Lowering blood pressure below 140 systolic with medication or lowering cholesterol harms health, and does not reduce heart attack or stroke risk according to a 10 year study of over 1000 type 2 (adult onset) diabetics
I told you so.
[Of course, don’t change your medication without talking to your doctor – in fact print out this story and take it along in case your doctor still gets his medical training from his pharmaceutical saleswoman]
I’ve always been skeptical about where cholesterol fits into the endothelial damage pathway. Look at it another way: people who routinely exercise with their hear rate in the upper target zone don’t have issues with blocked arteries as those who don’t exercise and smoke. We’re taught that hypertension –> endothelial damage –> plaque formation. But, for some reason, temporary hypertension while exercising releases chemicals that relax the endothelium. A relaxed endothelium means no trauma and no plaque buildup. Why, then, does the pharmaceutical industry play with trying to manipulate cholesterol? The science that deals with cholesterol seems shaky. Pharma needs to phocus on the agents that relax the endothelium, not messing with the cholesterol pathways. Look at how many people can’t take statins. Does anybody question why? Maybe they do a lot of damage and the body tries to revolt against their presence…
Correlation does not prove causation. It’s the huge blind spot with many scientists.
Even if high cholesterol causes plaque which causes some types of heart disease, that doesn’t prove that using statins to lower the score on a test result makes any difference on m&m – what is an obvious fact is it reduces quality of life. The single biggest factor is genetics, which a pill can’t change.
Now try explaining that to Lilly, Glaxo, and a LOT of physicians.
And Goldman Sachs
Red Yeast Rice will help lower it some…..White Yeast Rice will really drop the #s…..