This report advances the view that atherosclerosis has a significant auto-immune component (the body is “attacking itself”) in the same way as AIDS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Cancer, Crohn’s Disease, Diabetes type 1 – youth type, etc do.

This is very different from the current view – discredited in my view, that:

* Atherosclerosis is mainly due simply to raised LDL cholesterol

* Statins are needed to lower it

* It needs to be at a level of 5.2

This is just too simplistic. As well as making tons of money for drug companies (by co-incidence!)

The report says that the immune system is stimulated to attack **oxidised** LDL (how does it get oxidised? Not sure – watch this space).

I have heard this theory of the problem of oxidized LDL being the problematic cholesterol before. Of course, doctors don’t know about this refinement of the theory, generally, let alone how to measure or treat it.

This fits in with other strong views (e.g. Dr Malcolm Kendrick, Uffe Ravnskov), that (asymptomatic) inflammation and stress are the two factors most closely associated with atherosclerosis – rather than simply looking at the raw level of total LDL.

Inflammation and stress will certainly be closely associated with auto-immune disease in general, I am sure. So it’s all tying in with that theory and against the use of statins, which is near to a crime in my view in the majority of cases. (Though no doubt a sensible choice in a tiny minority of cases.)

Related articles

• Immune therapies: The next frontier in battle against atherosclerosis (medicalxpress.com)

Atherosclerosis is an Immune Disease is a post from: Living To 150

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The worst result coming back from my health tests at Frontier Clinic in Denver are that my LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol is very high.

Just about everything else is ok; this is bad.

Exactly what to do about it I don’t know yet as I have not had my ‘post consultation’ chat with Terry Grossman yet.

However, and this is a bit of a shock, I might end up taking a statin drug.

Two years ago I culd not have seen myself taking a statin. But with my LDL as high as it is – and it’s not due to my diet – I might just have to consider it.

I will do all I can to avoid that eventuality – mainly taking niacin and red rice yeast – but with the level of LDL I have, that may not be enough.

I will learn more when I talk to Terry Grossman, and will report further.

My Health – Cholesterol is a post from: Living To 150

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