Smackman,
Afib is not CAD, however CAD can be an underlying cause of afib. Or I should say, inflammation related to CAD can be an underlying cause of afib. Your stent indicates CAD.
Here is the alternative view.
- LDL is not the issue for CAD, it is inflammation
- statins, to the extent they work, work because they lower inflammation (which can be done at much lower doses than those used to hit an LDL target).
- the standard cholesterol test does not directly measure LDL, it is calculated using the Friedewald Equation: LDL = Total cholesterol - HDL - (Triglycerides x .20)
- there are other tests that measure LDL particle count as well as density. It is thought that large, fluffy LDL are OK and small dense are not. This is in dispute as some think it is only particle count.
This segment of Dr. Oz gives a visual demonstration of the issue with large fluffly LDL vs. small dense; <[
www.doctoroz.com]
second segement <[
www.doctoroz.com]
- a direct way to measure CAD is the CIMT test (Carotid Intima Media Thickness Testing). This is a repeatable ultrasound test of the carotid arteries, testing thickness and for calcification.
- interestingly there are case studies showing LDL levels, as well as LDL particle counts getting very large at the same time that CIM thickness decreases.
- LDL is important for brain function
- low LDL levels are correlated with increased cancer
- triglyceride levels correlate very directly with carb intake
- a better measure of CAD risk, using the standard test is triglycerides/HDL. Less than 1 is best.
My take is that the inflammation is driven by serum glucose and insulin levels.
I started out my afib career as a long-time vegan. My path to afib was from chronic fitness, including high altitude races (like gaining 7,800' in 13.3 miles, topping out over 14,000'). I was fit but somewhat heavy. My blood lipid tests were stellar by standard measures - 149 TC, 48 HDL, 92 LDL, 9 VLDL, 43 Triglycerides.
I detrained and started my supplement program. Afib was very well controlled. I looked at long term studies and though lone afibbers had a good long term prognosis, quite a few ended up not being "lone" anymore. I was determined to figure out how to avoid this problem, if I could. I purchased a glucometer started testing my blood sugar. Though fasting tests were good, post prandial (after eating) were less stellar. So was a glucose tolerance test.
I started eating to minimize glucose spikes. This is difficult as a veg, so I gave that up and did it as a carnivore. Interestingly, I reduced my exercise time/effort dramatically and lost 35-40 pounds due to the diet switch.
My fasting glucose is typically now in the 70's (divide by 18 for those of you outside the US). My BP is 95-105/55-70.
One way diabetics are tested is an HBA1C test. This tests what % of red blood cells have been "glycated" or messed up by glucose. A diabetic level is >7%. However the correlation with increases in CAD start around 5%.
For some reading on this:
<[
www.amazon.com]
<[
www.amazon.com]
or a more detailed version of the above <[
www.amazon.com]
<[
eatingacademy.com]
Also Moore's book, previously referenced here: <[
www.amazon.com] He talks a lot about how insulin (and by extension blood sugar) has an effect on sodium retention and blood pressure.
There is much more if you want.
I'm not looking to attack the status quo, only to make people aware of other points of view.
George