Is there any truth to the cholesterol scare or is it merely a fraud? There are two schools of thought on whether high cholesterol is harmful and can cause risks of heart disease and heart attack.
The conventional medical community has been telling us for many years to avoid certain fats in our diet and by doing so, will keep our cholesterol levels low; thus, preventing heart attack and stroke. Along with diet, they recommend exercise and in some cases, certain medication that claims to help lower the cholesterol levels.
Many have been led to believe cholesterol is a foreign substance in the body and is not needed or wanted, when, in fact, it is a necessary substance that performs many vital functions in the body. Cholesterol is naturally produced by the liver and is found in all the cells of the body, most prominently in the brain and nerve cells. Cholesterol protects the wall of the cells and is used to produce hormones, bile acids and vitamin D. Each day large amounts of cholesterol are used by the body to perform all these necessary functions. When the body makes large amounts of cholesterol, it's because the body needs it and not because the body wants to clog the veins and arteries.
By eating meat and dairy products or any other foods deemed to be high in cholesterol, our bodies are supplied with less than ten percent of our cholesterol needs. The body then produces its own supply of cholesterol, amounting to three to four times the amount eaten. Thus, by cutting down on high cholesterol foods, the body simply produces the rest of the needed cholesterol naturally. Regardless of diet, the level of cholesterol in our blood is managed naturally by the body. This is why only a few points are dropped, when someone uses diet to bring down their high cholesterol level.
The claims of high cholesterol causing heart disease and heart attack are not really justified, as studies have shown that people with low cholesterol have just as many heart problems as those with high cholesterol. In fact, it has been found with heart attack victims that they have not eaten any more fat than other people.
Stress, physical activity and body weight contribute to blood cholesterol levels. Also, if the body is unhealthy from another illness or disease, the cholesterol level may rise.
Cholesterol lowering drugs are given to those with high blood cholesterol levels. These drugs have serious side affects and can lead to eventual death. Over the past forty years there have been four important studies done on the effects of cholesterol lowering drugs, which showed a seven percent increase in premature death. .
The newest of these drugs are called statins. The possible side effects to these statin drugs include damage to the liver and to muscle tissue. The doctor needs to keep close check of the person's liver who is taking these drugs and if the liver is found to be not functioning properly, then the drug should be stopped. Damage to the muscle tissue can be very serious. Pain, weakness and tenderness in the muscles should be reported immediately to the doctor, as a very dangerous condition can develop, if the drugs are not stopped. The brain is also affected by these drugs and can cause memory loss and inn addition, can cause individuals to do traumatic things such as commit homicide and suicide.
Even more alarming, the American Diabetes Association is recommending all diabetic patients be put on the statin drugs, in case it's found sometime in the future to be a good treatment for diabetics. It's also reported that some doctors have convinced their patients to take the statin drugs, even though their cholesterol isn't high.
One has to wonder what has caused this misconception or fraud to be perpetrated on the people. All one has to do is follow the money trail, as usual. It's all driven by greed. The drug companies make billions a year selling these statin drugs and there are more of these sold than any other.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Cholesterol
Written By: Michael Russell
