What Doctors are Saying about the Cholesterol Guidelines

We reviewed what several physician podcasts have to say about the new cholesterol guidelines.  We spoke about the guidelines in our March podcast, and also discussed in a later podcast how the local cardiology group in Columbia Maryland reported Andy to the Maryland Board of Physicians in an effort to censor him or take away his license because he dared put published studies in his practice newsletter questioning the value of reducing cholesterol in the elderly, what they labeled as dangerous misinformation.  In this podcast we reviewed what some of these podcast doctors are saying, many of whom sat in scrubs as they insisted that lowering cholesterol is an absolute good without problems and will save lives.  Others questioned the guidelines and the value of measuring cholesterol.  We believe based on articles we have read and written that cholesterol is not itself a major contributor to heart disease, but rather is a substate that sticks to blood vessels and increases heart attack risk IF A BODY IS INFLAMED FROM SUCH THINGS AS A POOR DIET, LACK OF EXERCISE, STRONG FAMILY HISTORY, OR INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS SUCH AS DIABETES and if they are young.  Lifestyle changes prevent heart disease, and statins can help in some people but not based on their cholesterol.  Studies done on older people have not shown benefit of lowering cholesterol and suggest that there is value in higher LDL cholesterol on longevity in people over 60 years old.  We discuss all of this and more!"The greater the ignorance, the greater the dogmatism."  -William Osler, MDwww.returntohealing.com