Statistically, 75% of people who have heart attacks actually have a low cholesterol.
It is important to understand that nature is a lot smarter than we are. One of it’s primary concern is survival, and cholesterol is a major player when it comes to survival. Every hormone in the body is made with cholesterol, and hormones control every system in the body. It is a strong component of the immune system, helping the body to fight cancer.
Every cell wall is made with cholesterol, including the cell walls of arteries. Arterial walls are under constant attack by free radicals and other inflammatory substances. In this regard, it is not surprising that statin drugs can actually increase cholesterol plaques in arteries because lowering levels of cholesterol puts the body into a survival mode. As a result, this drop in the level of cholesterol causes the body to start storing cholesterol in arterial walls so it will be available for repair. In fact, insufficient levels of cholesterol can cause plaques to rupture causing sudden death.
Side effects of statin drugs such as Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor, and Vytorin include brain damage, memory loss, muscle aches and pains, permanent nerve damage, irreversible kidney failure, heart damage and sudden death. You can add to this the fact that they can cause the onset of diabetes in about 50% of cases. Women on statin drugs have a 1500% increase in developing breast cancer. Not only is this not well publicized, but the fact that women with the highest cholesterol levels have the greatest longevity.
As many people are aware, statin drugs not only interfere with the body’s ability to make cholesterol, they also prevent the body from making coenzyme Q 10. This is a substance that muscles require to function, which, of course, includes the heart muscle. As people get older, they make less and less Co Q10.
Statistically, 75% of people who have heart attacks actually have a low cholesterol. There are no studies that have given reliable evidence that statin drugs prevent heart attacks or strokes. In essence, the whole approach to cholesterol, in my opinion, is not to lower it but to prevent it from oxidizing.
Years ago, when I did my training, a normal cholesterol level went up to 300. Not surprisingly, the incidence of heart attacks was much lower then. They used to call cholesterol the poor man’s thyroid test. This is because the thyroid gland controls cholesterol metabolism. An underactive thyroid is possibly the number one reason that a cholesterol level might be elevated. Placing a person on thyroid medication can cause a significant drop in cholesterol levels in a healthier way then using statin drugs.
Right now, statin drugs are the largest selling drugs. I suspect that years from now, the powers that be in the medical system will equate our use of statin drugs with how they used to use leeches to treat various illnesses.
Like most of my blogs, please understand that I am only putting forth my opinion. Please discuss with your physician any concerns that my statements create.