Changes

That is true, but many people who [[exercise]], eat fruits and vegetables, still have high cholesterol level, experience heart attacks, [[stroke]]s, and even die, as the result of atherosclerosis. For this reason doctors prescribe [[statins]] to millions of patients.

That is true, but many people who [[exercise]], eat fruits and vegetables, still have high cholesterol level, experience heart attacks, [[stroke]]s, and even die, as the result of atherosclerosis. For this reason doctors prescribe [[statins]] to millions of patients.

Physicians recognize two types of cholesterol; [[HDL]] (high-density lipoproteins) and [[LDL]] (low-density lipoproteins). HDL is considered to be "good" cholesterol while LDL is considered to be "bad" cholesterol.  Some physicians maintain that for good physical health the ratio between these two be considered rather than the sum, so that a high cholesterol level is not considered an adverse health issue if the ratio between the two (LDL:HDL) is low. Typically the ratio is about 4:1.  That ratio can be achieved either by lowering LDL, by raising HDL, or by both ways, by using appropriate medication. Contrary to this belief, very recently published (May 16, 2012)  reputable research <ref>http://www.webmd.com/salynn-boyles WebMD Health News,  „Raising HDL Levels May Not Lower Heart Attack Risk.“</ref> announced: „''studies failed to show a link between higher concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL and lower heart attack risk.  ... studies of HDL-raising drugs have been largely disappointing.''“ It is quite disappointing indeed: since neither lowering LDL nor raising HDL helps preventing [[cardio-vascular disease]]s, then why are we wasting billions of dollars on those meaningless, if not harmful drugs?

Physicians recognize two types of cholesterol; [[HDL]] (high-density lipoproteins) and [[LDL]] (low-density lipoproteins). HDL is considered to be "good" cholesterol while LDL is considered to be "bad" cholesterol.  Some physicians maintain that for good physical health the ratio between these two be considered rather than the sum, so that a high cholesterol level is not considered an adverse health issue if the ratio between the two (LDL:HDL) is low. Typically the ratio is about 4:1.  That ratio can be achieved either by lowering LDL, by raising HDL, or by both ways, by using appropriate medication. Contrary to this belief, very recently published (May 16, 2012)  reputable research <ref>http://www.webmd.com/salynn-boyles WebMD Health News,  „Raising HDL Levels May Not Lower Heart Attack Risk.“</ref> announced: „''studies failed to show a link between higher concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and lower heart attack risk.  ... studies of HDL-raising drugs have been largely disappointing.''“ It is quite disappointing indeed: since neither lowering LDL nor raising HDL helps preventing [[cardio-vascular disease]]s, then why are we wasting billions of dollars on those meaningless, if not harmful drugs?

Atherosclerosis and the cholesterol issue are not equally pervading around the world. This is an ethnic-related phenomenon, related somehow to national eating cultures, but not exclusively to them. It is mostly Americans who care so much about cholesterol, yet atherosclerosis kills Americans by millions. So called "French paradox" points out to the well-known fact that many other nations (the French, Swiss, Russians and a number of others)  do not have a massive atherosclerosis problem even though their diet is very "unhealthy" by American standards.   

Atherosclerosis and the cholesterol issue are not equally pervading around the world. This is an ethnic-related phenomenon, related somehow to national eating cultures, but not exclusively to them. It is mostly Americans who care so much about cholesterol, yet atherosclerosis kills Americans by millions. So called "French paradox" points out to the well-known fact that many other nations (the French, Swiss, Russians and a number of others)  do not have a massive atherosclerosis problem even though their diet is very "unhealthy" by American standards.