New cholesterol guidelines may lead to over-treatment
Just weeks ago, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology issued new cholesterol guidelines.
The guidelines are aimed at preventing a first heart attack or stroke in millions of Americans. It may be good news to combat cardiovascular disease — our No. 1 killer.
But there are changes.
For decades, we’ve followed the advice of doctors to lower our cholesterol levels. Blood tests to measure specific levels of cholesterol were analyzed for risks of a heart attack. Bad numbers meant that cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) were part of your treatment.
Fast forward to today’s standards means cholesterol-level targets for healthy people are no longer used to determine who should and shouldn’t be on statins. Cholesterol levels are still important. But what has changed is the notion that a specific level should warrant automatic treatment with statins.
The new guidelines clearly put statins as the only treatment that should be used to treat the four risk groups consisting of people with heart disease and diabetes and people with high levels of LDL — the bad cholesterol.
The huge change comes for people without a history of heart disease. Under the new guidelines, they could be walking out of the doctor’s office with a statin script in hand. That’s if they have a seven-and-a- half percent risk of developing heart problems or stroke in the next 10 years.
If adherence to the new guidelines takes place, there's little doubt that the overall effect will be many more candidates for statin treatment.
The guidelines also stress the importance of a healthful diet, weight loss, exercise and blood pressure control in addition to statin use.
Many people may find that simply walking an extra 10 minutes or more per day will improve their heart. Online reports from the Mayo Clinic says, “Carrying some extra pounds — even just a few — contributes to high cholesterol. Losing as little as 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can help significantly reduce cholesterol levels.”
Clear evidence supports that aerobic exercise continually improves cholesterol numbers.
“We are on the front lines of senior exercise and rehabilitation and know first-hand how moderate physical activity helps to improve heart health,” says Imelda Ungos, physical therapist and director of rehabilitation for Melbourne Terrace Rehab Center.
“Lifestyle changes can help decrease cholesterol. It can also keep you off cholesterol-lowering medications or improve the effect of your medications,” Ungos says.
“Ask your doctor about the new guidelines and get to know the side-effects from cholesterol-lowering drugs,” Ungos says. “Overall, you’ll know what’s best when you have all the evidence and comply with physician advice,” she says.
She reports that anyone with heart risk factors should seek out exercise sessions with a physical therapist. By doing so, it will increase a safe workout regimen.
“We want people to be doing the right exercises — ones that are safe. So, get the professional advice you need to improve heart health,” Ungos says.