Heart disease

NRSPAM
NRSPAM Posts: 961 Member
edited November 12 in Food and Nutrition
Hi, I am a cardiac nurse. As a cardiac nurse, I would like to say, that many of our patients are prescribed statins and blood pressure meds, only to return to our unit, months or a few years later, even after angioplasty and stenting of their arteries. This is NOT to say that anyone should not take their meds, but I came across this article. Thought I'd share. Very interesting read.

http://www.tunedbody.com/heart-surgeon-declares-really-causes-heart-illness/
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Replies

  • linsey0689
    linsey0689 Posts: 753 Member
    I'm in my last semester of nursing school looks like an interesting read. I bookmarked it for later. Thanks for sharing :)
  • deus3xMachina
    deus3xMachina Posts: 4
    Seems all the pretty nurses are on the other side of the pond and not on my ward round...
  • willnorton
    willnorton Posts: 995 Member
    Pam, loved the article...makes so much sense......thanks
  • resistance_freak
    resistance_freak Posts: 899
    Pam, you might also want to read a book called "The Cholesterol Myth" it's along the same topic and gives a LOT of interesting evidence to contradict the popular belief that eating fat causes CHD.
  • patols1
    patols1 Posts: 108 Member
    ok. I am wondering if someone can simplify this for me. what is he saying? my doctor told me to cut down on carbs, exercise and lose weight. he also gave me meds because I had done all of those before(lost 70lbs, kept it off for 4 years then got sick/bedridden and gained 40 back) and it did not lower my cholesterol. My dad has had 3 stints put In his heart and me and the doctor do not want that path for me. all of my sisters and I have high cholesterol(one who is extremely contentious about what she eats and exercises daily). any helpful information would be greatly appreciated. thanks
  • NRSPAM
    NRSPAM Posts: 961 Member
    Seems all the pretty nurses are on the other side of the pond and not on my ward round...

    Lol. Sorry you're in the hospital. Get better soon!
  • toddis
    toddis Posts: 941 Member
    Hi, I am a cardiac nurse. As a cardiac nurse, I would like to say, that many of our patients are prescribed statins and blood pressure meds, only to return to our unit, months or a few years later, even after angioplasty and stenting of their arteries. This is NOT to say that anyone should not take their meds, but I came across this article. Thought I'd share. Very interesting read.

    http://www.tunedbody.com/heart-surgeon-declares-really-causes-heart-illness/

    Once the body is broken a few pills and stints are a band-aid not a fix.

    Anecdotal evidence and railing against a straw man doesn't fix the problem. I'm pretty sure the scientific consensus at this point has shifted from the ultra-low fat diet paradigm.

    Nutrition and health science has advanced significantly but a lot of it is still best guesses.

    If this doctor posits something, have him do studies and back it up.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    If this is the case, how does one explain cases like mine, where my cholesterol levels have improved significantly over time despite high quantities of sugar intake?

    Would have been nice if he gave references for some of these claims.
  • ktrn0312
    ktrn0312 Posts: 722 Member
    Bump for later reading.
  • NRSPAM
    NRSPAM Posts: 961 Member
    ok. I am wondering if someone can simplify this for me. what is he saying? my doctor told me to cut down on carbs, exercise and lose weight. he also gave me meds because I had done all of those before(lost 70lbs, kept it off for 4 years then got sick/bedridden and gained 40 back) and it did not lower my cholesterol. My dad has had 3 stints put In his heart and me and the doctor do not want that path for me. all of my sisters and I have high cholesterol(one who is extremely contentious about what she eats and exercises daily). any helpful information would be greatly appreciated. thanks

    Basically, what he is trying to say, is to eat cleaner. Less processed foods. Olive oil is best, and real butter, when you need to use it, and you should use it sparingly. Unprocessed foods are fresh fruit and veggies, (frozen is ok, but not best, as long as there are no added sugars or sodium) lean mean, from grass fed animals, (since most are raised in factories and fed corn which is not natural). Whole grain breads and pastas, to keep that insulin/blood sugar from spiking, instead of white bread/pasta. Flour and sugar is processed, as well as anything boxed, canned, bottled, (in general). He's saying we should eat a more natural diet, not manmade, with added chemicals. I don't eat super clean, but I do eat less processed foods than I used to. I try to keep it as clean as I personally can, but I like my processed foods too. He's also trying to say, that it's not the fat that's killing us and making us fat, it's the processed foods, including the ones labeled "low fat" or "low calorie."
  • NRSPAM
    NRSPAM Posts: 961 Member
    If this is the case, how does one explain cases like mine, where my cholesterol levels have improved significantly over time despite high quantities of sugar intake?

    Would have been nice if he gave references for some of these claims.

    Well, he does say that losing weight also significantly lower cholesterol, as well, if I'm not mistaken. That's true, there are no references, but I do think that diet plays a huge role, as well as genetics, since so many of my patients say they take their meds religiously, and stick to a much healthier diet, and still come back.
  • NRSPAM
    NRSPAM Posts: 961 Member
    Also, I have read many credible articles that do say that inflammation plays a huge role in heart disease. He's also suggesting that cholesterol is not the actual problem, as to why heart attacks occur.
  • NRSPAM
    NRSPAM Posts: 961 Member
    Hi, I am a cardiac nurse. As a cardiac nurse, I would like to say, that many of our patients are prescribed statins and blood pressure meds, only to return to our unit, months or a few years later, even after angioplasty and stenting of their arteries. This is NOT to say that anyone should not take their meds, but I came across this article. Thought I'd share. Very interesting read.

    http://www.tunedbody.com/heart-surgeon-declares-really-causes-heart-illness/

    Once the body is broken a few pills and stints are a band-aid not a fix.

    Anecdotal evidence and railing against a straw man doesn't fix the problem. I'm pretty sure the scientific consensus at this point has shifted from the ultra-low fat diet paradigm.

    Nutrition and health science has advanced significantly but a lot of it is still best guesses.

    If this doctor posits something, have him do studies and back it up.

    True. Hey, I said it was interesting, I didn't say it was factual... :wink: Lol.
  • _TastySnoBalls_
    _TastySnoBalls_ Posts: 1,298 Member
    I'm a nurse as well and I disagree with this article. I skimmed (very fast) through it, but he's basically promoting a "clean" diet or a diet consisting of unprocessed foods.
  • _TastySnoBalls_
    _TastySnoBalls_ Posts: 1,298 Member
    If this is the case, how does one explain cases like mine, where my cholesterol levels have improved significantly over time despite high quantities of sugar intake?

    Would have been nice if he gave references for some of these claims.

    Well, he does say that losing weight also significantly lower cholesterol, as well, if I'm not mistaken. That's true, there are no references, but I do think that diet plays a huge role, as well as genetics, since so many of my patients say they take their meds religiously, and stick to a much healthier diet, and still come back.

    Then as a nurse, you'd know that patients aren't always honest about compliance and diet/exercise habits at home. Those patients that say they are, aren't a reliable source of information either, even though they should be for their own sake.
  • patols1
    patols1 Posts: 108 Member
    ok. I am wondering if someone can simplify this for me. what is he saying? my doctor told me to cut down on carbs, exercise and lose weight. he also gave me meds because I had done all of those before(lost 70lbs, kept it off for 4 years then got sick/bedridden and gained 40 back) and it did not lower my cholesterol. My dad has had 3 stints put In his heart and me and the doctor do not want that path for me. all of my sisters and I have high cholesterol(one who is extremely contentious about what she eats and exercises daily). any helpful information would be greatly appreciated. thanks

    Basically, what he is trying to say, is to eat cleaner. Less processed foods. Olive oil is best, and real butter, when you need to use it, and you should use it sparingly. Unprocessed foods are fresh fruit and veggies, (frozen is ok, but not best, as long as there are no added sugars or sodium) lean mean, from grass fed animals, (since most are raised in factories and fed corn which is not natural). Whole grain breads and pastas, to keep that insulin/blood sugar from spiking, instead of white bread/pasta. Flour and sugar is processed, as well as anything boxed, canned, bottled, (in general). He's saying we should eat a more natural diet, not manmade, with added chemicals. I don't eat super clean, but I do eat less processed foods than I used to. I try to keep it as clean as I personally can, but I like my processed foods too. He's also trying to say, that it's not the fat that's killing us and making us fat, it's the processed foods, including the ones labeled "low fat" or "low calorie."
    thanks
  • NRSPAM
    NRSPAM Posts: 961 Member
    I'm a nurse as well and I disagree with this article. I skimmed (very fast) through it, but he's basically promoting a "clean" diet or a diet consisting of unprocessed foods.

    Ok, granted the article isn't great, due to no references, and lack of evidence, and like I said, I like my processed foods too, but really? I mean if you eat a diet full of nothing but, or mostly processed foods, do you really think that's eating healthy? And what's wrong with eating healthier? I'm not saying you should be an angel, and ONLY eat clean, but I just don't think it hurts to eat foods that are healthier. Don't get me wrong here, I'm really not preaching that we should all eat clean all the time. I just don't think it would hurt to cut down on all the processed foods.
  • NRSPAM
    NRSPAM Posts: 961 Member
    If this is the case, how does one explain cases like mine, where my cholesterol levels have improved significantly over time despite high quantities of sugar intake?

    Would have been nice if he gave references for some of these claims.

    Well, he does say that losing weight also significantly lower cholesterol, as well, if I'm not mistaken. That's true, there are no references, but I do think that diet plays a huge role, as well as genetics, since so many of my patients say they take their meds religiously, and stick to a much healthier diet, and still come back.

    Then as a nurse, you'd know that patients aren't always honest about compliance and diet/exercise habits at home. Those patients that say they are, aren't a reliable source of information either, even though they should be for their own sake.

    Yep, well aware.
  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,301 Member
    I have been doing quite a lot of reading and somewhere I discovered sugar can be divided into several different categories made in and utilised in different parts of our digestive tracts and one category sorry can't remember which can do some damage too to the cardio vascular system. It convinces me our bodies are a very, very complex thing.

    I wish anyone with heart issues all the very best as you work to get it under control.
  • NRSPAM
    NRSPAM Posts: 961 Member
    ^^^Not sure about all the different types of sugar. I know my Grandmother recently had to have her carotids cleaned out, due to blockage, and she was told by the doctor to eat a low carb diet. I read up on it, and found that carbohydrates are indirectly responsible for raising cholesterol levels.
  • slattert
    slattert Posts: 3
    I am a 44 year old male that suffered a heart attack last year. I flatlined twice at 3 minutes each. After quick action by the paramedics and medical staff, and a shiny new stent in my right coronary artery (100%) blocked, I have a second lease on life.
    I am a semi-active ex-college athlete that fell into the trap I have read so much about on these boards. Trapped into convenience foods, fried foods, lots of ice cold beer, wings and so forth I began carrying 60 extra pounds all right at my belly. My cholesterohl was never high, in fact low-- even the good kind. Needless to say, am struggling to get to my goal weight, and it absolutely is 100% relative to what I fuel my body with.

    I cannot agree more that inflammation is the root of ALL DISEASE! In no way do I see in his article that the doctor recommends to cease taking meds, quite the opposite. What he is saying, is to limit the known causes of inflamation. You wouldn't throw gas on an already raging fire to attempt to put it out, so why would you do so to your own body? As a heart attack survivor, I firmly believe you only get ONE chance at a SECOND chance. May as well give all you can. No if i could only get some help with portion sizes and feeling satiated, that would be awesome!
  • fittocycle
    fittocycle Posts: 827 Member
    Thanks so much for sharing this article. Like you said, I cannot see any harm in eating a clean diet and counting out (or at least limiting) processed foods. I'm sure I'll get blasted for saying this but if the food contains ingredients that I can't recognize or pronounce, then I'm not eating it. That said, it's nearly impossible to follow the same rules when eating at a restaurant. So I eat as healthy as possible at home and try to cook meals from scratch. :flowerforyou:
  • NRSPAM
    NRSPAM Posts: 961 Member
    I am a 44 year old male that suffered a heart attack last year. I flatlined twice at 3 minutes each. After quick action by the paramedics and medical staff, and a shiny new stent in my right coronary artery (100%) blocked, I have a second lease on life.
    I am a semi-active ex-college athlete that fell into the trap I have read so much about on these boards. Trapped into convenience foods, fried foods, lots of ice cold beer, wings and so forth I began carrying 60 extra pounds all right at my belly. My cholesterohl was never high, in fact low-- even the good kind. Needless to say, am struggling to get to my goal weight, and it absolutely is 100% relative to what I fuel my body with.

    I cannot agree more that inflammation is the root of ALL DISEASE! In no way do I see in his article that the doctor recommends to cease taking meds, quite the opposite. What he is saying, is to limit the known causes of inflamation. You wouldn't throw gas on an already raging fire to attempt to put it out, so why would you do so to your own body? As a heart attack survivor, I firmly believe you only get ONE chance at a SECOND chance. May as well give all you can. No if i could only get some help with portion sizes and feeling satiated, that would be awesome!

    Glad you're still here with us. Thank you for sharing your story. :)
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    So how do researchers measure and quantify inflammation levels? I have some reading to do.
  • alexandriax03
    alexandriax03 Posts: 289 Member
    Bump for later
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Good info on inflammatory markers and the process of inflammation leading to atherosclerosis.

    http://m.circ.ahajournals.org/content/107/3/499.full
  • FredDoyle
    FredDoyle Posts: 2,272 Member
    Also, I have read many credible articles that do say that inflammation plays a huge role in heart disease. He's also suggesting that cholesterol is not the actual problem, as to why heart attacks occur.
    This Johnny. He's discounting the cholesterol theory in favour of the inflammation theory.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,262 Member
    If this is the case, how does one explain cases like mine, where my cholesterol levels have improved significantly over time despite high quantities of sugar intake?

    Would have been nice if he gave references for some of these claims.
    Sugar lowers cholesterol levels.
  • NRSPAM
    NRSPAM Posts: 961 Member
    So how do researchers measure and quantify inflammation levels? I have some reading to do.

    If I'm not mistaken, and I may be here, C-reactive protein is the blood test they check to see if you have high levels of inflammation. That first statement, I'm not sure about, however, I do know that some doctors use that lab test to see if you are at high risk for a heart attack. Also, I realize that this article is not one that most would consider a legitimate source, so I went looking for one that might be more legit, and couldn't find anything. I did find that docs are starting to realize that inflammation plays a huge role, but all they say causes the inflammation, is smoking, lack of exercise, and high/low levels of the wrong types of cholesterol. However, like the other guy said, his bad cholesterol levels were fine, it was only that his good cholesterol was too low. Not to sound too conspiratorial here, (is that even a word?) but honestly, the pharmaceutical companies are not going to make their money by keeping us healthy. Neither is the medical industry. Just sayin'. :wink:
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    I'm finding limited amounts of actual data. If anyone can link to any research or unbiased reviews of the literature on this topic, please post here.
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