THE PENDULUM SWINGS BACK!

charlie chapThe latest guidelines for cholesterol treatment have been changed once again, and this time in  good direction.

Rather than focusing on ‘goal numbers’ the the measure of success, the newest guidelines for cholesterol treatment take a more moderate approach, and focus on getting the ‘right’ people on medication and lowering their cholesterol effectively, if not massively.  This NY Times article summarizes the latest concerns nicely.

Now, rather than focusing on guidelines and goal-numbers, we can use our statin medications (Lipitor, Pravachol, Zocor, Crestor) to gain reasonable cholesterol reductions knowing that the lion’s share of the benefits come with modest dosing and results.  Yes…more can be better, but incrementally so.  Pushing things to their limits is not necessarily more-and-more is better-and-better.

Like Twain noted…..”It’s not what you don’t know that gets you in trouble…it’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”