The content on or accessible through Medpedia.com is for informational purposes only. Medpedia is not a substitute for professional advice or expert medical services from a qualified health professional.
Read more
Medpedia Answers
(Cardiology/Heart Disease)Medpedia Answers is a platform for asking and answering questions about health and medicine. Read more.
What to do if life style changes and medication do not lower cholestrol
69 yr old, Female
asked Sep 12, 2009 at 09:32PM in Cardiology/Heart Disease
-
1Votes
answered Sep 15, 2009 at 11:00AMWhat does your physician recommend?
I've had to change statin drugs twice before hitting upon one that has successfully reduced LDL numbers to our satisfaction. Diet and exercise are also very important.
Here's what Mayo Clinic has to say about this: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol-lowering-supplements/CL00013 - including an interesting list about foods and alternative therapies that affect cholesterol levels. -
1Votes
answered Sep 22, 2009 at 02:09PMDon't forget the other ways to lower cardiovascular risk. The polymeal is supposed to prevent up to 75 % of all cardiovascular disease. So, if you don't succeed one way, try the other.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymeal
Also, check riskfactors like endangering hierarchical situations or 'type D'. The "D" in type D stands for "distressed" and was found to increase adverse outcomes in cardiovascular disease. Type D is a stable, broad personality trait marked by the combination of a high degree of negative affect coupled with inhibited self-expression in social interactions. The type D individual is reserved and insecure -even timid- anxious.
It's rather odd that we do have our cars checked every 20.000 miles or so; that we do clean our computer harddisks, but that we don't regularly have our selves checked, cleaned and exercised in psychotherapy training or workshops, to reduce the risk factors, that most of us carry. One way or the other. -
0Votesanswered Sep 22, 2009 at 07:04PMHi Johannes - I actually thought that the Polymeal was just a joke. I've read a number of opinions that, despite Big Pharma's hoopla, discredit the Polypill (Media Doctor Canada flat out calls it "bad medicine") - the Polymeal's name allegedly springs from the pill, for some unknown reason.
Isn't the Polymeal just a variation of the Mediterranean Diet, which has been widely recommended for us heart attack survivors for some time?
I agree completely with the dangerous health risks of chronic stress and personality characteristics like your Type D example.
We can eat all the olive oil and garlic and fish we like, but if we continue damaging lifestyle and social interaction choices (and a life of physical inactivity!) it really won't matter how heart-healthy our kitchen is.
cheers,
Carolyn -
1Votesanswered Sep 23, 2009 at 12:48AMDear Carolyn
I appreciate your comment. Polymeal was not just a joke and did cause a serious discussion in the official Dutch medical journal. The meal was the result of a fairly serious meta-analysis of food components that have turned out to be useful over the years. Not surpisingly, some well known elements from the mediterrean diet turned out to be part of it.
I work also as an emergency doctor. Now and then we have patients presenting with ischameic disease, in heart or brain, proudly answering that they 'never drink'. It's clear that some of them would have presented ten years later, if they would have had a daily glass of wine. So, this glass with some chocolate and the rest, has got a place in serious medical advice. Yet, it still is true as well, that alcohol increases breast cancer incidence; but it lowers non hodgkin. So, medicine will never be straightforward simple. I do agree with 'Doctor Canada' that polypill is bad medicine, especially in the era that we are trying to get away from poly-farmacy, notably in the elderly.
Enjoy your meal,
and life,
sincerely,
Johannes Schilder
Sign-in
to post an answer to this question.
Related Questions
- What are the risks of high blood pressure
- What are risks of high blood pressure?
- Which is a better drug Olmesartan or Irbesartan for high bp control?
- If High blood pressure medication does not work
- Is it necessary to consume anti cholestrol drugs(specially SIMVASTATINE) through out the life.
- What drug given following a heart attack would make all food (except really sweet) taste terrible?
- What is Stress Angina
- What is heart murmur
- Triple valve disease
- Resolute stent drug eluting or not
- »» See All
The content on or accessible through Medpedia.com is for informational purposes only. Medpedia is not a substitute for professional advice or expert medical services from a qualified health professional.
Read more