Tag Archives: Statin

“High” Cholesterol? Statin Time?

Posted on January 27, 2016 | Leave a comment

As the umbrella covering potential statin (cholesterol lowering drugs) consuming customers grows larger and larger, profits for the pharmaceutical giants continue to soar into the billions. These profits also naturally extend to the middle man, your neighborhood MD. With so many vested hands in the pot, one cannot help but question the expanding prescribing parameters in an attempt to determine whether or not the drug is absolutely necessary on an individual basis; especially with a drug that carries such an extensive list of potential systemic side effects:

(https://online.epocrates.com/drugs/347605/Crestor/Adverse-Reactions)

(https://online.epocrates.com/drugs/87905/Lipitor/Adverse-Reactions)

This topic is extensive, and we’ve actually touched on different aspects in the past:

( https://clarkechiropracticwellness.com/2015/02/06/cholesterol-rethinking-statins/)

(https://clarkechiropracticwellness.com/2013/09/04/the-fascinating-relationship-of-cholesterol-and-statin-drugs/)

Today we will shed some light on the false interpretations of a flawed calculation based upon on an individual’s lipid panel (blood work consisting of total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, etc.).

One of the main numbers utilized to determine the need for a statin is your LDL, more commonly referred to as “bad cholesterol.” Easy to grasp right? As a patient you receive an official print out that shows your HDL or good and your LDL or bad right there in black and white. Easy to read and comply to statin use in order to change the “bad” numbers.

First you must know that cholesterol is not all bad, but rather a necessity for proper brain function, hormone production, internal vitamin D genesis and more. It is also a form of LDL that delivers the cholesterol to the necessary destination to perform these vital functions. As far as achieving the objective of changing the numbers on a print out, statins are successful as they block the ability of the liver to make all cholesterol, thus lowering your numbers. SUCCESS!

Many different ways we can go here, but let’s stick to the basic interpretation of the test results that leads to the prescription in the first place. Most physicians rarely order the specific tests to actually measure LDL, but rather rely on an outdated and limited equation to calculate the number. This equation is based upon your total cholesterol, triglycerides (TGL) and HDL. It’s accuracy is also highly contingent upon other individually specific variables such as insulin resistance, diet (nothing to do with dietary cholesterol consumption), and other genetic variances. It also only works in successfully calculating an accurate LDL value if in fact your TGL and HDL numbers fall in a specific range to begin, otherwise the results of the equation have been shown to be off.

So if you don’t fit just right into the tiny box of necessary equation specifics, the calculated LDL results are inaccurate and more often then not, create the illusion of a qualifier for another statin customer. To add to the blurred lines, there are two types of LDL, with one being vital for optimal function, and one being potentially problematic, paving the way for the most common issue correlated with high cholesterol: atherosclerosis. This calculation does nothing to differentiate between the two.

To even to begin to attempt to obtain a more accurate picture of this critical LDL value, you have two options. In addition to the comprehensive lipid panel, the test must also include a measurement of apoproteinB, or the use of nuclear magnetic resonance testing (NMR), as both provide a more accurate picture of the LDL value that is relied so heavily upon to determine the need for a statin.

As stated, this topic runs deep. At this point we could easily steer the discussion towards just what causes the accumulation of very small or bad LDL (again, nothing to do with dietary cholesterol) and what can easily be done to reverse and prevent it. However, the information provided above serves as yet another piece of the puzzle that can be utilized to play a more active and intelligent role in your own health.

Just another quick note as to why this is so important: as noted earlier statins are being prescribed to more and more people, old and young and now being recommended by some to be consumed as a preventive measure, even if your numbers are “good.” Among other things, statin use has been correlated with an increased risk of diabetes as it essentially destroys a key part of your metabolic processing factory, the liver. Among other things, diabetes has been correlated with an increased risk of dementia, with Alzheimer’s even being dubbed “diabetes type III.” Keep in mind this is just one aspect of the deleterious effects of statin use and another glaring example of the need to become more educated and take an active role in your own fate.

If you have any questions about this topic or any other aspect of your health and would like to explore your options based upon a firm comprehension of human physiology and how to naturally alter that in your favor, please do not hesitate to reach out at any time, in any way.

We live this.

We love this.

And we’d love to share.

Be well.

The Key to Unlocking the Thyroid

Posted on April 29, 2015 | Leave a comment

The thyroid gland plays a vital role in countless functions. Hypothyroidism, or an under active thyroid is one of the most commonly diagnosed and medicated conditions in healthcare today. It can leave an individual feeling mentally fatigued, physically tired, constipated, unable to lose weight, abnormally cold, or plagued with dry skin, brittle nails and hair loss; to name a few.

This desperate individual turns to a doctor for help and is usually provided thyroid hormones without a blink of an eye. Right off the bat we are witness to a flawed system and an antiquated way of thinking when it comes to health and our bodies.

The thyroid gland, just like every other organ in our body, does not exist and function in isolation. As such, its function or dysfunction is normally a consequence of some sort of additional dysfunction somewhere within the interdependent matrix that is the human body. The practice of supplementing thyroid symptoms with thyroid hormones is no better than a stop gap at best, as the underlying dysfunction persists and a dependency or worse is created by the external source of thyroid hormones.

Traditional medicine currently listens to symptoms, measures TSH, perhaps some form of T3 and T4, and diagnoses and prescribes from there. It should be known that TSH alone is great at telling you something is off along the thyroid, pituitary access, but is useless as far as telling us what or why. Adding some measurement of T3 and T4 to the panel is superior to the former, but again comes up short in shining a light on the why.

When the option of a more illuminating, complete thyroid panel (blood work) can be ordered, one must ask why it isn’t? Even further, with the number one cause of hypothyroidism in this country being an autoimmune issue, why would a test for thyroid anti-bodies not be included in the standard testing?

Perhaps all resources aren’t utilized due to the fact that it doesn’t change the cookbook approach allopathic medicine has to offer. If thyroid symptoms are present and the limited blood markers ordered signify that the thyroid hormones are off, another thyroid hormone consumer is created and left to life long dependency and/or incremental increases in dosage. This shotgun approach is nothing less than reckless and a prime example of sick care. Perhaps the thyroid isn’t the main issue that need be addressed.

Perhaps the adrenal glands are on overdrive from constant stress (physical, chemical or emotional). Did you know hyper-functioning adrenal glands will dampen thyroid function?

Perhaps a leaky gut or gut infection is present. Did you know that ~20% of thyroid hormones are converted in the intestines to an active form the body can use, BUT only in the presence of a healthy gut and proper gut flora?

Perhaps liver function is hampered due to a high fructose diet, long term statin use or toxic overload. Did you know the majority of thyroid hormones are converted to the active form in the liver?

These are just a few common examples of what can lead to hypothyroid symptoms and a skewing of limited, tunnel visioned lab numbers.

The most intelligent approach to the thyroid puzzle should at the very least include a COMPLETE thyroid panel accompanied by an antibody test. Some practitioners may deem this medically unnecessary and refuse to order it, and to some aspect they may be correct.

It may very well be medically unnecessary if the goal is to simply stick a finger in the damn of dysfunction by flooding the body with thyroid hormones. However, from an intelligently formulated functional standpoint, the complete panel (in addition to a comprehensive history, and a few other additional tests) can guide those interested in identifying the source of the dysfunction and provide the practitioner with the information needed to construct a plan. If this is the goal, than it is no doubt medically necessary.

An eye opening example of this rests within the fact that the number one cause of an under active thyroid in America is due to immune dysfunction (Hashimotto’s Disease). That makes this an immune issue, not a primary thyroid issue. The immune system can be and must be addressed and balanced in order to halt the attack on the thyroid gland. This attack is what leads to the symptoms and can be identified by, amongst other things, a test for thyroid antibodies.

That is just one instance of how ordering the proper tests and not immediately resorting to medications can clear the path to true health and wellness. If you have a practitioner who refuses to order the tests you request, maybe it’s time to ask why, or find one who will.

Personally, my patients have been met with reluctance and sometimes outright refusal when the additional tests are requested. However, they can be done and it is your right as a proactive, educated patient to receive the tests you desire; as well as to work with a professional who is open minded and willing to work together when it comes to your health.

That is the model we strive to achieve and implement on a daily basis. If it sounds appealing and liberating to you, feel free to contact us at anytime.

We’re ready when you are.

Make health happen.

Cholesterol: Rethinking Statins

Posted on February 6, 2015 | Leave a comment

As of the spring of 2014 one in four Americans over 45 were taking a cholesterol lowering drug known as a statin. Over 43 million Americans between the ages of 40-75, along with an increasing number of younger customers are now including a Lipitor or Crestor as part of their daily regimen.

As the lab values that serve as the criteria for prescribing a statin continue to change, the umbrella for those deemed in need of statin therapy continues to widen. Leaning on the outdated and now uneducated vilification of fats and cholesterol, the multibillion dollar statin industry continues to thrive. Sad thing is, cardiovascular disease and overall health have not improved despite the low fat, statin fueled culture we know find ourselves in.

So is this widening spread use of statins necessary? Is it safe? Here are some facts about statins and cholesterol that should at the very least provoke some individual concern and subsequent investigation.

In 2012 the FDA issued a statement declaring statin drugs can cause cognitive side effects such as memory lapses and confusion.

An AMA (American Medical Association) study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine demonstrated a 48% increased risk of diabetes (a powerful risk factor for type III diabetes aka Alzheimer’s) among women taken statins.

It is well known that statins paralyze cells’ ability to make coenzyme Q10, a vitamin like substance found throughout the body, where it serves as an antioxidant and energy producer. Depletion of CoQ10 leads to fatigue, shortness of breath, mobility & balance problems, muscular pain & weakness. CoQ10 deficiency has also been linked to heart failure, hypertension & Parkinson’s. CoQ10 has actually been proposed as a treatment for Alzheimer’s. At the absolute very least, individuals currently undergoing statin therapy should consult with their physician about adding CoQ10 to their regimen.

How about Vitamin D deficiency? Vitamin D is derived from cholesterol in the skin. When statins lower cholesterol, the ability to generate Vitamin D is hampered leading to (amongst other things) a heightened risk for diabetes, depression, cardiovascular disease and ultimately dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Consider the fact that our sex hormones are also derived from cholesterol. Lowering cholesterol through use of statins and diet can lead to lower testosterone levels and subsequent decreased libido and ED (erectile dysfunction) which are common complaints amongst statin users.

LOWER levels of cholesterol have been linked to depression, dementia and even earlier death.

This type of information and suffering will hopefully continue to provoke reconsideration and remodeling of the current paradigm. As we learn more through research and prior failures, the appropriate response is to act on this newfound knowledge and improve. Unfortunately pride and profits appear to be standing in the way, so it is on us as individuals to educate and investigate when it comes to our health.

When it comes to evaluating cholesterol levels, they are usually included in a lipid panel. This entire process should be reevaluated as well, but there are ways to alter and more accurately measure your triglyceride and small LDL. Before resorting to a statin, why not attempt to uncover the reason for the unfavorable levels, and attempt to remedy it?

How about starting with rethinking the dietary approach?

No not the seemingly logical, oversimplified and outdated, disproven theory that dietary fats and cholesterol are the main culprits behind “bad” cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.

You must once again look to carbohydrates and the subsequent release of insulin, which triggers fatty acid synthesis in the liver. This starts the chain that eventually leads to the rise of triglycerides and “bad” cholesterol. It is no coincidence that diabetes (a disease which features erratic blood sugar and insulin levels) is associated with the lipid triad of low HDL or “good” cholesterol, and high triglycerides and small LDL or “bad” cholesterol.

(Calling HDL and LDL cholesterol is actually incorrect as the “L” actually stands for Lipoprotein, and the “HD” and “LD” stand for High or Low Density. These are carrier proteins that transport cholesterol throughout the body.)

The majority of type II diabetes can be reversed by reducing carb consumption, and the same holds true for naturally improving your lipid panel.

Another area to look at is thyroid function.

Patients with hypothyroid symptoms often display a lipid panel that includes high triglycerides and high LDL due to the body making fat much quicker than it can burn it. The slower metabolism seen with hypothyroidism leads to:

…a sluggish liver and gall bladder making fat less likely to be metabolized and cleared from the body.

…it causes cells to be less receptive to LDL circulating which sets the stage for the LDL to accumulate and be oxidized. This is actually when LDL becomes harmful, not merely its presence alone as it is actually necessary to deliver vital cholesterol to our body’s tissues.

…leaves an individual less able to burn fat as fuel as a healthy person would. This creates a reliance on glucose (carbs/sugar) for fuel and the subsequent insulin release, fat storage and higher triglycerides and small LDL.

Diet and hampered thyroid function are just two possible reasons for an unfavorable lipid profile, and in many cases can be improved with lifestyle changes and the application of functional medicine. Depending on the individual, cleaning up the menu, fortifying the digestive system, balancing the immune system, supporting the adrenal and thyroid glands and detoxification pathways can all be used to improve underlying function, which in turn creates a healthier human who can hopefully steer clear of statins and the accompanying baggage.

As always, consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes. If you are interested in a unique, knowledgable approach based on the most current research, experience and understanding of the underlying function of the body and would like to learn more, call us today.

The Fascinating Relationship of Cholesterol and Statin Drugs

Posted on September 4, 2013 | 1 comment

Cholesterol is a term that gets thrown around all the time, and almost always in a negative light. It is this bad reputation of cholesterol that has led to the rise of popular cholesterol lowering statin drugs such as Lipitor and Crestor. But what is cholesterol? Is it a bad thing? Are statin drugs necessary? How do they work?

Let’s start with cholesterol. It is a lipid (aka fat) produced in the liver that is vital to life and serves as the precursor for various hormones (cortisol, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, etc.) and vitamin D. It is also what makes up the outer membrane of virtually every cell in our bodies. Anytime a cell is damaged by way of direct trauma or inflammation, more cholesterol is required to rebuild and repair.

The correct level of cholesterol varies from person to person. A total cholesterol level of over 240 may be perfectly healthy for some, but an indicator of a potential risk factor for others. As a matter of fact the acceptable total level of CHL used to be well over 250, but has been lowered and lowered. Why? Well, some speculate that by continuously lowering the normative value, you extend that umbrella wider and wider for statin drug customers.

Statin drugs came about after a study by Ancel Keys (The Seven Countries Study) directly attributed cardiovascular disease to high cholesterol. The powers that be (including the American Heart Association) took this finding and ran with it as the country became obsessed with lowering CHL. Only problem is the study had gaping holes in it and has since been disproven by numerous scientists and nutritionists around the globe.

The correct thing to do here would be to recant, admit the mistake, and take proactive steps going forward. For some reason this doesn’t happen as CHL continues to be bashed and statins continue to rake in the dollars.

The story gets worse when we actually break down how statins do their work. Trust me on this one, this is actually quite fascinating.

First we have a rise of inflammation in the body due to too many grains, dairy, soy, corn, sugar…pick your poison. This inflammation causes internal damage and as we discussed, CHL is required to assist in the repairing.

The liver then sends out LDL (low density lipoproteins aka “bad” cholesterol). So as we can see, it is the consumption of too many carbs or inflammatory foods (not fats) that can indirectly raise “bad” CHL. I say indirectly because in actuality only a small percentage of our total CHL is derived directly from CHL containing foods, such as eggs. But back to the story.

So CHL is sent out from the liver as LDL to assist in the rebuild due to inflammation. However, when this inflammation persists, damage is done to the receptors on the cells that receive the LDL. So now the cells that are in need of CHL, aren’t getting it and request for the liver to send more. The liver, being the people pleaser it is, obliges and sends out more CHL in the form of LDL.

At this point, due to inflammation, we have internal destruction going on. At the same time, bad CHL levels (LDLs) are also up due to the inflammation, but not the direct cause of the destruction correlated with things like cardiovascular disease.

Hang in there, here comes the good stuff.

Due to the perception that high CHL is the reason for CVD, a drug was created to combat it. Statin drugs work by actually damaging the part of the liver that makes CHL. So we see a drop in total CHL. It gets even more diabolical in that the liver, now requiring materials to rebuild, needs additional CHL. The CHL that persisted in the periphery as “bad” CHL now is transported back to the liver as HDL or “good” cholesterol. The numbers have been manipulated from dangerous to healthy, all while destroying the liver and allowing the causative systemic inflammation to persist.

Cherry on top here is that one of the key markers of inflammation is something called C-reactive protein (CRP). Where do you think this is made? You guessed it, the liver. Liver destruction leads to less CRP, and we lose one of our methods to accurately detect systemic inflammation.

I guess this is why the ads for statin drugs flat out state that they have not been shown to prevent heart attacks, heart disease, or strokes. Oh, they lower CHL in the manners we discussed, but not the risk they were originally intended to decrease. Yet they are still heavily utilized. I don’t know about you, but I found this simultaneously fascinating, frustrating and ingenious all in one.

This article isn’t intended to instruct anyone to stop taking any medications. Always consult with your trusted doctor before stopping or starting any aspect of treatment, especially medications. However, it is designed to provoke thought and questions. And as we can see, when it comes to cholesterol and statins, there certainly are a lot to be answered.

REFERENCES

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003502.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23959724

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23782756

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/statin-side-effects/MY00205

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/03/176145911/side-effects-prompt-patients-to-stop-statins-cholesterol

1 Comment

Posted in Drug Discovery, Nutrition

Tagged HDL, high cholesterol, LDL, Statin