Hello:

My cholesterol levels are under control these days. However, for the bulk of my life, it was high. Does that mean I have arthrosclerosis?

Do statin drugs reduce artery plaque?

excon

If you can get your arteries cleansed without statins that is good but you have to keep it monitored. If you do go with the statins then you NEED to take Co Q 10 with it. I can give you links on why it is necessary.

You need to cut out all bad fats and take Omega and eat good fats
Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Eat a high fiber diet.


I will get back to you with more.

You more than likely have arteries that are semi-blocked with plaque--a result of high cholesterol for a long period. Heart arteries blocked lead to a heart attack... brain arteries blocked lead to a stroke... kidney arteries blocked lead to kidney failure.

Statins, like Lipitor, reduce the amount of cholesterol circulating in the blood... it is really a wonder drug. That is to stop, going forward, the build-up of fat and the consequences of that in your arteries.

HOpefully, that will be enough to allow you to live quite well, but your arteries remain damaged. Surgeries, such as bypass for the heart or stints, repair the severe life-threatening blockages.

Usually, people take meds to lower their blood pressure to help preserve and protect the heart from having to work too hard to try to push blood through narrowed arteries.

Weight loss, exercise, good diet, medication, no alcohol or cigarettes, no stress or anger, good sex life will go a long way to extend your life into your 80ies. :)

Hello Choux:

Thanks. So, since I'm taking a statin now, and my cholesterol is good now, from what you say it appears that my arteries aren't going to clog worse than they are now. Would that be a good assumption?

excon

my arteries aren't gonna clog worse than they are now. Would that be a good assumption?

excon

Not really. Depends on diet and exercise as well as medications. They can certainly clog worse as what you have in your arteries, in essence, are blood clots. Platelets and RBCs tend to adhere to these clots and continue to constrict your arteries.

A couple of therapies work well... anticoagulants, stent placement, etc... but without knowing the extent of your vasoconstriction it's hard to advise.

Hi ex,

Do your very best to stay healthy and just hope for the best. You don't have any chest pains, so that is *positive* as far as your heart goes. Tell your physician that you want aggressive treatment for heart disease.

My very best to you, old friend; I have no worries that you won't live a long time. :)

Read both of these
CoEnzyme Q10 Protects Your Heart (http://www.oralchelation.com/technical/coq101.htm)
CoQ10 and Statins (Feb/March 2006) (http://www.townsendletter.com/FebMar2006/coq100206.htm)

And these

Hardening of Arteries Significantly Reduced by Vegetable Diet (http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Nutrition-Vitamins/6-06-17-HardeningOfArteries.htm)

Fats 101: How to tell Good Fats and Bad Fats (http://www.healthcastle.com/goodfats-badfats.shtml)

Use the oils in the section with the olive oil, avoid the Crisco/Wesson oils.
Eat loads of fresh fruits and veggies and cut down on any junk food.

Plaque can calcify if you do not clear it up. Last month they said that is what John Ritter
Died of calcification.

Eat whole grains, Not white crappy bread. Eat your oats and brown rice. Walk, Walk, Walk everyday and get a dog its good for the heart.

Hello again, Ladies:

I appreciate that you want me to be around for a long time. And, I do good too. But, I got to have a real fatty rib eye steak once in a while, or life wouldn't be worth living.

excon

I allow you and I'll even buy one for your 99th bd! :D

High fiber
No bad fat
Good fat
Loads of fresh fruits and veggies.
CoQ10

Hello again, Ladies:

I appreciate that you want me to be around for a long time. And, I do good too. But, I gotta have a real fatty rib eye steak once in a while, or life wouldn't be worth livin.

excon


Ex you have awesome advice here. And I agree, you also have to have a yummy now and then.

Know what your Cardiologist wants from you, ask him or her straight up, and then once in awhile have that goodie.

Take your meds, keep your doc appts. - allow yourself a treat - and keep all of us smiling :)

Xoxo

Effect of rosuvastatin therapy on carotid plaque m...[Am Heart J. 2008] - PubMed Result (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18294500?ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVDocSum)




Meta-analysis of the studies assessing temporal ch...[Am J Cardiol. 2007] - PubMed Result (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17196453?ordinalpos=12&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVDocSum)


In conclusion, statin therapy, particularly when achieving the target LDL level [ less than a 100 ] , appears to promote a significant regression of coronary plaque volume as measured by IVUS."

Yes, "statins" reduce heart artery narrowing caused by plaque, if it reduces your ldl to < 100.

Note that some of theses statins are now generic - simvastatin and are cheaper and as effective as the brand names.

Stay away from Zetia and Vytorin. Recent news is they don't do much beyond lighten your wallet.

Also stay away from grapefruit juice if you are on a "statin".




Other factors that may help:

If you smoke tobacco - quit. I'm not sure about the cannabis :)

If you have high blood pressure control it. Less than 130/85 on average.

If you are diabetic - control your blood sugars. < 110 fasting / pre meal, a1c as close to 6% as possible.

"exercise"

Daily exercise dramatically lowers men's death rates (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053238)

“Our findings show that the risk of death is cut in half with an exercise capacity that can easily be achieved by a brisk walk of about 30 minutes per session 5-6 days per week"


If you already have heart or vascular disease and are not allergic - aspirin.

Aspirin in Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4456)