Comments on: LDL cholesterol levels falling http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/uncategorized/ldl-cholesterol-levels-falling/ A critical look at nutritional science and anything else that strikes my fancy. Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:02:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: A E Roebuck http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/uncategorized/ldl-cholesterol-levels-falling/comment-page-1/#comment-87963 A E Roebuck Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:45:59 +0000 http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike_blog/?p=153#comment-87963 A dear friend of mine's husband just learned he's got a cholesterol level of 720. His wife is shocked. This dear man was in a rather tough accident 4 years ago and has not been able to resume a full life (near drowning accident). He's got a pretty severe, persistent form of hypoxia and myclonis (sp?). He's on several meds to help with constant pain and muscle cramping and needs a lot of rest to keep the pain levels down. He's a dear man, kind and caring to his wife and family--even with the pain he's in. He still works as well, but at a sharply reduced rate. He eats at night and over night when he gets up and can't sleep. He's on so many meds for the pain that he sometimes doesn't remember what he's doing--but he find the ice cream, etc. He's gained about 40-50 extra pounds and can't exercise like he did prior to the accident. Doctors have done all they can and are making med changes as necessary. The cholesterol is yet another sign of trouble for the future. My question is, what kind of diet changes can be made (fast) to help this situation? Stop the eating over night---yep, that's for sure. But, is there any particular diet (Adkins, etc.) that is better than others. I'm just searching for any kind of answer and am trying to help some friends. Thank you for your consideration. <em>I've had patients with cholesterol in the 700+ range, all of whom have responded well to a low-carb diet. Maybe you should have your friend read Protein Power and discuss it with his physician. Cheers-- MRE</em> A dear friend of mine’s husband just learned he’s got a cholesterol level of 720. His wife is shocked. This dear man was in a rather tough accident 4 years ago and has not been able to resume a full life (near drowning accident). He’s got a pretty severe, persistent form of hypoxia and myclonis (sp?). He’s on several meds to help with constant pain and muscle cramping and needs a lot of rest to keep the pain levels down. He’s a dear man, kind and caring to his wife and family–even with the pain he’s in. He still works as well, but at a sharply reduced rate. He eats at night and over night when he gets up and can’t sleep. He’s on so many meds for the pain that he sometimes doesn’t remember what he’s doing–but he find the ice cream, etc. He’s gained about 40-50 extra pounds and can’t exercise like he did prior to the accident. Doctors have done all they can and are making med changes as necessary. The cholesterol is yet another sign of trouble for the future. My question is, what kind of diet changes can be made (fast) to help this situation? Stop the eating over night—yep, that’s for sure. But, is there any particular diet (Adkins, etc.) that is better than others. I’m just searching for any kind of answer and am trying to help some friends. Thank you for your consideration.

I’ve had patients with cholesterol in the 700+ range, all of whom have responded well to a low-carb diet. Maybe you should have your friend read Protein Power and discuss it with his physician.

Cheers–

MRE

]]> By: Michael R. Eades, MD http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/uncategorized/ldl-cholesterol-levels-falling/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Michael R. Eades, MD Wed, 18 Jan 2006 04:22:29 +0000 http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike_blog/?p=153#comment-32 Thanks for the kind words about the blog. You can attach a non-medical advice question to any old post. As I've mentioned before, I can't give specific medical advice for legal reasons, but non-medical advice is okay. I just don't know how reliable it will be. Cheers. Thanks for the kind words about the blog. You can attach a non-medical advice question to any old post. As I’ve mentioned before, I can’t give specific medical advice for legal reasons, but non-medical advice is okay. I just don’t know how reliable it will be. Cheers.

]]> By: Alcinda Moore http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/uncategorized/ldl-cholesterol-levels-falling/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Alcinda Moore Sun, 15 Jan 2006 03:44:18 +0000 http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike_blog/?p=153#comment-31 I was looking up a medication tonight on RxList.com and saw a tab for "top 200". According to the site, the prescription numbers come from NDCHealth Pharmaceutical Audit Suite (PHAST) Prescription Monthly, "Retail Audit reflects retail and mail order pharmacy channels". Lipitor alone had 69,766,431 Rx in 2004 (number 2 seller overall, number 2 every year since 1999 when it was 3rd) and another 27,234,005 Rx for Zocor (15th on the list for 2004). That's over 97 million prescriptions in 1 year!!!! For just 2 meds to lower cholesterol. Now, according to the CIA Fact book (I have no idea how accurate their numbers are), there are approximately 234,934,412 adults (estimate for 2005) over the age of 15 in this country. That calculates out to about 29% of all adults 15 and older received prescriptions for Lipitor and another 11.5% for Zocor. Even if we figure only 1/2 of those given prescriptions are actually taking them, that means there are almost 45million people taking statins....and if you figure 1/4, that's still over 22 million or over 9% of the population over age 15 are taking statins. After reading up on the side effects of statins (or the lowering of cholesterol that they do), those are truly scary numbers! My other comment is that JCAHO is currently collecting data on patients admitted for AMI. Among other things, they are collecting LDL levels for these patients. Wouldn't it be interesting to get their stats in a year or two? And my last comment....I find the triglyceride figure of 122 much lower than numbers that I've heard from acquaintances, friends and families! Most people I get numbers from (Family members as well as posters on LC, cholesterol, and statin message boards, again unreliable info) give numbers in the 250-350 or even higher range. One man I work with had a level of over 700! (I know the numbers are averages, but still seem pretty low) Now a question. Is it possible to ask you a non-medical advice question that you may or may not post, but is unrelated to any one specific blog? Should I just post on your most recent blog? I love reading your blogs....and MD's also. Several msg boards I'm on post your articles, especially your interpretations and reactions to studies and articles! Keep it up! Eventually the rest of the country will realize the craziness that's being perpetrated! I was looking up a medication tonight on RxList.com and saw a tab for “top 200″. According to the site, the prescription numbers come from NDCHealth Pharmaceutical Audit Suite (PHAST) Prescription Monthly, “Retail Audit reflects retail and mail order pharmacy channels”. Lipitor alone had 69,766,431 Rx in 2004 (number 2 seller overall, number 2 every year since 1999 when it was 3rd) and another 27,234,005 Rx for Zocor (15th on the list for 2004). That’s over 97 million prescriptions in 1 year!!!! For just 2 meds to lower cholesterol.

Now, according to the CIA Fact book (I have no idea how accurate their numbers are), there are approximately 234,934,412 adults (estimate for 2005) over the age of 15 in this country. That calculates out to about 29% of all adults 15 and older received prescriptions for Lipitor and another 11.5% for Zocor.

Even if we figure only 1/2 of those given prescriptions are actually taking them, that means there are almost 45million people taking statins….and if you figure 1/4, that’s still over 22 million or over 9% of the population over age 15 are taking statins.

After reading up on the side effects of statins (or the lowering of cholesterol that they do), those are truly scary numbers!

My other comment is that JCAHO is currently collecting data on patients admitted for AMI. Among other things, they are collecting LDL levels for these patients. Wouldn’t it be interesting to get their stats in a year or two?

And my last comment….I find the triglyceride figure of 122 much lower than numbers that I’ve heard from acquaintances, friends and families! Most people I get numbers from (Family members as well as posters on LC, cholesterol, and statin message boards, again unreliable info) give numbers in the 250-350 or even higher range. One man I work with had a level of over 700! (I know the numbers are averages, but still seem pretty low)

Now a question. Is it possible to ask you a non-medical advice question that you may or may not post, but is unrelated to any one specific blog? Should I just post on your most recent blog?

I love reading your blogs….and MD’s also. Several msg boards I’m on post your articles, especially your interpretations and reactions to studies and articles! Keep it up! Eventually the rest of the country will realize the craziness that’s being perpetrated!

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