The People's Perspective on MedicineArticles categorized as High Cholesterol
Is Low LDL Cholesterol Linked to Bleeding Strokes?
Could "bad" cholesterol serve a function in the body? A meta-analysis finds low LDL cholesterol may increase the risk for bleeding strokes.
Cure or Catastrophe: The Unpredictability of Medications
Promise or peril? The unpredictability of medications makes some folks extremely ill while others never experience any problems. Why is that?
Show 1409: From Hippocrates to Hypocrisy: The Hidden Risks of Healthcare
Our expert guest tells how to spot the hidden risks of healthcare and what to do to avoid them. Many problems are similar around the world.
How Can You Overcome the Harms of Sitting Too Much?
How much time do you spend sitting on average? Chances are it's way too much and it's surprisingly bad for your health. How can you counteract the harm?
Can Repatha Substitute for Statins to Lower Cholesterol?
Many people tell us they can't tolerate statin side effects. Can Repatha substitute for statins without side effects? What about muscle Pain?
Has Your Doctor Fired You? Can Doctors Do That?
Readers share stories about being fired by their doctors if they declined to take statins or HRT. Can MDs do that? Can patients fire MDs?
Fasting to Reduce the Risk of Diabetes
Research suggests intermittent fasting to reduce the risk of diabetes could help lower cholesterol and help with weight loss.
How to Improve Your Cholesterol with Cocoa
A reader got unexpectedly good results from consuming cocoa flavanols. Might this practice improve your cholesterol as well?
Do Your Drug’s Benefits Outweigh Its Risks?
Do you know how effective your meds are? How can you determine a drug's benefits or dangers? TV commercials and print outs are worthless.
Should You Restrict the Number of Eggs You Eat?
If you have been told to restrict the number of eggs you eat, you may want to check again. It may be safe to consume an egg a day.
Do Statins Lower CoQ10 Levels? Can Supplements Correct That?
Cholesterol-controlling statins lower CoQ10 levels, but supplements do not reliably reverse muscle side effects.
How Does Red Yeast Rice Compare to Statins?
Red yeast rice (aka RYR) is a very popular dietary supplement. How does it compare to simvastatin? What about RYR side effects? Is RYR safer than statins?
Does Red Yeast Rice for Lowering Cholesterol Have Side Effects?
While many people may choose to try red yeast rice as a natural alternative to cholesterol lowering drugs, they should be advised that they may experience red yeast side effects just as they would wit
What Is the Risk of Red Yeast Rice?
The risk of red yeast rice for causing muscle pain is lower than that of a statin, but some people do develop muscle problems as a consequence.
Are Some People More Aggressive on Statins?
Are some people more aggressive on statins? Low cholesterol levels have been linked to depression and aggression. A doctor shares his story.
Is It Safe to Take Red Yeast Rice for High Cholesterol?
Most people who take red yeast rice to lower cholesterol do well. But a few experience side effects. What is the best RYR on the market?
Will You Lower Your Cholesterol With Milk Thistle?
Milk thistle extract can lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. It blocks the same enzyme as statins.
Should Everyone Over 65 Take a Statin to Prevent a Heart Attack?
A new study suggests that not enough people are taking a statin to prevent a heart attack! It should be 150 million Americans. Really? Yikes!
The Statin Bandwagon Rolls On!
If you are between 40 and 75 should you be taking a statin to prevent a heart attack? The USPSTF statin bandwagon rolls on. Read the numbers!
Does It Make Sense to Order Your Own Laboratory Tests?
When you order laboratory tests online, make sure you know what the company does with your data as well as how reliable it is.
Shocking Conflicts of Interest in Nonprofit Patient Charities
Americans trust nonprofit patient organizations educating about cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer disease. Beware Conflicts of Interest!
Natural Ways to Get Your Cholesterol Down
Can you get your cholesterol down with natural products? Niacin, red yeast rice, turmeric and psyllium may help control lipids.
Does CRP Inflammation Trump LDL-C for Heart Disease?
How does LDL cholesterol compare to CRP inflammation when it comes to predicting heart attacks in high-risk patients? New data are intriguing!
How to Improve Cholesterol and Triglycerides with Krill Oil
Taking omega-3 fats from krill oil helped a reader reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure and stabilize an irregular heartbeat.
Statins and Muscle Pain: What Else Can He Do To Lower LDL?
Many physicians are adamant that statins rarely cause any side effects. And yet readers continue to report a connection between statins and muscle pain.
How Well Do CAC Scores Predict Heart Attack Risk?
MDs use coronary artery calcification, CAC scores, to determine heart disease risk. Does the CAC predict heart attacks? Do statins raise CAC?
What Do You Know About the New Cholesterol Drug Nexletol?
When the FDA approved a new cholesterol drug, bempedoic acid, it told patients to take it with a statin. Now some people take it instead.
Is It Unhealthy to Drink Unfiltered Coffee?
Unfiltered coffee prepared by boiling or French press methods can raise cholesterol. Filtered coffee has numerous health benefits.
Is It Safe to Take Alli for a Long Time?
Alli is an over-the-counter weight loss pill that lowers cholesterol too. Can you safely take Alli for a long time?
Will Nexletol (Bempedoic Acid) Replace Statins?
Is the cholesterol-lowering drug Nexletol (bempedoic acid) a breakthrough vs cholesterol? What are the side effects? Will it replace statins?
Is it Risky to Take Atorvastatin with Grapefruit Juice?
Millions of people take statins daily. Are there dangerous food and drug interactions? What about atorvastatin with grapefruit juice?
Is Coffee Really Bad for You?
Studies show that coffee drinkers are less likely to get heart failure or die of heart disease. Unfiltered coffee, though, is bad for you.
Can You Lower Your Cholesterol with Bergamot?
Some research suggests that an extract of the citrus fruit bergamot can lower cholesterol much as red yeast rice does. Is it right for you?
Are You Wasting Money On Supplements Against Heart Disease?
A new study suggests that Americans are wasting money on supplements to fight heart disease. How compelling are the data? Get the inside scoop
Why Do Doctors Hate Stories of Statin Side Effects?
Have you ever experienced statin side effects? Some doctors think stories of statin side effects are fake medical news or fear mongering.
New Analysis Disputes Dogma that All Seniors Need Statins
Patients following recommendations from the American College of Cardiology need statins as they get older. That's most men over 64!
Show 1301: What Are Forever Chemicals Doing in Food Packaging?
In these interviews, we discuss PFAS, known as forever chemicals. Consumer Reports found them in some but not all restaurant food wrappers.
Doctors and Patients Confused About Statins and Muscle Damage
The FDA lists myositis and rhabdomyolysis as serious statin side effects. What is the connection between statins and severe muscle damage?
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About the Statin and Diabetes Connection
Many cardiologists were reluctant to acknowledge the statin and diabetes connection. Now each patient deserves to weigh the risks.
Do Glucosamine and Chondroitin Increase Your Cholesterol?
Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements taken to alleviate joint pain may increase your cholesterol. What else can you use for pain relief?
If Statins Cause Diabetes, Why Should ALL Diabetics Take a Statin?
Evidence from many studies indicates that statins cause diabetes. People who are at risk for this metabolic disorder should be wary.
Which Is Better for Blood Lipids–Low-Carb or Low-Fat?
A randomized controlled trial found that people have better blood fat profiles and less insulin resistance on a low-carb diet.
How to Make Your Blood Fats Healthier
Regular exercise and a Mediterranean-style diet can change blood fats so that they are less likely to increase the risk for heart disease.
Is There a Link Between Statin Drugs and Gingivitis?
No one knows if statin drugs to lower cholesterol increase the likelihood of inflamed gums and gingivitis. Dentists must study this.
Tai Chi Can Help Control Waist Size
Practicing tai chi can help reduce the waistline, control body weight and raise good HDL cholesterol. It also helps improve balance and sleep.
What Is the Best Breakfast to Lower Cholesterol?
One reader discovered that adding walnuts, blueberries, flaxseed and cinnamon made Cheerios the best breakfast to lower cholesterol.
Can Good HDL Cholesterol Go Too High?
We have been told to get our LDL cholesterol down and our HDL choleserol up. Is there evidence that good HDL is bad if it gets too high?
Show 1232: What Should People Do to Protect Their Hearts?
People can use sensible approaches to protect their hearts, such as a Mediterranean diet and exercise. What risk factors matter?
What Is the Link Between Low Thyroid and High Cholesterol?
Many people have low thyroid and high cholesterol, because thyroid hormone is required to normalize lipid metabolism.
Will Olive Oil Raise Your Good HDL Cholesterol?
Using virgin olive oil in your diet can increase your good HDL cholesterol and possibly lower your risk of heart problems.
How You Should Eat to Lower Cholesterol Is Controversial
An international panel says there's little evidence that LDL cholesterol is an important risk factor for heart disease. A low-fat diet might not be helpful.
Snacking on Almonds Improves Your Blood Vessels
British researchers found that snacking on almonds instead of mini-muffins boosts blood vessel flexibility and lowers LDL cholesterol levels.
Will Two Apples a Day Keep Your Heart Healthy?
Researchers report that people eating two apples a day, everything except the core, lowered their total and LDL cholesterol modestly.
Should You Take Your Pills at Breakfast or Bedtime?
How do you take your pills? Are you a morning person or a nighttime person? What beverage do you swallow them with? You'll be surprised to learn it matters.
Could Pomegranate Juice React Badly with Crestor?
You might worry about whether pomegranate juice will react badly with your medication, but it should not create problems with rosuvastatin (Crestor).
Can Men Get an Extra Benefit from a Statin?
While doctors argue about how well a statin prevents heart disease in healthy people, researchers have found an unexpected benefit from a statin for men.
Is White Meat Better for Your Heart Than Red Meat?
Should you choose white meat such as chicken instead of red meat like beef or pork? To lower cholesterol, pick plant protein in a low sat fat diet.
No Need to Fast for a Cholesterol Test
For purposes of predicting heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems, a nonfasting cholesterol test works as well one taken while fasting.
How Risky Is It to Eat an Egg?
Evidence from a Finnish study shows you could probably eat an egg a day without increasing your risk for stroke or heart disease.
Turmeric Lowered Cholesterol Raised by Glucosamine?
Have you ever taken glucosamine and chondroitin for sore joints? Did this combo raise cholesterol? Turmeric lowered cholesterol AND eased inflammation.
Must You Grind Flaxseed to Get Its Nutritional Benefits?
The scientific consensus is that if you grind flaxseed, you get more of the fiber, lignans and omega-3 fats that make it a healthful food.
Why Would Anyone Want to Raise Cholesterol Levels?
We're told that total and LDL cholesterol are really bad. What if such lipids are very low naturally? Are there any risks? Can you raise cholesterol levels?
Will Kiwifruit Raise Your Good HDL Cholesterol?
A reader found that eating two kiwifruit daily for many months raised beneficial HDL cholesterol into the desirable range.
Can You Use Cinnamon to Reduce Your Cholesterol?
Adding cinnamon to food or taking a water-extracted cinnamon supplement may help you reduce your cholesterol, triglyceride and blood sugar levels.
Is It Possible to Lower Cholesterol with Margarine?
A reader's experience confirms research showing you can lower cholesterol with margarine that contains plant stanols or sterols.
Show 1147: How Do You Control Your Cholesterol?
To prevent heart disease, you need to control your cholesterol. Do you do that with diet, supplements and exercise, or do you also take medication?
Will Yellow Mustard Ease Cramps from Statins?
Have you heard of SAMS? It stands for statin-associated muscle symptoms. It may be more common than doctors think. Could mustard and/or Coenzyme Q10 help?
Will Alirocumab Save You from a Heart Attack?
A new study shows that alirocumab added to statins can help some people at very high risk of a heart attack. How high is your risk?
What Are the Health Benefits of Cinnamon in Coffee?
Adding cinnamon and cocoa to coffee may enhance its benefits for blood sugar and heart health as well as its flavor. Our reader tells how to do this.
Will Eating Walnuts Lower Your Cholesterol?
An analysis of data from previous studies shows that people eating walnuts have lower cholesterol and triglycerides. They don't gain weight or raise their blood pressure.
Statins and Diabetes | What Happens When Blood Sugar Rises?
What happens when a prescribed medication raises blood sugar levels? Are statins and diabetes connected? What if glucose levels return to normal when statins are stopped?
No Study Support for Fish Oil Soothing Dry Eyes
Although fish oil has a reputation for soothing dry eyes, a recent randomized controlled trial found that placebo capsules of olive oil worked just as well.
How to Control Your Blood Sugar Without Drugs
You may be able to lower both your cholesterol and your blood sugar without drugs. You'll need to focus on exercise, diet and stress reduction.
Will Garlic Really Lower Your Blood Pressure?
Do you wonder whether garlic has earned its reputation as a heart-healthy flavor? Studies suggest that garlic may lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, at least a bit.
How Can You Lower Your LDL Cholesterol with Snacks?
Research shows that eating a small amount of almonds and dark chocolate daily can improve LDL cholesterol, albeit modestly.
Doctors Battle Over High Cholesterol and Blood Pressure
Half the population of the United States has high cholesterol and blood pressure according to the official guidelines. Why is this so controversial?
Does Lowering Blood Pressure to 120/80 Save Lives?
Is your blood pressure below 130/80? If not you are now labeled hypertensive. Should you be lowering blood pressure to achieve the goals of the guidelines?
How Do Statins Compare to Red Yeast Rice?
Some people find it impossible to take statins due to muscle weakness or pain. But how do statins compare to alternative treatments?
Preventing Heart Attacks With a Unique Anti-Inflammatory Drug
Many people think that preventing heart attacks is as simple as lowering cholesterol. What if inflammation is a culprit? How can you reduce inflammation?
Are New Cholesterol Drugs Way Too Pricey?
You can now lower your LDL cholesterol to unprecedented levels with new cholesterol drugs. Are Repatha and Praluent worth their hefty price tags?
Quitting Sugar Made a Big Impact on Blood Pressure
One reader reports that quitting sugar lowered cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Will a low-carb diet have the same benefits for you?
Is Red Yeast Rice Safe with a Statin?
Is red yeast rice safe in combination with a statin? Taking both is not recommended, but some people may prefer red yeast rice instead of a statin.
How Can You Tell If You Need a Statin?
If you are a senior citizen the chances are very good that you will be told you need a statin. How solid is the evidence that it will prolong your life?
Show 1085: The Statin Standoff and New Drugs for the Heart
Cardiologists don't agree on how well statin cholesterol-lowering drugs work to prevent heart disease. What do you know about the statin standoff?
Is Lowering Cholesterol with Saturated Fats a Paradox?
Sugar might be more dangerous than saturated fats in the diet as a risk factor for coronary heart disease. One reader lowered blood lipids with sat fats.
How to Ease Statin-Induced Muscle Pain
The anti-inflammatory component of turmeric, curcumin, may have the power to alleviate statin-induced muscle pain so people can stay on a statin.
Lovaza for High Triglycerides Eased Joint Pain
Taking the prescription omega-3 product Lovaza for high triglycerides resulted in unexpected improvement in joint pain.
Does the New Cholesterol Drug Repatha Save Lives?
Is evolocumab (Repatha) a breakthrough for treating high cholesterol? Or is it an expensive drug that won't save any lives?
How to Lower Your Cholesterol with Oat Fiber
Eating oatmeal, oat bran or barley may help you lower your cholesterol and other blood fats. This is especially good if you have metabolic syndrome.
Listen to Dr. DuBroff Discuss the Cholesterol Hypothesis
Dr. Robert DuBroff, cardiologist and lipidologist, tells why he thinks we need to look again at the cholesterol hypothesis and re-evaluate statins.
Will Eating Cheese Boost Your Cholesterol?
We have been told that saturated fat is bad for our hearts. That is why cheese has been on the no-no list for decades. Perhaps that advice was premature.
What Are the Most Common Statin Side Effects?
Some physicians would like you to believe that statins do not cause side effects. We offer a different perspective on common statin side effects.
Is Coconut Oil Good for Your Health?
The question, "Is coconut oil good or bad for you?" has generated a lot of controversy. The latest research suggests the balance may be positive.
Is Butter Better? Why Butter is Back with a Bullet!
Butter has been vilified for many years but a new study says butter is not bad for your heart and may actually be beneficial against diabetes. How come?
Is Bad LDL Cholesterol Good for Older People?
We've been told that bad LDL cholesterol is our enemy. That's why many doctors prescribe statins. Is there an alternate view of the cholesterol hypothesis?
Will A Free Lunch Influence Your Doctor’s Choice of Medicine?
Would a free lunch influence your doctor's decision about which drug to prescribe? Most patients probably assume the answer is no. Data suggest otherwise.
Why Should You Order Your Own Blood Tests?
Many doctors think it is a good thing that patients can monitor blood pressure and blood glucose at home. Should you be able to order your own blood tests?
How to Fight Niacin Flush with Apple Pectin
Niacin can lower cholesterol and boost beneficial HDL cholesterol, but it causes tingling, itching and flushing. What will fight niacin flush?
Will Higher Bad LDL Cholesterol Help Older People Live Longer?
Doctors have been taught that so-called bad LDL cholesterol is a killer. When high, statins are almost always prescribed. New data challenge that idea.
Should the “Salt Is Safe” Heretics Be Burned at the Stake?
Salt is safe and saturated fat won't kill you. Such heretical messages contradict decades of public health dogma. What does the latest research have to say?
Should You Shun Saturated Fat to Prevent A Heart Attack?
You've been told for decades to avoid saturated fat as it would clog your arteries. What if that recommendation was faulty? Why was contrary data withheld?
How Bad is Bad Cholesterol for Your Heart?
Doctors have called bad cholesterol (LDL) the enemy for decades. But a new study confounds the cardiologists. The drug worked great but failed miserably!
Billion Dollar Drugs Are Dramatically Disappointing
How effective is your medicine? This simple question is surprisingly complex. In many cases benefits of these billion dollar drugs are barely detectable.
Another Downside of Statins
Statin-type drugs lower cholesterol, but it is worth learning about the downside of statins. If you suffer side effects, you may want another approach.
Red Wine and Exercise Can Elevate HDL Cholesterol
A glass of red wine at dinner, coupled with regular exercise, is a great way to boost HDL cholesterol. This regimen is safe even for those with diabetes.
Are You Afraid of Saturated Fat? Studies Say Not to Worry
What will it take for nutrition experts to give up their fear and loathing of saturated fat? Science suggests the sat-fat prohibition was a colossal mistake
Oatmeal with Cinnamon Helps Control Cholesterol Without Drugs
A regular breakfast of oatmeal with cinnamon can help control total cholesterol levels, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while raising HDL cholesterol.
Home Tests for High Cholesterol or High Blood Sugar
Patients curious about how well their cholesterol-control regimens are working could use home tests for high cholesterol to monitor their progress.
Almonds to Lower Cholesterol and Blood Sugar
Snacking on almonds to lower cholesterol is a smart idea with experimental evidence to back it up.
Who Needs Treatment for High Cholesterol?
Healthy people may not need treatment for high cholesterol; without clear benefit, taking medication does not make sense.
Does Dark Chocolate Provide Healthful Cocoa Flavanols?
Some chocolate bars are good sources of cocoa flavanols, but it is difficult to determine which ones provide the highest levels of these compounds.
New LDL Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Recommended for Approval
The FDA received recommendations to approve new LDL cholesterol-lowering drugs that are more potent than statins.
Does Artificial Sweetener Lower HDL Cholesterol?
An artificial sweetener in a dental rinse appears to have been linked to low levels of beneficial HDL cholesterol.
Natural Approaches to Lowering Cholesterol Are Popular
Red yeast rice, vinegar, psyllium and other natural products can be valuable aids in lowering cholesterol
Lowering Cholesterol with Vinegar
Taking a daily dose of vinegar in water is a unique approach to controlling cholesterol.
How Many Teenagers Need to Take Statins?
National recommendations would put a sizable proportion of adolescents on statins to control cholesterol. Is this wise?
Coming Off Statins When Time Is Short
It is safe for people with limited life expectancy to discontinue statins and doing so may improve the quality of their remaining life.
Don’t Double Up on Statins
Red yeast rice contains natural statins and should not be combined with a prescription statin medicine.
How Low Should LDL Cholesterol Go?
Cardiologists do not agree on whether everyone must get LDL cholesterol down to 70 to control the risk of heart disease.
Will Magnesium Lower Cholesterol?
Adding a magnesium supplement to the regimen can help lower cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk.
Is Coconut Oil Healthful or Hazardous?
Coconut oil has a reputation for raising cholesterol, but it raises good HDL more than scary LDL cholesterol. New data challenge old beliefs on sat fat.
Saturated Fat in Diet Didn’t Raise Fat in Blood
Carbs in diet raise blood fat more than saturated fat consumption.
Lowering Triglycerides Along with Cholesterol
A low-carbohydrate diet along with fish oil can help bring triglycerides down.
Will Vinegar Help Lower Cholesterol? Home Remedy Questioned
Including vinegar in the diet or taking some in water may help control triglycerides as well as cholesterol and other blood fats.
Lowering Cholesterol Without Muscle Pain
One most common drug treatments for high cholesterol (statin drugs) can cause muscle pain and weakness as a side effect, but there are also effective non-drug treatments to lower cholesterol.
Are Some Statin Side Effects Irreversible?
Statin drugs do the most good for middle aged men at high risk of heart attacks. But could the side effects outlast or outweigh the benefits?
Plant Stanol Esters To Lower Cholesterol
Including Benecol or other foods containing plant stanol esters in the diet can help to lower circulating cholesterol somewhat.
Are Doctors Too Cozy with Drug Companies?
Do free lunches influence doctors? Most physicians would say no way. They think they always do what is best for patients. But free pizza may have an impact.
No Need To Fear Eating Eggs
Healthy people can consume up to one egg daily, on average, without increasing their risk of heart disease or stroke.
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