Posted on 07/06/2008 11:32:04 PM PDT by neverdem
Low-carb diet better than low-fat diet at improving metabolic syndrome
"The markers of metabolic syndrome - high blood pressure, low HDL levels, high triglycerides, obesity, high blood glucose and high insulin levels - are all improved by a low carbohydrate diet. By contrast, the evidence shows that they are not improved, and can even be worsened by low fat/high carbohydrate diets."
That is very, very sad. My commiserations. And indeed, it’s more or less a ‘women’s drug’ (no offense meant). Because of their hormone cycling, women tend to undergo mood changes more than men do.
One can get off of them, but not on one’s own. It would need a stay in a clinic, and a personal doctor who keeps track precisely of what’s taken on any particular day. Doing it at home, alone, bears a particular risk: that alcohol will take the place of the pills.
And, as you write, the family members tend to become ‘co-patiënts’ - they get involved, mostly involuntarily, out of love for the addicted one. Benzodiazepines take the color out of your life. You are living in permanent fear that your stack is running out (esp. during weekends) and become obsessed with what stock you still have at your disposal.
Every, but every day you say to yourself: ‘from tomorrow onwards I will decrease my daily intake and wean myself off of them eventually’ - which, of course, will never happen without help.
It’s one of the great underestimated ‘secrets’ in Western societies, the use of this stuff.
Doctors know all too well that they never should prescribe them for more than two weeks at the max, because after that they lose all their original activity (calming down, helping you fall asleep), and turn into drugs of abuse (you need them to function properly, the calming effect has disappeared, and you only notice something when you’ve run out of them, namely withdrawal symptoms as I described before).
If you need any further proof of what’s going on then: they’re sold illegally on the streets, and you can order them on the web illegally, without prescription, for good money. Just like any other street drug, in other words.
To summarize: they can help. If prescribed cautiously, and for a limited period. After that, they turn against you.
I should know - I was addicted too, and thankfully I’m off of them for a long time now.
You’re amazed that doctors paid off by the Pharmaceutical companies aren’t recommending natural alternatives to pricey prescription drugs?
It's too late now. She's 93 and in a nursing home and there's no hope or desire to wean her off her hundreds of dollars worth of drugs each month.
One thing that frustrates me is that there is some speculation that elevated cholesterol isn’t the problem, it’s a *symptom* of a problem and may even be one of the body’s defense mechanisms. Somewhere here in FR is an article saying that these drugs do nothing to help patients live longer, they just lower cholesterol.
But let’s just toss these meds to kids anyway. Let’s drug ‘em before we get them out to play or take away their junk food. What could it hurt? Better living through pharmacology and all that. /sarc
Staten drugs are patented toxic vitamin D replacement.
I forgot the sarcasm tag.
Sorry to hear that and thanks for your honesty. I can imagine someone her age not being able anymore to say goodbye to the stuff. By the way, you touch upon a sensitive subject: when an addict (to whatever) lands in hospital for whatever reason, docs tend, out of good will, not to hand out drugs. Which, as you describe, can lead to awful withdrawal symptoms. Lesson: never stick too much to protocol when the situation demands for improvisation. Even with a small dose she’d not have had that pain.
He he -
imagine a doc just having had good sex with an industry ‘representative’, and then prescribing St. John’s Wort, or oak leaf tea, to his next patient...:)
LOL
I should try to link it again after I read it in case someone misses this.
FReepmail me if you want on or off the diabetes or health & science ping lists.
Nanny ping
I am generally pro-statin on most threads (for adults, where indicated) but this is beyond the pale. CHANGE THEIR DIET. As parents, we can do that, you know.
YA THAINK!!!!!!!!
Nanny State and MOM ping........
Man-o-man athis stuff is getting out of hand folks.
Neither do they prevent car accidents or bad breath. But with respect to the vascular system, it is well-established that disease regression in the coronary arteries occurs with statin use. This can lead to much improved quality of life. Maybe some day we will understand the mortality statistics.
This quote from wikipedia seem reasonable: "Based on clinical trials, the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines, and the increasing focus on aggressively lowering LDL-cholesterol, the statins continue to play an important role in both the primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke and peripheral artery disease.
Research continues into other areas where statins also appear to have a favorable effect: inflammation, dementia,[5] cancer,[6] nuclear cataracts,[7] and hypertension.[8]
I've heard that from him more than once, just before he suggests that you see your doctor to get a prescription for yet another drug..........of course he is a highly paid yesman for the pharmaceutical industry.
Kids have been checked for high cholesterol for over 20 years. This is nothing new. I don’t know of any that were pushed to medicate but many were encouraged to more closely watch their diets and why.
Believe it or not, I remembered you late, but before your ping. I’m still somewhat shocked. Any way, check the papers in comments# 1 & 51. I only checked the abstract of the first so far.
There is a class of Pediatric patients that have hereditary/familial hypercholesterolemia, but they are a very SMALL class. If they want to consider statins for them, fine.
BUT, with the potential problems with statins (elevated LFTs), rhabdomyolysis, and other side effects, I don’t think that is wise.
Life insurance screenings. My bowels are fine, too , thanks.
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