In my practice I come across many patients with high blood cholesterol (above the normal accepted limits) and as expected many of these people suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes,heart disease,gout, you name it, they are all there. While some are obese or overweight, others have "normal" weight based on the standard weight for height and the calculation of Body Mass Index (BMI).
Almost 95% of those who attend my practice presented with symptoms before they were diagnosed. These include recurrent headache, urine frequency,unquenchable thirst and single joint pains. About 5% came following routine screening of "healthy" subjects. Among those with symptoms, some can be considered as late presentations as they also complain of chest pain, blurring of vision and numbness in their legs, indicating their small blood vessels have been compromised.
The current trend among doctors is to prescribe cholesterol-lowering drug (statin) to their patients who have high blood cholesterol, one pill daily and that'll take care of the nuisance! The drug companies promote this "wonder drug" on a massive scale, so can we blame the doctor?
Granted that some patients may be genetically programmed towards high cholesterol and others just cannot change their lifestyle of rich foods, there are patients who are in need of a good diet advice that they would adhere to religiously. I have come across such "born-again" patients.
As I do not give medications unnecessarily, my usual questions for such patients are about their work,lifestyle habits and what kind of cooking oil they use at home. Then I let them know that cholesterol is important for our body, too low will make us slow, too high will block our blood vessels causing heart attack and brain attack (stroke). There are two types cholesterol in our body, the good (HDL -high density lipoprotein) and the bad (LDL-low density lipoprotein). Practice diet control, less fried foods, less fatty foods and more of complex carbohydrates, brown rice, wholemeal bread and plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Well, so far three of my patients who were tested high for cholesterol before the diet regime, have normalised their cholesterol level after six weeks. Did they do some exercise? Yes, the normal 30-minute brisk walking at least three times a week. See. no need to take that over-rated drug, statin with its possible side-effects on your muscles!
You can do it on your own accord.
One of these three proudly told me that he only ate boiled foods now, how boring !! So I advised him that having a plate of fried mee or an ice-cream once in a while would not instantly increase his cholesterol, it is all a matter of being disciplined.
Unfortunately, being disciplined is not many peoples' cup of tea.
Almost 95% of those who attend my practice presented with symptoms before they were diagnosed. These include recurrent headache, urine frequency,unquenchable thirst and single joint pains. About 5% came following routine screening of "healthy" subjects. Among those with symptoms, some can be considered as late presentations as they also complain of chest pain, blurring of vision and numbness in their legs, indicating their small blood vessels have been compromised.
The current trend among doctors is to prescribe cholesterol-lowering drug (statin) to their patients who have high blood cholesterol, one pill daily and that'll take care of the nuisance! The drug companies promote this "wonder drug" on a massive scale, so can we blame the doctor?
Granted that some patients may be genetically programmed towards high cholesterol and others just cannot change their lifestyle of rich foods, there are patients who are in need of a good diet advice that they would adhere to religiously. I have come across such "born-again" patients.
As I do not give medications unnecessarily, my usual questions for such patients are about their work,lifestyle habits and what kind of cooking oil they use at home. Then I let them know that cholesterol is important for our body, too low will make us slow, too high will block our blood vessels causing heart attack and brain attack (stroke). There are two types cholesterol in our body, the good (HDL -high density lipoprotein) and the bad (LDL-low density lipoprotein). Practice diet control, less fried foods, less fatty foods and more of complex carbohydrates, brown rice, wholemeal bread and plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Well, so far three of my patients who were tested high for cholesterol before the diet regime, have normalised their cholesterol level after six weeks. Did they do some exercise? Yes, the normal 30-minute brisk walking at least three times a week. See. no need to take that over-rated drug, statin with its possible side-effects on your muscles!
You can do it on your own accord.
One of these three proudly told me that he only ate boiled foods now, how boring !! So I advised him that having a plate of fried mee or an ice-cream once in a while would not instantly increase his cholesterol, it is all a matter of being disciplined.
Unfortunately, being disciplined is not many peoples' cup of tea.
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