Just a mention of the word cholesterol is enough to send shivers of fear and trepidation through the most health conscious American. After all, traditional medicine has left us with the notion that a cholesterol reading over 200 is a virtual death sentence. But then you read about the Greek Island of Crete where the average cholesterol is well over 200 and heart disease is barely a blip on the radar screen. It just doesn’t add up.
Cholesterol is actually the great healer and high cholesterol a sign that something in the body could be amiss, said Dr. Patricia Ryan, Alternatives’ founder. “The liver produces cholesterol, and it is present in nearly all parts of the body, including the brain. Enzymes convert cholesterol to vitamin D and hormones that support virtually all body functions. Levels fluctuate in response to toxins, stress and even the seasons," she said.
The body steps up to the plate to make cholesterol when healing is needed. “Cholesterol is an innocent bystander to the problems going on in the body, not the cause of them,” Dr. Ryan noted. “For example, when the liver becomes overwhelmed with chemicals it can start to produce more cholesterol. Cholesterol is a fat and thus susceptible to being damaged by free radicals and toxins. Damaged cholesterol becomes a free radical that can cause inflammation."
This domino effect is often blamed on high cholesterol when, in reality, cholesterol is just trying to do its job to heal the body. So what’s the answer when you’re faced with high cholesterol results?
The first step is to understand what is actually going on in the body. “Research shows that the standard blood tests most doctors use are outdated,” Dr. Ryan said. “New tests on the market, including the Lipoprotein Particle Profile (LPP), provide a clearer picture of what’s happening. This test, which is available at Alternatives, analyzes the size of the LDL cholesterol particles. Higher numbers of small LDL particles, for instance, presents patients with a greater risk of health problems.”
These more comprehensive tests now on the market are able to help doctors target problems and develop specific treatment plans, Dr. Ryan said. So what should patients who are concerned about their cholesterol do? “For otherwise heart healthy patients with elevated cholesterol, I don’t prescribe statin drugs, which are so popular on the market today. And I am not alone in my thinking. More doctors and researchers are questioning the benefits and examining the risks of prescribing statin drugs except among high-risk heart patients,” Dr. Ryan said. (See Do Cholesterol Drugs Do Any Good?, Bloomberg Businessweek, January 17, 2008)
“After a complete health analysis, the solution for many of my patients has been lifestyle changes, diet modifications including more fiber and “good fat” and supplements that serve as anti-oxidants in the body such as Vitamin D and fish oil. Don’t forget exercise and plenty of sleep.”
The road to good heart health leads back to the concept of holistic medicine, Dr. Ryan said. “If you’ve helped one part of the body you’ve helped five other areas. If you work on improving cholesterol you’ve helped your heart as well as your brain. That’s the beauty of integrative medicine. When you help one area you’re helping the entire system.”
For additional resources about cholesterol, visit the Web site of Dr. Stephen Sinatra at http://www.drsinatra.com/. For more information including an opportunity to schedule a heart healthy examination, contact Alternatives: A Center for Conscious Health at 827-9450.
No comments:
Post a Comment