Coronavirus

[Verdinut]

Excess oil (fat) soluble ones can be deleterious as they tend to accumulate in the body fat.

Excess is excess, however not all fats or oils are deleterious. But polyunsaturated fats are the ones to avoid, cause they are unstable and easily oxidized. Particularly omega-6 PUFAs, oxidize into reactive aldehydes and other free radical-like substances, they contribute to the formation of oxidized LDL, which is a key factor in the development of atherosclerotic plaques that can clog arteries.

IMO supplementation with antioxidants helps to protect the arteries from atheroscletrosis. Some antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E and beta-carotene, are also available as dietary supplements.

 

[Mr._Clark]

This blog post "Covid and Our Arteries" by Eric Topol is somewhat disconcerting.

>>>To summarize, we’ve now seen a third dimension of Covid’s potential effect on our arteries, from the early recognized endothelial inflammation, with its attendant propensity for clots (micro or macro), to promoting atherosclerotic plaque, particularly those with high-risk for rupture (precursor for heart attack and stroke), to now accelerated aging. These 3 dimensions are not discrete, but interdependent. Undoubtedly, we will learn more on the future impact of Covid on our vascular health, but for now we can say it is likely well beyond what is generally recognized or anticipated.<<<

https://erictopol.substack.com/p/covid-and-our-arteries

And, of course, there are also negative effects on the brain:

>>>[T]his week, 2 new [in 2024] publications have substantially added to our understanding of the extent that Covid can impair cognitive function across the full gamut— from young, healthy individuals with mild infections to older, hospitalized patients with severe Covid.<<<

Covid Brain

Two important studies this week shed new light on after-effects, 1-year out, and other key updates

erictopol.substack.com

It's not clear to me if it's possible to effectively treat the various negative effects after the fact.

Let's be careful out there! (yes, that's a rather obtuse reference to Hill Street Blues)

 

[trochetier]

Excess is excess, however not all fats or oils are deleterious. But polyunsaturated fats are the ones to avoid, cause they are unstable and easily oxidized. Particularly omega-6 PUFAs, oxidize into reactive aldehydes and other free radical-like substances, they contribute to the formation of oxidized LDL, which is a key factor in the development of atherosclerotic plaques that can clog arteries.

IMO supplementation with antioxidants helps to protect the arteries from atheroscletrosis. Some antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E and beta-carotene, are also available as dietary supplements.

I meant oil (fat) soluble Vitamins like A, D, E and K.

 

[mtrot]

This blog post "Covid and Our Arteries" by Eric Topol is somewhat disconcerting.

>>>To summarize, we’ve now seen a third dimension of Covid’s potential effect on our arteries, from the early recognized endothelial inflammation, with its attendant propensity for clots (micro or macro), to promoting atherosclerotic plaque, particularly those with high-risk for rupture (precursor for heart attack and stroke), to now accelerated aging. These 3 dimensions are not discrete, but interdependent. Undoubtedly, we will learn more on the future impact of Covid on our vascular health, but for now we can say it is likely well beyond what is generally recognized or anticipated.<<<

https://erictopol.substack.com/p/covid-and-our-arteries

And, of course, there are also negative effects on the brain:

>>>[T]his week, 2 new [in 2024] publications have substantially added to our understanding of the extent that Covid can impair cognitive function across the full gamut— from young, healthy individuals with mild infections to older, hospitalized patients with severe Covid.<<<

Covid Brain

Two important studies this week shed new light on after-effects, 1-year out, and other key updates

erictopol.substack.com

It's not clear to me if it's possible to effectively treat the various negative effects after the fact.

Let's be careful out there! (yes, that's a rather obtuse reference to Hill Street Blues)

Should I then increase my statin dose?!

 

[Verdinut]

Should I then increase my statin dose?!

I suggest that you question the use of statins. Statins are to be avoided according to honest physicians. Your doctor is indeed incompetent and I'm serious..

You have hypercholesterolemia. Do you know that the total cholesterol level means nothing? The important figures are that the ratio of total LDL to HDL should preferably be below 3. Then, if your HDL level is higher than that of your triglyceride level, you wouldn't have to worry.

I am 85 and have been diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia at the age of 33. At the time, my total cholesterol level was over 900 and the HDL level was at 35 only. I read a lot about about the problem, and I know about a cholesterol hoax that is popular and people are actually influenced by the lies that are being propagated by dishonest cardiologists. Statins have been sold since the 1970's and possibly earlier. But in the 1980's, normal cholesterol levels were reduced. Do you know why? It was to sell more statins that bring billions of profits! Several physicians are on pharmaceutical companies payroll! Do you know that cholesterol is necessary to every organ in the body including the brain? A low cholesterol level is even more dangerous. Moreover, statins can cause muscular and other problems. You can get important serious and honest info from serious government and scientific research sites.

I always refused to take statins. I recommend that you eat Omega 3 containing fish such as salmon, herring or sardines twice weekly to protect your coronary arteries. That is what I do and I take Omega 3 supplements on days I don't consume omega 3 rich fish. I recommend you also add a complete 8 element Vitamin E supplement to protect the heart. I suggest that you get a good book that refers to cholesterol such as: The Cholesterol Hoax by Dr Sherry Ann Rogers, acknowledgeable physician who was not afraid to confront incompetent physicians.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I will just post this since statins and cholesterol is discussed. Came up on a project I was given to check out. You be the judge:

excel trial on statins and mortality - Google Search

DEBATE trial on statins and mortality - Google Search

Effect of rosuvastatin in patients with chronic heart failure (the GISSI-HF trial): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial - The Lancet

SEAS trial on statins and mortality - Google Search

CORONA trial on statins and mortality - Google Search

IMProve-it trial on statins and mortality - Google Search

 

[trochetier]

Should I then increase my statin dose?!

DO NOT increase your statin dose without asking your doctor. NEVER follow any medical advise from anything that you have read in a book (even by well respected doctors) or in any internet source. Every person is unique genetically, by family genetics, physiologically, and their own medical history. I personally have and recommend everyone have one general practitioner (GP) doctor who can/will keep tabs of your medications and medical history. Make sure all your specialists feed their info to the GP - if they don't make sure your GP knows the outcome of your latest visit. It is kind of the Mayo Clinic model. We are not a collection of parts, but a total system and the system should be managed as a whole unit. I wish I had a Mayo Clinic near me.

 

[mtrot]

DO NOT increase your statin dose without asking your doctor. NEVER follow any medical advise from anything that you have read in a book (even by well respected doctors) or in any internet source. Every person is unique genetically, by family genetics, physiologically, and their own medical history. I personally have and recommend everyone have one general practitioner (GP) doctor who can/will keep tabs of your medications and medical history. Make sure all your specialists feed their info to the GP - if they don't make sure your GP knows the outcome of your latest visit. It is kind of the Mayo Clinic model. We are not a collection of parts, but a total system and the system should be managed as a whole unit. I wish I had a Mayo Clinic near me.

Lol, it was a joke. Did you not see the smilie? I made that comment with regard to the increased risk of cardiovascular thrombotic events mentioned by Mr. Clark in his post.

 

[mtrot]

I will just post this since statins and cholesterol is discussed. Came up on a project I was given to check out. You be the judge:

excel trial on statins and mortality - Google Search

DEBATE trial on statins and mortality - Google Search

Effect of rosuvastatin in patients with chronic heart failure (the GISSI-HF trial): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial - The Lancet

SEAS trial on statins and mortality - Google Search

CORONA trial on statins and mortality - Google Search

IMProve-it trial on statins and mortality - Google Search

Thanks for the citations. The benefit of statin therapy in primary and secondary prevention of CV death and major cardiovascular events is not in question, as multiple prospective, randomized, double-blind trials have established the relative risk reduction of around 30%. Here are two major trials with pravastatin, but there are also confirmatory trials with other statins.

Here is the large New England Journal of Medicine trial that proved secondary prevention with pravastatin:

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199811053391902

And here is the West of Scotland study with pravastatin that proved primary prevention of fatal or non-fatal coronary events in middle-aged men.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199511163332001

With regard to statin therapy in my case, rosuvastatin 10 mg/day will lower my LDL cholesterol below 70 mg/dl, with good compliance. However, I do feel that rosuvastin does give me some deep muscle and/or joint pain that bothers me when trying to sleep at night. I know of many people who now are taking their stating 2 to 3 times per week because of this issue. My sister-in-law has had so many pains from rosuvastatin that her doctor just switched her to ezitimibe.

As to the question of whether the lower LDL levels from statin therapy pose other health risks, my doctor seems to feel you would have to drive the LDL much lower to cause problems. I did ask if my LDL being below 70 put me at increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke, due to weakening of vessel walls and he said it would not.

Now, interestingly, my 94 year old mother has been on statins for decades. She was doing fine on Crestor(rosuvastatin), but when Lipitor(atorvastatin) went generic, the pharmacist took the liberty of switching her to atorvastatin just prior to her going on a church choir trip to New York City. Well, she got to NYC and her legs locked up on her. She had to have other members of the group help her to get around. Upon her return, I raised hell with her doctor office and we were able to get her back on rosuvastatin. She does have muscle pain but certainly able to move her legs.

The question my sister and I recently raised with her doctor is, since she is 94 and has heart failure, is she currently meeting the risk/benefit equation to be taking a statin at all? The doctor did discontinue the rosuvastatin.

 

[Verdinut]

I will just post this since statins and cholesterol is discussed. Came up on a project I was given to check out. You be the judge:

excel trial on statins and mortality - Google Search

DEBATE trial on statins and mortality - Google Search

Effect of rosuvastatin in patients with chronic heart failure (the GISSI-HF trial): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial - The Lancet

SEAS trial on statins and mortality - Google Search

CORONA trial on statins and mortality - Google Search

IMProve-it trial on statins and mortality - Google Search

IMO most of the above articles were written by physicians who have a financial interest in increased sales of statins.

Now have a look at the following report from the Mayo Clinic, which is one of the few most reputable US medical clinics:

Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks

Statin side effects can be uncomfortable but are rarely dangerous.

www.mayoclinic.org

 

[mtrycrafts]

IMO most of the above articles were written by physicians who have a financial interest in increased sales of statins.

Now have a look at the following report from the Mayo Clinic, which is one of the few most reputable US medical clinics:

Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks

Statin side effects can be uncomfortable but are rarely dangerous.

www.mayoclinic.org

You mean the Mayo clinic staff, articles authors, are not physicians there? They looked at side effects. Great. I guess we need to look at side effects on every meds then, including aspirin that happens to kill a few, like in the hundreds, each year. I don't like those odds.

 

[Verdinut]

You mean the Mayo clinic staff, articles authors, are not physicians there? They looked at side effects. Great. I guess we need to look at side effects on every meds then, including aspirin that happens to kill a few, like in the hundreds, each year. I don't like those odds.

Where did I say there were no physicians?

According to some physicians, meds are all poisons. They all have side effects on our bodies, and some people are prescribed so many resulting in a dangerous cocktail. As a matter of fact, acetaminophen is more toxic than Aspirin:

Acetaminophen Toxicity - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

 

[mtrot]

Where did I say there were no physicians?

According to some physicians, meds are all poisons. They all have side effects on our bodies, and some people are prescribed so many resulting in a dangerous cocktail. As a matter of fact, acetaminophen is more toxic than Aspirin:

Acetaminophen Toxicity - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

Yes, it's very rudimentary in medicine that all medications have a risk/benefit profile that needs to be considered before administration. Both acetaminophen and NSAID's are relatively safe in appropriate doses for healthy people. Acetaminophen crosses the blood/brain barrier and works in the brain to affect pain perception. It also crosses the placenta.

And, yes, Tylenol is metabolized in the liver and can be dangerous for those with pre-existing liver disease.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Where did I say there were no physicians?

According to some physicians, meds are all poisons. They all have side effects on our bodies, and some people are prescribed so many resulting in a dangerous cocktail. As a matter of fact, acetaminophen is more toxic than Aspirin:

Acetaminophen Toxicity - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

You didn't. You remarked the ones I posted were done by physicians indicating something that they cannot have a good paper because they are by physicians.
Mayo's article only indicated staff. I guess they cannot be biased?

 

[Verdinut]

You didn't. You remarked the ones I posted were done by physicians indicating something that they cannot have a good paper because they are by physicians.
Mayo's article only indicated staff. I guess they cannot be biased?

I have some friends who had been taking statins and had not been told by their doctors of their possible side effects. One of them is a 72 year old woman who experienced muscular pain caused by the statins she was taking. Her lipid profile doesn't necessitate medication or other mean of reducing cholesterol levels, according to her latest lab result levels. I know what are the correct lipid levels, as I've been thoroughly informed by a specialist in Internal Medicine, whom I had as attending physician many years ago.

Any physician can be biased, but if he or she is not on the statin manufacturer's payroll, or having shares in the company, there is less possibility of becoming biased.