The People's Perspective on MedicineArticles categorized as High Cholesterol
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The People's Perspective on Medicine© 2026 The People's Pharmacy
All Rights Reserved
The People's Perspective on MedicineLoading articles..
The People's Perspective on Medicine© 2026 The People's Pharmacy
All Rights Reserved
Regular consumption of the laxative psyllium can lower cholesterol and blood sugar as well as prevent constipation.
Many cardiologists consider new heart drugs breakthroughs vs. heart disease. Could brain side effects of Repatha and Praluent be a problem?
Some chocolate bars are good sources of cocoa flavanols, but it is difficult to determine which ones provide the highest levels of these compounds.
Pomegranate juice is popular. It has impressive health benefits. But readers tell us pomegranate juice and rosuvastatin are a bad mix.
The DASH diet with lots of veggies and fruits helps lower blood pressure. Having produce delivered to your door makes a difference.
Preventive cardiologist Michael Blaha describes the best steps to take to reduce your risk of heart disease.
Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements taken to alleviate joint pain may increase your cholesterol. Do they also raise eye pressure?
The AHA says 90% of adult Americans have CKM: cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome. That almost assuredly means you! Overdiagnosis?
A study found that reduced-carbohydrate and high-carbohydrate diet are both tactics to achieve weight loss, if calories are low.
Many people tell us they can't tolerate statin side effects. Can Repatha substitute for statins without side effects? What about muscle Pain?
When people can't stand statins, Repatha or Praluent look promising. But Repatha to lower LDL cholesterol is pricey. Does it save lives?
Would a free lunch affect a doctor's decision about prescribing? Most patients assume the answer is no. There's research suggesting it might.
Adding cinnamon to food or taking a water-extracted cinnamon supplement may help you reduce your cholesterol, triglyceride and blood sugar levels.
Many following past recommendations from the American College of Cardiology need statins as they age. That was most men over 64!
Evidence from many studies indicates that statins cause diabetes. Why do doctors downplay this complication? Those at risk should be careful!
Could "bad" cholesterol serve a function in the body? A meta-analysis finds low LDL cholesterol may increase the risk for bleeding strokes.
Do you know how effective your medicine really is? Drug companies have a secret strategy: statistics! Their math misleads too many patients.
A reader wonders whether it makes sense to worry about cholesterol numbers and prescribe a statin to control them for a 93-year-old person.
A study of French senior citizens shows that if you do a good job of helping your heart with diet and exercise, you also dramatically lower your likelihood of dementia.
If you focus on vegetables, fruits and whole grains and avoid processed foods, you're on a good diet to lower cholesterol.
Seed oils from corn or soybeans have been linked to higher risk for cancer. Omega-3 oils from avocado, fish or olives seem safer.
Promise or peril? The unpredictability of medications makes some folks extremely ill while others never experience any problems. Why is that?
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 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?
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?
Research suggests intermittent fasting to reduce the risk of diabetes could help lower cholesterol and help with weight loss.
A reader got unexpectedly good results from consuming cocoa flavanols. Might this practice improve your cholesterol as well?
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.
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.
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?
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
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? Low cholesterol levels have been linked to depression and aggression. A doctor shares his story.
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?
Milk thistle extract can lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. It blocks the same enzyme as statins.
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!
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!
When you order laboratory tests online, make sure you know what the company does with your data as well as how reliable it is.
Americans trust nonprofit patient organizations educating about cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer disease. Beware Conflicts of Interest!
Can you get your cholesterol down with natural products? Niacin, red yeast rice, turmeric and psyllium may help control lipids.
How does LDL cholesterol compare to CRP inflammation when it comes to predicting heart attacks in high-risk patients? New data are intriguing!
Many physicians are adamant that statins rarely cause any side effects. And yet readers continue to report a connection between statins and muscle pain.
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.
Unfiltered coffee prepared by boiling or French press methods can raise cholesterol. Filtered coffee has numerous health benefits.
Alli is an over-the-counter weight loss pill that lowers cholesterol too. Can you safely take Alli for a long time?
Millions of people take statins daily. Are there dangerous food and drug interactions? What about atorvastatin with grapefruit juice?
Studies show that coffee drinkers are less likely to get heart failure or die of heart disease. Unfiltered coffee, though, is bad for you.
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?
A new study suggests that Americans are wasting money on supplements to fight heart disease. How compelling are the data? Get the inside scoop
Have you ever experienced statin side effects? Some doctors think stories of statin side effects are fake medical news or fear mongering.
In these interviews, we discuss PFAS, known as forever chemicals. Consumer Reports found them in some but not all restaurant food wrappers.
The FDA lists myositis and rhabdomyolysis as serious statin side effects. What is the connection between statins and severe muscle damage?
Many cardiologists were reluctant to acknowledge the statin and diabetes connection. Now each patient deserves to weigh the risks.
A randomized controlled trial found that people have better blood fat profiles and less insulin resistance on a low-carb diet.
Regular exercise and a Mediterranean-style diet can change blood fats so that they are less likely to increase the risk for heart disease.
No one knows if statin drugs to lower cholesterol increase the likelihood of inflamed gums and gingivitis. Dentists must study this.
Practicing tai chi can help reduce the waistline, control body weight and raise good HDL cholesterol. It also helps improve balance and sleep.
One reader discovered that adding walnuts, blueberries, flaxseed and cinnamon made Cheerios the best breakfast to lower cholesterol.
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?
People can use sensible approaches to protect their hearts, such as a Mediterranean diet and exercise. What risk factors matter?
Many people have low thyroid and high cholesterol, because thyroid hormone is required to normalize lipid metabolism.
Using virgin olive oil in your diet can increase your good HDL cholesterol and possibly lower your risk of heart problems.
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.
British researchers found that snacking on almonds instead of mini-muffins boosts blood vessel flexibility and lowers LDL cholesterol levels.
Researchers report that people eating two apples a day, everything except the core, lowered their total and LDL cholesterol modestly.
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.
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.
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.
For purposes of predicting heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems, a nonfasting cholesterol test works as well one taken while fasting.
Evidence from a Finnish study shows you could probably eat an egg a day without increasing your risk for stroke or heart disease.
Have you ever taken glucosamine and chondroitin for sore joints? Did this combo raise cholesterol? Turmeric lowered cholesterol AND eased inflammation.
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.
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?
A reader found that eating two kiwifruit daily for many months raised beneficial HDL cholesterol into the desirable range.
A reader's experience confirms research showing you can lower cholesterol with margarine that contains plant stanols or sterols.
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?
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?
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?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Research shows that eating a small amount of almonds and dark chocolate daily can improve LDL cholesterol, albeit modestly.
Half the population of the United States has high cholesterol and blood pressure according to the official guidelines. Why is this so controversial?
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?
Some people find it impossible to take statins due to muscle weakness or pain. But how do statins compare to alternative treatments?
Many people think that preventing heart attacks is as simple as lowering cholesterol. What if inflammation is a culprit? How can you reduce inflammation?
You can now lower your LDL cholesterol to unprecedented levels with new cholesterol drugs. Are Repatha and Praluent worth their hefty price tags?
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 in combination with a statin? Taking both is not recommended, but some people may prefer red yeast rice instead of a statin.
Cardiologists don't agree on how well statin cholesterol-lowering drugs work to prevent heart disease. What do you know about the statin standoff?
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.
The anti-inflammatory component of turmeric, curcumin, may have the power to alleviate statin-induced muscle pain so people can stay on a statin.
Taking the prescription omega-3 product Lovaza for high triglycerides resulted in unexpected improvement in joint pain.
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.
Dr. Robert DuBroff, cardiologist and lipidologist, tells why he thinks we need to look again at the cholesterol hypothesis and re-evaluate statins.
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.
Some physicians would like you to believe that statins do not cause side effects. We offer a different perspective on common statin side effects.
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.
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?
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?
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?
Niacin can lower cholesterol and boost beneficial HDL cholesterol, but it causes tingling, itching and flushing. What will fight niacin flush?
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.
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?
Doctors have called bad cholesterol (LDL) the enemy for decades. But a new study confounds the cardiologists. The drug worked great but failed miserably!
How effective is your medicine? This simple question is surprisingly complex. In many cases benefits of these billion dollar drugs are barely detectable.
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.
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.
A regular breakfast of oatmeal with cinnamon can help control total cholesterol levels, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while raising HDL cholesterol.
Patients curious about how well their cholesterol-control regimens are working could use home tests for high cholesterol to monitor their progress.
Snacking on almonds to lower cholesterol is a smart idea with experimental evidence to back it up.
Healthy people may not need treatment for high cholesterol; without clear benefit, taking medication does not make sense.
The FDA received recommendations to approve new LDL cholesterol-lowering drugs that are more potent than statins.
An artificial sweetener in a dental rinse appears to have been linked to low levels of beneficial HDL cholesterol.
Red yeast rice, vinegar, psyllium and other natural products can be valuable aids in lowering cholesterol
Taking a daily dose of vinegar in water is a unique approach to controlling cholesterol.
National recommendations would put a sizable proportion of adolescents on statins to control cholesterol. Is this wise?
It is safe for people with limited life expectancy to discontinue statins and doing so may improve the quality of their remaining life.
Red yeast rice contains natural statins and should not be combined with a prescription statin medicine.
Cardiologists do not agree on whether everyone must get LDL cholesterol down to 70 to control the risk of heart disease.
Adding a magnesium supplement to the regimen can help lower cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk.
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.
A low-carbohydrate diet along with fish oil can help bring triglycerides down.
Including vinegar in the diet or taking some in water may help control triglycerides as well as cholesterol and other blood fats.
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.
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?
Including Benecol or other foods containing plant stanol esters in the diet can help to lower circulating cholesterol somewhat.
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.
Healthy people can consume up to one egg daily, on average, without increasing their risk of heart disease or stroke.
