Over the last 6 weeks we have been conducting a cholesterol screening campaign in conjunction with the Heart & Stroke’s Heart Month of February. The response has been overwhelming. In 6 weeks we have conducted in excess of 200 screenings. Many being performed for orphaned patients. What this made very clear to myself & my staff was the very real concern present among the average patient about their cholesterol levels & the general state of their heart health.


What are the basics?

There are generally 5 results that are present on the lab results you will receive when you attend your physician for a cholesterol test:

HDL – Your so-called “good cholesterol”. You want this number as high as you can get it. HDL is cardio-protective.

LDL – Your so-called “bad cholesterol”. You want this number as low as possible. This is the primary culprit in hardening your arteries.

TG – Triglycerides… Triglycerides are LDL’s often forgotten partner in hardening your arteries. You also want this number as low as you can get it.

TC – Total Cholesterol. This is generally a sum of the above three. (i.e. TC = HDL+LDL+TG)

LDL/HDL ratio – This is simply ratio of LDL to HDL & provides your MD with a quick reference as to how low your good cholesterol is in comparison with your bad.

Why do I have high cholesterol?

In a word, because of your parents… 9 out of 10 people can attribute their cholesterol conditions to heredity… not diet...

Does this mean I can eat whatever I want?

No!

Why? If it’s genetic what does diet have to do with it?

Well a good balanced diet is always a good idea for many reasons you are already probably aware of… Even though your cholesterol condition is probably hereditary a poor diet will surely make it worse. Eat well… Eat right… But don’t think that diet alone will take care of your issue. For most people diet is only part of the answer. Incorporate a reasonable exercise program and a low fat diet for several months. If this has not corrected your problem in 6 months then you need more help. Consult your physician.

Does this mean that I need to take drugs?

Not necessarily, although medications will almost certainly come up in the conversation. What I usually recommend to patients is to incorporate more fibre into their diet as a first step. For example, try to make sure that you get approximately 16 grams of fibre into your diet every day. If this sounds like a lot, that is because it is… I’ve tried and it s tough. Try using all bran, Metamucil, citrus fibres tabs etc.

If that doesn’t work try Vitamin B3 (aka Niacin). Please purchase the “flush free” variety. The non flush-free variety will make you feel like you are having hot flashes. This is not a pleasant experience especially if you are a man.

Thirdly, if these options don’t work try Red Rice Yeast (aka Red Rice Extract, Red Rice Yeast Extract, Red Rice). This is a relatively unknown natural supplement that is fairly hard to find. There aren’t a lot of studies to support its use, but the anecdotal evidence is very promising. I myself have seen it work wonders in several patients.

If these options don’t work then prescription medications may be inevitable. Discuss these options with your pharmacist or physician.

Feel free to call me at 705-942-3752 to discuss any of these issues further. Or check our article archives for other articles on cholesterol & heart health…

Take care...