequences.”

Although his phone has not been ringing off the hook — yet — he does expect that the next few weeks will bring a number of questions from patients and from doctors. “I’m sure there is some confusion among patients as to whether they need a statin, if they need a higher or lower dose, or maybe don’t need one at all,” Orringer says.  (And I am sure as his bottom line becomes stressed with National Healthcare being instituted next year, he will be sure to prescribe more to fill in the gap)

Count among the confused patients Ruth Latona of Wyckoff, N.J. The 70-year-old retired business manager has been taking Lipitor for about 10 years. Although her total cholesterol is slightly high, her LDL and HDL levels are good. “I really don’t understand these guidelines when they say they are not going to be looking at numbers anymore,” she says. “I’m a finance person and I like looking at numbers.”

She is planning on talking to her doctor soon about the guidelines and if there is something more that they should be doing to reduce her risk of heart attack and stroke. “I really want to know if we are doing all we can,” she says. (Translated for the article to mean, “I hope I am I taking enough prescription based medication”)

Jim Nichols of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, spent a little bit of time Wednesday morning reading about the new guidelines. Nichols, 51, is an avid athlete, whose cholesterol topped out at about 240. His HDL and LDL levels weren’t good either. He was always opposed to taking medication, so when he was prescribed a statin several years ago, he initially balked at the idea. But the drug has helped, and more importantly, he says, it has reduced his risk for heart attack and stroke. (Again, he has no idea, as the medication does not do that…reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.  But it does create diabetes which will increase the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes)

“A pill is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle, but I could be a vegan and my cholesterol wouldn’t come down without meds,” he says. “Frankly if my doctor ups my dose, because of these guidelines, I will be just fine with that.” (Good luck with all the complications associated with the increased dose.)

Doctors agree the guidelines will probably take a little bit of time for patients — and doctors, too — to completely digest. But there’s no need for Nick Ragone, at least at this point, to think his medicine cabinet will be stocked with a statin. “Lifestyle will always be the first line of therapy that we offer anyone,” says cardiologist Martha Gulati, M.D., of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “And if lifestyle isn’t a part of your treatment already, you need to find a new doctor.” (Except most Medical Doctors will not give you specifics about the importance of nutrition because they do not study nutrition.  So how is a person supposed to improve lifestyle choices when they don’t know themselves?)

Although she hasn’t gotten a lot of calls yet, either, she knows people will have questions. “These (guidelines) have presented evidence-based data in a beautiful, elegant way, and have made it very clear to family practice doctors, internists, and cardiologists, how statins improve outcomes,” she says. “It’s really pretty amazing.” (If by pretty amazing you mean pretty amazing that after all of the research and data around reducing heart disease and heart attacks in this country that it is still the second biggest health concern statistically [behind death by medical intervention] and the biggest reason for financial profits in health care.  That is pretty amazing.  It is also pretty amazing they continue to lead the population in the wrong direction and even the people who are doing it are not smart enough to see what is occurring.  As she said, Pretty Amazing.)

If you would like some true help getting your numbers in line and understanding how to eat correctly and remove the underlying reason for the increase in cholesterol, Diabetes and risk of stroke, please call the office and let’s sit down and discuss your specific imbalance and what it takes to truly address the imbalance.  The office phone number is 845-561-BACK (2225)  I look forward to serving you.


Dr. Huntoon has a single mission:

To support as many people as possible in their quest for health and enable them to improve and maintain their health to the highest level possible, while educating them about the benefits of Chiropractic, Natural Healthcare and Holistic Living, so they in turn can teach others to support us having a healthy community.

Your Choice

Health concerns are a major source of lost happiness and lost joy in all of our lives. Finding a solution that is agreeable and enables you to get back to your life is important. Please appreciate that you always have the more invasive surgery and prescription medication available to you as a last resort. What many Traditional Medical Doctors may not share is, many times, once you begin that journey into medication and/or surgery, it alters your original body from the one that you were born with. Unfortunately, at that time, more conservative and natural treatments may no longer be viable. I encourage you to consider that before making any decisions about treatment for your health. As always I am here to help. 
 
Your Choice:
 
  • Continue doing the same thing and nothing changes or it may get worse

OR

  • Try something different and get a different result that makes you happier and healthier.
 
The Choice is Yours
 
Please call Dr. Huntoon at 845-561-BACK (2225) to discuss your options or click on our E-Visit to do it via e-mail. 
 
Thank You for your consideration.

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