Q. I had a heart attack in 2009 and got a stent in a blocked artery. In September, 2009, my blood lipids were as follows: Triglycerides=203, Cholesterol=203, HDL=33, LDL=129, Chol/HDL Ratio=6.2. Everyone said these bad numbers accounted for my heart attack.
After the attack, I tried a statin for two months but didn’t like it and stopped. I changed my diet radically, dropping 20 pounds in a month.
I also started taking red yeast rice, omega-3, flaxseed and niacin. Early this year my lipid results were: Triglycerides=84, Cholesterol=136, HDL=42, LDL=77, Chol/HDL Ratio=3.2.
I thought I had found the fountain of youth. But within a few months, I had chest pain and got three more stents for blocked arteries.
The cardiologist was very upset that I had stopped taking the statin. She said that although natural stuff brought my lipids down, it could not protect my arteries against inflammation. Statins do.
Why is there such a major emphasis on lipid scores when inflammation is the actual culprit? Needless to say, I am back on a statin.
A. Many people suffer heart attacks even though they have normal lipid levels. There are many other factors that contribute to heart disease and inflammation is just one of them.
Your story shows that the emphasis on blood lipid results can be overdone. We are sending you our Guide to Cholesterol Control & Heart Health for information on medications and non-drug approaches that can help keep the heart in shape.
For a person like you who has already suffered a heart attack, a statin is sensible treatment. Work with your doctor to find one you can tolerate.
