Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings July 2017 - 384

From the Editor

Facts and ideas from anywhere

CHOLESTEROL IS
THE CAUSE OF
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Although some
investigators have considered cholesterol the
cause of atherosclerosis for several decades
(1-15), 26 authors,
mainly from Europe, in
April 2017 published
an article titled "Lowdensity lipoproteins
cause atherosclerotic
William C. Roberts, MD.
cardiovascular disease,"
a consensus statement
from the European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel
(16). I was glad to see the article that soundly supports the view
that cholesterol is the cause of atherosclerosis. Although I found
the article unnecessarily diﬃcult, the message is loud and clear.
So when your physician recommends a statin drug or ezetimibe
or one of the PCSK-9 inhibitors, take it. These drugs are safer
than almost any drug one can put in his/her mouth.
Another very important article also appeared in March
2017, namely "Long-term safety and eﬃcacy in achieving
very low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol" in
JAMA Cardiology, authored by 11 prominent authors who
studied 15,281 patients to determine whether achieving a
low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level <30 mg/dL
was safe (17). The study was carried out over a 6-year period.
The patients with these low levels were compared to those
with higher levels. The data provide reassurance regarding
the longer-term safety in patients achieving LDL cholesterol
levels <30 mg/dL. I have been on a statin (plus ezetimibe
most years) for nearly 3 decades, and my most recent lipid
values in mg/dL were as follows: total cholesterol, 108; LDL
cholesterol, 27; HDL cholesterol, 68; and triglycerides, 45.
Some physicians worry that these very low levels are dangerous, but this recent study is indeed reassuring that they are
not dangerous. It appears that LDL cholesterol levels have
to be <50 mg/dL to prevent the formation of atherosclerotic
plaques.
384

These two studies are very important in heart disease and
provide clear evidence that cholesterol is the villain.
GETTING HEALTHY AT WORK
To be ﬁt, many have recommended doing 30 minutes of
exercise each day. To do that in a gym or to set aside 30 minutes sometimes is diﬃcult. Top trainers Chris Freytag, founder
of gethealthyu.com, and Lindsay Hunt, founder of walkonthehealthyside.com, have recommended some means of being
active all day long (18).
1. While waiting around. You can do certain exercises while
waiting in line: Squeeze your buttocks 10 times, tighten
your stomach muscles 10 times, stretch your arms downward behind you and squeeze your triceps 10 times, rise
up on your toes and squeeze your calves 10 times.
2. While sitting around. Improve your grip strength by
squeezing a rubber ball or a tennis ball.
3. At the supermarket. Build strength by ditching the cart and
use reusable tote bags or use a basket to carry groceries.
4. When working at a desk. Sitting is hazardous for our health.
A stability ball can be substituted for a chair periodically
during the day. The stability ball builds core strength
and may reduce back pain. Stand up and walk around
frequently.
5. While brushing your teeth. Balance deteriorates with age but
can be brought back. When you brush your teeth, stand on
one foot for 60 seconds and then switch feet. Try balancing
while lifting your leg to the side.
6. While making dinner. Keep your shoulders strong and
ﬂexible and relieve joint pain and stiﬀness by doing some
arm circles. Do 15 circles in a clockwise direction and then
15 circles counterclockwise.
7. While your beverage brews. Stretch the calf muscles and
Achilles tendons. Loosen up by standing at arm's length
from the wall and place one foot behind the other,
keeping heels down and knees straight. Lean toward the
wall, bracing with your arms. Bend your forward leg to
stretch the calf of your back leg. Hold for 30 seconds.
Switch feet.
8. When getting out of a chair. The ability to get in and out of
a chair unassisted has health and longevity implications.
When standing up or sitting down, use only your legs-or
Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 2017;30(3):384-390

http://walkonthehealthyside.com http://www.gethealthyu.com http://walkonthehealthyside.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings July 2017