Am I a statins candidate?

Lee M. said:

I am a 55 year old male, 5'5" & 135#,

That would be 10 lbs over "ideal." You might be overweight.

Quoted message said:

BP typically 110/70, cholesterol
around 220 with HDL above 60. I eat a healthy diet, take a multivitamin and
an 81 mg aspirin daily and run 4 days/week (about 10 miles total) and lift
weights the other 3. In addition to the elevated cholesterol, my primary
risk factor is heredity; grandfather had fatal heart attack at 65, father
had non-fatal heart attack at 58 (still alive at 78). Both were overweight
and relatively inactive. Last year my heart scan score was 34 which says I
have some coronary artery disease. I have been able to get my cholesterol
level below 200.

Good.

Quoted message said:

My GP has asked me if I want to try statins. So far I have declined because
I don't like the thought of taking a drug for potentially the rest of my
life. I just wonder if my healthy lifestyle is enough to overcome my bad
genes. Any opinions?

What is your LDL cholesterol?

If it is over 100 mg/dl, you should consider statins to get below this goal
since you and your doctor believe you do have coronary disease.

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com

Lee M. lmacmil@forget_it.com said:

I am a 55 year old male, 5'5" & 135#, BP typically 110/70, cholesterol
around 220 with HDL above 60. I eat a healthy diet, take a multivitamin
and
an 81 mg aspirin daily and run 4 days/week (about 10 miles total) and
lift
weights the other 3. In addition to the elevated cholesterol, my primary
risk factor is heredity; grandfather had fatal heart attack at 65, father
had non-fatal heart attack at 58 (still alive at 78). Both were
overweight
and relatively inactive. Last year my heart scan score was 34 which says
I
have some coronary artery disease. I have been able to get my
cholesterol
level below 200.

My GP has asked me if I want to try statins. So far I have declined
because
I don't like the thought of taking a drug for potentially the rest of my
life. I just wonder if my healthy lifestyle is enough to overcome my bad
genes. Any opinions?

I am assuming your heart scan was with EBCT, or electron beam computed
tomography, and that it was read by a radiologist whom you may have never
met, and the report sent to you to share with your doctor. Perhaps you are
not having any symptoms of atherosclerosis and were just curious about your
own heart and decided to undergo a heart scan, or perhaps your doctor
recommended you undergo the evaluation.

Regardless, it is for many to instinctively turn to statins when faced with
a scenario such as yours without considering the annual cost and the risk
of taking the medication and the multitude of other options.

If we assume that the coronary calcium score is accurate (although many
studies dispute its accuracy and usefulness, as does the American Heart
Association), then you must also recognize that it is a snapshot of your
atherosclerosis burden, and unfortunately cannot be used as a tool to asses
effectiveness of your treatment to any degree of reliability.

Without gene therapy, we are faced with choosing ways to control
atherosclerosis and not cure it. Controlling atherosclerosis properly is
not an easy thing to do and must be individualized for each and every
person. Reaching treatment goals of cholesterol, blood pressure, exercise,
weight, and the over 300 other known risk factors for the disease is
difficult for most people. It is expensive, time consuming and fraught with
risk. How much is right for you? Treatment guidlines are set for
populations, or millions of people. However, we are not discussing millions
of people, we are discussing you, your disease and your treatment.

--
~~~
Patrick Blanchard, M.D., A.B.F.P.
Board Certified in Family Practice
http://www.familydoctor.org/blanchard
~~~
SonoScore
Winning against heart attack and stroke
http://www.sonoscore.com

Hi Lee, you and I are about in the same boat. Without statins my chol
is 200 and HDL 69. I stopped taking statins (10 mg Lipitor) because I
read it prevent muscle recovery, and I lift weights and do aerobic
exercise as well. 3 things suggest you don't need statins: 1) your
ratio of total chol to HDL isn't so bad 2) the older you are the less
the benefit of chol lowering. 3) your supreb BP. To be safe get a
test for CRP. If CRP is high, statins may reduce it. Also, check out
your recovery pulse rate. Finally, add these two things 1) eat oily
fish (eg salmon) at least 2x a week. 2) unless contra-indicted have
one or two drinks daily. There is more evidence of the benefits of
moderate drinking than there is for statins - see
http://www.acsh.org/publications/priorities/0801/pcyes.html

"Lee M." <lmacmil@forget_it.com> wrote in message news:<%Suzb.294847$9E1.1498442@attbi_s52>...

Quoted message said:

I am a 55 year old male, 5'5" & 135#, BP typically 110/70, cholesterol
around 220 with HDL above 60. I eat a healthy diet, take a multivitamin and
an 81 mg aspirin daily and run 4 days/week (about 10 miles total) and lift
weights the other 3. In addition to the elevated cholesterol, my primary
risk factor is heredity; grandfather had fatal heart attack at 65, father
had non-fatal heart attack at 58 (still alive at 78). Both were overweight
and relatively inactive. Last year my heart scan score was 34 which says I
have some coronary artery disease. I have been able to get my cholesterol
level below 200.

My GP has asked me if I want to try statins. So far I have declined because
I don't like the thought of taking a drug for potentially the rest of my
life. I just wonder if my healthy lifestyle is enough to overcome my bad
genes. Any opinions?

Hi Brad,

I like your advice. We do in fact have fish, usually salmon, at least once
a week and rarely eat beef except in the summer. I probably average 5
drinks/week but I could probably force myself up to once a day in the
interests of health.<g>.

"Brad Sheppard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi Lee, you and I are about in the same boat. Without statins my chol
is 200 and HDL 69. I stopped taking statins (10 mg Lipitor) because I
read it prevent muscle recovery, and I lift weights and do aerobic
exercise as well. 3 things suggest you don't need statins: 1) your
ratio of total chol to HDL isn't so bad 2) the older you are the less
the benefit of chol lowering. 3) your supreb BP. To be safe get a
test for CRP. If CRP is high, statins may reduce it. Also, check out
your recovery pulse rate. Finally, add these two things 1) eat oily
fish (eg salmon) at least 2x a week. 2) unless contra-indicted have
one or two drinks daily. There is more evidence of the benefits of
moderate drinking than there is for statins - see
http://www.acsh.org/publications/priorities/0801/pcyes.html

"Lee M." <lmacmil@forget_it.com> wrote in message

news:<%Suzb.294847$9E1.1498442@attbi_s52>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I am a 55 year old male, 5'5" & 135#, BP typically 110/70, cholesterol
around 220 with HDL above 60. I eat a healthy diet, take a multivitamin

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

an 81 mg aspirin daily and run 4 days/week (about 10 miles total) and

lift

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

weights the other 3. In addition to the elevated cholesterol, my

primary

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

risk factor is heredity; grandfather had fatal heart attack at 65,

father

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

had non-fatal heart attack at 58 (still alive at 78). Both were

overweight

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and relatively inactive. Last year my heart scan score was 34 which

says I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

have some coronary artery disease. I have been able to get my

cholesterol

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

level below 200.

My GP has asked me if I want to try statins. So far I have declined

because

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I don't like the thought of taking a drug for potentially the rest of my
life. I just wonder if my healthy lifestyle is enough to overcome my

bad

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

genes. Any opinions?

My LDL has ranged between 130 and 140 on my last 3 tests. Last time my
body fat was measured it was 9% so I don't think I'm overweight. Thanks for
the response.

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lee M. said:

I am a 55 year old male, 5'5" & 135#,

That would be 10 lbs over "ideal." You might be overweight.

Quoted message said:

BP typically 110/70, cholesterol
around 220 with HDL above 60. I eat a healthy diet, take a multivitamin

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

an 81 mg aspirin daily and run 4 days/week (about 10 miles total) and

lift

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

weights the other 3. In addition to the elevated cholesterol, my

primary

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

risk factor is heredity; grandfather had fatal heart attack at 65,

father

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

had non-fatal heart attack at 58 (still alive at 78). Both were

overweight

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and relatively inactive. Last year my heart scan score was 34 which

says I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

have some coronary artery disease. I have been able to get my

cholesterol

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

level below 200.

Good.

Quoted message said:

My GP has asked me if I want to try statins. So far I have declined

because

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I don't like the thought of taking a drug for potentially the rest of my
life. I just wonder if my healthy lifestyle is enough to overcome my

bad

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

genes. Any opinions?

What is your LDL cholesterol?

If it is over 100 mg/dl, you should consider statins to get below this

goal

Quoted message said:

since you and your doctor believe you do have coronary disease.

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com

Lee,

My favorite drink now is a pint of Guinness - dark beers have lots of
anti-oxidants which may also prevent heart disease. Of course, I drink
purely for medicinal purposes <grin>.

"Lee M." <lmacmil@forget_it.com> wrote in message news:<elRzb.28027$_M.117797@attbi_s54>...

Quoted message said:

Hi Brad,

I like your advice. We do in fact have fish, usually salmon, at least once
a week and rarely eat beef except in the summer. I probably average 5
drinks/week but I could probably force myself up to once a day in the
interests of health.<g>.

"Brad Sheppard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi Lee, you and I are about in the same boat. Without statins my chol
is 200 and HDL 69. I stopped taking statins (10 mg Lipitor) because I
read it prevent muscle recovery, and I lift weights and do aerobic
exercise as well. 3 things suggest you don't need statins: 1) your
ratio of total chol to HDL isn't so bad 2) the older you are the less
the benefit of chol lowering. 3) your supreb BP. To be safe get a
test for CRP. If CRP is high, statins may reduce it. Also, check out
your recovery pulse rate. Finally, add these two things 1) eat oily
fish (eg salmon) at least 2x a week. 2) unless contra-indicted have
one or two drinks daily. There is more evidence of the benefits of
moderate drinking than there is for statins - see
http://www.acsh.org/publications/priorities/0801/pcyes.html

"Lee M." <lmacmil@forget_it.com> wrote in message

news:<%Suzb.294847$9E1.1498442@attbi_s52>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I am a 55 year old male, 5'5" & 135#, BP typically 110/70, cholesterol
around 220 with HDL above 60. I eat a healthy diet, take a multivitamin

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

an 81 mg aspirin daily and run 4 days/week (about 10 miles total) and

lift

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

weights the other 3. In addition to the elevated cholesterol, my

primary

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

risk factor is heredity; grandfather had fatal heart attack at 65,

father

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

had non-fatal heart attack at 58 (still alive at 78). Both were

overweight

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and relatively inactive. Last year my heart scan score was 34 which

says I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

have some coronary artery disease. I have been able to get my

cholesterol

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

level below 200.

My GP has asked me if I want to try statins. So far I have declined

because

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I don't like the thought of taking a drug for potentially the rest of my
life. I just wonder if my healthy lifestyle is enough to overcome my

bad

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

genes. Any opinions?

Lee M. said:

My LDL has ranged between 130 and 140 on my last 3 tests.

Too high for someone with known coronary atherosclerosis.

Quoted message said:

Last time my
body fat was measured it was 9%

Too high for someone with known coronary atherosclerosis *and* LDL greater than
100 mg/dl.

Quoted message said:

so I don't think I'm overweight.

I suspect you are and would suggest you ask your doctor about supervising you
for:

http://www.heartmdphd.com/wtloss.asp

Quoted message said:

Thanks for
the response.

You are welcome.

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/