Yet the public health apparatus will blame you for your heart disease, regardless:
Unlike other cholesterol types, Lp(a) levels are primarily dictated by your genes, rendering lifestyle changes ineffective in managing its concentration.
The above affects 20-25% of the U.S. population – but is unaffected by “lifestyle” changes and diet.
Yet public health/nutrition blames the patient for not adhering to “healthy lifestyle choices”.
- My lipids panel from 2 weeks ago, the day I had a blocked artery in my heart (on my birthday no less) was fine. I have ten years of these and the cardiologist saw nothing in my records of concern that she would have treated in the past.
- I was vegetarian for 4 of the past 5 years (which led to vitamin B-12 deficiency and numerous health problems including megaloblastic anemia, heart arrhythmia, migraine related issues up to 10x per day and more, all of which ended within 72 hours of being treated for vitamin B-12 deficiency caused by eating vegetarian.
- Due to trying to diagnose the above problems, I’d had 2 ECGs, an echo stress test of the heart, and a followup echocardiagram as recently as January 2025. Due related vitamin B-12 issues, l’d had an ultrasound of my abdominal cavity and my carotid arteries. Thus, even with this “screening”, a coronary artery blockage was not detected.
- I had a CT scan of the heart which found only “minor” calcium deposits.
- The prior year I primarily ate the recommended Mediterranean diet and perhaps had beef once per month (typically as a BBQ’d or air fried hamburger).
- I do not smoke or consume any alcohol (never have).
- Last Friday’s blood draw had a non-fasting blood glucose level of 89 and all of my A1Cs have been less than 5.7. Thus, not diabetic or pre-diabetic.
I‘d done everything right yet it made no difference. Why?
My doctor suggests while “controllable factors” may have some effect, they are largely overrun by genetics and randomness such that controllable factors have little effect. The hospital pharmacist said, “we have massively oversold the cholesterol story”.
I just watched a video by Dr. Jeremy London, a heart surgeon who experienced a heart attack himself. In the absence of risk factors like smoking and diabetes, genetics may play more than 50% of one’s risk factors. As he says, this doesn’t mean you can’t do anything – instead, he recommends taking steps like weight loss, exercise, dietary changes, taking statins and controlling blood pressure.
Public health/nutrition has created a world where we blame the patient for their disease.
- Depressed? You need to think positive thoughts.
- Anxious? Just stop worrying! It’s all in your head!
- Breast cancer survivor? You were a fighter and had more positive thoughts than those who did not survive.
This is modern day public health. Blame the victim.
