This is an anecdote, not a study result so take it for what it’s worth to you.
I needed some prescriptions refilled so I went to my doctor to get the annual testing done to confirm I still had the correct dose. He sent me a message saying that he recommended doubling my cholesterol medication because I am pre-diabetic (I am not) and have a history of heart disease.
I pushed back, pointing out that similar testing had been done at the heart institute three months prior, and the results were well within normal ranges for fasting blood tests. While my non-fasting results at the clinic were a little higher, they were still normal. This led to some back-and-forth about risk factors as a heart patient.
I wasn’t happy with what I was hearing so booked another appointment to discuss in person. I am “lucky” enough to have results of a recent CT scan on my femoral arteries, an angiogram, and a carotid ultrasound. All showed that my arteries are very clear. My heart disease is a mechanical thing that will be fixed with surgery. He admitted he doesn’t normally have access to that level of information so started to shift his approach.
He moved on to lifestyle and how I was possibly still high risk. Eating patterns: near-vegetarian who pays close attention to fibre intake. Exercise: at least 5 hours of moderate to intense movement each week. Weight: yup, it’s heavier than BMI recommendations, but it’s also mostly solid muscle (see previous note on exercise) and it has remained unchanged for over 30 years.
In short, I am a case study on why medical professionals should not rely on weight to judge overall health.
In the end, he agreed that my risk assessment should drop from high to low. My medication will not be changing.
Thanks fellow bloggers, especially Sam and Catherine, for writing so often about this issue and giving me the courage to speak up.
Good on you for pushing back, armed with information and experience! And glad your efforts paid off, not just for you, but maybe (she says hopefully) offering your healthcare provider a new way of thinking about women and health…
Great to see your determination and clarity in pursuing the correct choice! And good that your doctor did listen. They are often so busy, and so accustomed to certain results, that they don’t all listen well. I bet your guy will think a little harder another time.