Cholesterol

It wasn't enough that the pharmaceutical companies had we physicians pushing their drugs, television is now courting and seducing patients into thinking that if your cholesterol number is good, you are in great shape. Since heart disease is the #l cause of death (Cancer #2, Doctors #3 Journal of the American Medical Assn 12/0l), patients believe their cholesterol number to be the premier indicator determining their fate. One half of people with heart attacks have LOW cholesterol. Note the following chart of many essestial hormones which decrease with age (see Hormone Replacement Therapy HRT) which require cholesterol for their already diminishing production. (view chart)

Certainly, have your cholesterol checked. Know that it is the cholesterol/HDL ratio that is the really important number. For example, if your cholesterol is 252 and your HDL (the good cholesterol) is 90, your ratio is pretty great. So to get a general idea of your heart health, have the following laboratory studies ordered:

Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Lp(a), Lp(b), Homocysteine (amino acid that is an arterial irritant - Vitamins B6, B12, Folic Acid, and Trimethyglycine all lower Homocysteine, the lower, the better according to JAMA (Journal of the AMA and NEJM (New England Journal of Med.)., Methylmalonic Acid (sensitive test for Bl2 deficiencies not found by Bl2 test alone), hsCRP (C Reactive Protein - marker for inflammation within arterial highways - Harvard research - NEJM 2/00). If CRP is high, tests and treatment with antibiotics are required. Bacteria detected by PCR blood testing indicates required treatment.

Then, of course, there is always the psychological component. Most heart attacks occur on Monday morning at 9 AM. Also, studies now indicate that it isn't the type A personality that is more prone to MI, rather the ANGRY type A personality.

We are a complicated biochemical species whose morbidity and mortality is not going to be determined by one laboratory number. A midnight to morning fast is absolutely necessary, especially for your triglyceride study. Triglycerides indicate whether or not you partake too much carbohydrate, a real problem in this country.