I found a little on this topic in the obesity thread at the top of the board, but I'd like to hear anyone with any knowledge on this expound a bit further.
My story: I am 38, will be 39 in a couple months. In my mid-20s I began putting on weight which ultimately led to me being 300 lbs. I tried losing weight a couple of times which led to 50/60 lb losses, but I quickly gained it back both times. Fast forward to April of 2019. My dad has a sudden heart attack and passes away on the operating table. I do not recall specifics, but I believe his widow maker was nearly 100% blocked. He was probably 40 lbs or so overweight and had carried that weight for many years. He was 70. His dad passed away at 69 from congestive heart failure. One of his brothers died in his 40s on the operating table after a heart attack. Another brother had to have bypass surgery in his 40s. Pancreatic cancer ultimately claimed his life in his 60s.
Long story, but obviously family history is against me. In early 2020, as Covid madness was setting in, I began having chest pains. Called 911 once, and visited the ER on two other occasions. Stress test negative. Blood work and EKGs always negative. Turns out it was severe anxiety likely from Covid and dad's passing in combination, along with GERD. At this time, literally fearing for my life, I went on a low carb eating plan. Quit all forms of sugar. By this past December, I had lost 110 lbs. I was on anxiety meds, 2 blood pressure meds, acid reflux meds, and thyroid meds. I was able to come off the anxiety, reflux, and one bp med. I still take a beta blocker and the synthroid.
Now to the point. My LDL is high. I believe it was 165 the other day when I had bloodwork done. My doctor wanted me on statins last year and I refused. I've done a ton of studying on this since all of this began. It seems it has never been clearly proven that LDL is the bad actor in heart disease. Many cardiologists around the country have shifted away from the LDL paradigm. My doctor is absolutely against that line of thinking and wants my LDL under 100. This last go around, I've decided to listen to his advice due to my family history. Yet I still see and hear of people with low LDL still having heart attacks. See and hear plenty of stories of bad experiences for people taking statins.
I would love to hear anyone's thoughts on this, especially those of you with heart issues that you've dealt with and any medical professionals. I've been taking the statins for a week now. Actually 2 different meds, one of which actually stops the intestines from taking in cholesterol from food. No terrible side effects yet, that I can tell, except my sleep hasn't been great. However there are other factors at play there so I'm not willing to blame the meds just yet.
My story: I am 38, will be 39 in a couple months. In my mid-20s I began putting on weight which ultimately led to me being 300 lbs. I tried losing weight a couple of times which led to 50/60 lb losses, but I quickly gained it back both times. Fast forward to April of 2019. My dad has a sudden heart attack and passes away on the operating table. I do not recall specifics, but I believe his widow maker was nearly 100% blocked. He was probably 40 lbs or so overweight and had carried that weight for many years. He was 70. His dad passed away at 69 from congestive heart failure. One of his brothers died in his 40s on the operating table after a heart attack. Another brother had to have bypass surgery in his 40s. Pancreatic cancer ultimately claimed his life in his 60s.
Long story, but obviously family history is against me. In early 2020, as Covid madness was setting in, I began having chest pains. Called 911 once, and visited the ER on two other occasions. Stress test negative. Blood work and EKGs always negative. Turns out it was severe anxiety likely from Covid and dad's passing in combination, along with GERD. At this time, literally fearing for my life, I went on a low carb eating plan. Quit all forms of sugar. By this past December, I had lost 110 lbs. I was on anxiety meds, 2 blood pressure meds, acid reflux meds, and thyroid meds. I was able to come off the anxiety, reflux, and one bp med. I still take a beta blocker and the synthroid.
Now to the point. My LDL is high. I believe it was 165 the other day when I had bloodwork done. My doctor wanted me on statins last year and I refused. I've done a ton of studying on this since all of this began. It seems it has never been clearly proven that LDL is the bad actor in heart disease. Many cardiologists around the country have shifted away from the LDL paradigm. My doctor is absolutely against that line of thinking and wants my LDL under 100. This last go around, I've decided to listen to his advice due to my family history. Yet I still see and hear of people with low LDL still having heart attacks. See and hear plenty of stories of bad experiences for people taking statins.
I would love to hear anyone's thoughts on this, especially those of you with heart issues that you've dealt with and any medical professionals. I've been taking the statins for a week now. Actually 2 different meds, one of which actually stops the intestines from taking in cholesterol from food. No terrible side effects yet, that I can tell, except my sleep hasn't been great. However there are other factors at play there so I'm not willing to blame the meds just yet.