The numbers are bad. If you are fan of the television show, Lost, you know exactly what that phrase means. However, in my case it means something entirely different.
I recently went to the doctor and found out that my cholesterol is too high. I'm not surprised since I have been sedentary these past few months, sitting in front of the computer screen like a blob. I can't say my eating habits have been the best either.
My doc wants to put me on Lipitor. But I've just got a thing about traditional medicine. I believe that the cure is often as bad as the ailment.
So, I went to my friend, Dr. Mark Morgan. Mark is not only a great guy, but he practices alternative medicines, heavily relying on natural herbs and supplements to bring about health.
I trust Mark because he has helped every member of my immediate family with his methods of treatment over the past couple years.
When I told him about the prescription for Lipitor, he frowned and said, "Don't do that." He then proceeded to tell me about Red Yeast Rice Extract, and how studies are showing that regular consumption of this supplement has been shown to lower cholesteral by 30 points.
So, rather than put myself on prescription meds, I am going to give the Red Yeast Rice Extract a try. I shall report back to you in a month or so to see if the stuff really works.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
December 4, 2005 12:07 AM
Hmmm... wonder if there's a connection between the "BuyJoelDessert.com" box and the high cholesterol numbers? :-)
I'll be looking forward to your response. And I don't blame you for not wanting to ingest harsh chemicals to take care of problems.
Best wishes,
Tom
December 4, 2005 06:19 AM
Hi Joel,
I am a hard believer of alternative medicines. You can also try out some Yoga practise or Reiki treatments. Who knows, the English medicines will create a side effect later on our body?
December 4, 2005 11:15 PM
Hmmmmmm . . . this seems vaguely familiar, oh yeah! My doctor said something about slightly elevated cholesterol numbers to me last Jan. at my annual physical. Let's see, I golfed a little this past summer and play Saturday Night Mens Non-Contact hockey once a week. He also mentioned I should watch fatty foods, which I have done religiously . . . everytime I ate some. I really meant to start walking a mile each day, I really did! Better keep me posted on the Red Yeast Rice Extract, I may need it!
December 10, 2005 10:25 AM
You may or may not need Lipitor.
High cholesterol is just one risk factor for heart disease. If you also have elevated blood pressure, smoke, are overweight, or are over 45 years old, you are at risk of heart disease. And all too often, the FIRST symtom of heart disease is a FATAL heart attack or stroke.
Your doctor chose Lipitor because it is very effective at lowering cholesterol, proven to prevent these cariovascular events, and has an unparalleled safety record (there is more lipitor floating around the blood streams of more people in this world than any other prescription medication and people's livers arent exploding on every street corner)!
Remember, if asprin was introduced today, it would never be approved by the FDA because of high occurance of GI side effects.
As far as the Red Yeast Rice Extract, if you can lower your LDL below 100...God bless you. However, the problem with most "natural" products, is that they are just not very effective.
I don't understand people that go home with a bag full of crap they bought at GNC because it says "natural" on the label and was proven to work in study involving 12 people. Yet the same person will refuse prescription meds, studied in tens of thousands of patients, used in millions of real world patients, prescribed by a doctor with dozens of years of education and experience, just because of something they read in Readers Digest, or heard from Katie Couric or Matt Lauer.
Learn to trust your primary care physician.