I have been doing a lot of research on cholesterol lately, especially in relation to diabetes and heart health. There is a lot of confusion and misinformation out there about cholesterol, so I wanted to take a moment to share some of the latest findings.
For decades, doctors have been told that cholesterol is the most important thing to consider when it comes to heart health. Lipitor, a medication used to lower cholesterol, is one of the most prescribed drugs in the world. However, recent studies have shown that cholesterol may not be as important as we once thought.
One study conducted in England using artificial intelligence found that cholesterol wasn’t even on the list of things most likely to cause heart disease. In fact, it was number 46 out of 48, showing almost zero correlation. So why has cholesterol been so heavily emphasized for so long?
The answer lies in a story about a group in Massachusetts at Harvard Medical School. They found cholesterol deposits in the heart and assumed that high cholesterol must be causing them. They conducted studies, including one with rabbits, to find a correlation, but the evidence was weak. However, this was enough for the companies selling cholesterol-lowering drugs to promote their products and create billion-dollar advertising budgets. As a result, cholesterol has been heavily promoted despite its lack of importance in preventing heart disease.
As a doctor, my goal is to help my patients achieve optimal health. In the last 20 years, I have prescribed cholesterol medications only three times. Instead, I have found that making lifestyle changes and focusing on overall heart health can be more effective in preventing heart disease. For example, by reducing stress, eating a healthy diet, and getting regular exercise, patients can significantly reduce their risk of heart disease.
One patient I saw recently had been told that he needed bypass surgery or he would die within 30 days. He came to see me, and we made some changes to his lifestyle, such as improving his diet and increasing his physical activity. Three years later, he has not needed surgery, and his heart function is normal, despite his cholesterol levels remaining high.
While cholesterol has been heavily promoted as the most important factor in heart health, recent studies have shown that this may not be the case. As a doctor, I encourage my patients to focus on overall heart health through lifestyle changes, rather than relying solely on cholesterol-lowering medications. By doing so, they can achieve optimal health and reduce their risk of heart disease.
-Taken from the Fix Blood Blood Sugar Webinar- Dr. Scott Saunders M.D.
