Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women, and no doubt you’ve seen the numerous TV commercials for cholesterol lowering drugs that claim to prevent heart attacks and strokes. An article in the Wall Street Journal addresses the debate about the best way to prevent heart disease and whether or not healthy people should be prescribed these drugs by their doctor.
Most conventional doctors believe that they should prescribe this class of drugs, known as statin drugs such as Lipitor and Crestor, to otherwise healthy patients who have high levels of bad cholesterol and other risk factors for heart disease. They believe that these drugs will help prevent heart disease, extend lives and say that there is research to back it up.
Doctors who embrace a natural approach to health oppose the practice of giving statin drugs to healthy people, or anyone, for that matter. They argue that much of the research is flawed and that the studies do not show that taking statin drugs prevents heart disease or lengthens lives. Furthermore, they point out that statin drugs have many negative side effects, such as memory loss, muscle weakness, stomach distress, muscle aches and pains, increased risk of diabetes, lowering CO-Q10 levels, decreased mental function, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, nausea, abdominal cramping, constipation and diarrhea.
Dr. Duane Graveline, a former NASA Astronaut Scientist, is an example of someone who suffered life changing side effects from taking statin drugs. He had transient global amnesia from taking Lipitor, and found himself on his lawn one day not knowing who or where he was. He also experienced personality change, myopathy, neuropathy, and chronic neuromuscular degeneration similar to ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease).
One step you can take to help prevent heart disease naturally, besides eating a proper diet and regular exercise, is to make sure your thyroid function is optimal because hypothyroidism is a common cause of coronary artery disease. Dr. Broda Barnes conducted a study on the relationship of supplemental thyroid hormone and the decreased risk of heart attacks, and his findings showed a decreased heart attack death rate of 95% in patients who received natural thyroid hormone supplementation.
Is your thyroid function up to par? Take care of yourself by taking charge of your health today!