Hi all! I am 67 year old female. Weight 140 ht 5' 1" I have scoliosis and so my heart is enlarged. I really don't seem to have any health problems.
I had a TIA in Jan 2016 and again in Jan 2017. With the one in 2016 I stayed overnight and they did all kinds of test including some type of throat thing that takes about 20 min to do and an MRI. They told me that everything seemed fine (BP, cholesterol, etc) and they did not know why I had the stroke.
So, I started doing some research to find out why I had this TIA and found that changing my food around to plant based might be the answer and it did seem to help. However, I also have osterporenen (can't remember what the word is, but it is not quite osteoporosis) so I wanted to include calcium in my diet. Thus I have been drinking about 2 glass of whole milk every day; I made my own yogurt ( and have been for years) using 1/2 n 1/2 only and a plain yogurt for starter when needed. I do use butter, canola oil, eggs maybe 1 or2 every week (I'm not much on eggs by themselves, never have been)., cheese, I love cheese. I love fruits and veggies. Buying good fish here where I live in the piedmont area of NC is hard to find, (I hate to say this, but, most folks here don't eat all that well ) I seem to throw up most meat like turkey, pork, liver, chicken,but so far not beaf. However I only like ground beef used in Italian dishes.
This time when I had the TIA, I didn't find out the test results. They did give me a paper of some of the results, but, I can't understand most of it. But thro all of it, they gave what I have and then a normal range and on just about everything, I was within the normal range. I had to stay overnight and the doctor put me on low dose aspirin and Atorvastatin 20 mg (1 pill p/d). I don't like the idea of taking any meds and last year, my own doctor tried to get me on aspirin and I wouldn't take it. Now, I don't know if I should or not. But, I am not going to take the Atorvastatin as only two days and I have had reactions.
I sure would like some input as to how to better my diet, as I believe that food will help with blood clots, which is what is causing the TIA to occur. Should I get off ALL dairy, including yogurt? I think ground beef should go, and I think that I really need to stay away from the sweet stuff (if I start eating it, I can't leave it alone. So, usually, I don't buy or make anything sweet, but, if I slip up, it's hard to get back on track ) I do drink water, about 32 oz every day. I also drink 2 to 3 cups of coffee. No teas.
I try to walk every day, but, the weather here is not always the most agreeable. I don't like the wind. I don't like being in the rain. In the summer here, if one is not done taking their walk but 10 am, it would be too hot til around 6 pm. Winters here can be cold. There are no indoor recreation centers to use here.
Anyway, armed with this info, if any of you out there feel that you can give me some helpful direction I would greatly appreciate and start with it.
Thanks for reading this!
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yanna
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Thanks for the reply! Since you seem to be in the know..should I still drink whole milk, the yogurt that I make, eat cheese? Iyo should I take the aspirin?
Also, how about sweet potatoes and dried fruit such as figs, dates, raisins, cherries, prunes? I make my oatmeal with whole oats and add those fruits along w/pnutbutter and a little bit of cinnamon. I eat this every morning. I don't add milk or anything
sugar has always bothered me. I should know better. People give me things like the tins of popcorn and cookies during the holidays (and it's hard to throw them out) (but, it seems like it is necessary)
Dried fruits have nutritional benefits but not if you overdo it as they are calorie dense. You portion control is critical. Same with the peanut butter, very calorie dense and it should be organizations nic, unsalted and unsweetened. Kraft and other large brands use too much sugar and other chemicals in their peanut butter. The only ingredient in peanut butter should be 'peanuts'.
I'm finding that about the dried fruits to be true as well. Also, if taking aspirin, one cannot have them b./c they drive up the salicylate and you can be in big trouble. I used to buy just peanut peanut butter when we lived near a good co op health food store, but, since we have moved, the nearest place like that (and as good) is a two hour drive.
Shop from Amazon for peanut butter. Frankly, almond butter is nutritionally better. They're both healthy though, so you can alternate. Try 'Laura Scudder's organic peanut butter' or 'Artisana Organic Almond Butter'. Both are available on Amazon's website.
Thanks! is there some type of person who helps people figure out what they should and shouldn't eat? All these doctors seem to know how to do is prescribe meds and i don't want to be taking meds.
or, even a good knowledgeble website or book that I can look into?
Based on the information you have provided including your doctors prescription of a statin drug (Atorvastatin) we can conclude the following:
- you are overweight - a person of your stature should be no more than 105 to 110 lbs.
- there's a reason you are overweight - and it could be any one or all of - portion size, sugar consumption (that includes all forms of sugar plus simple carbohydrates such as white bread, white rice, white pasta, white potatoes etc...), and insufficient exercise.
- A TIA happens for a reason - your arteries are clogged with hardened fatty deposits which appear to be unstable - this could also lead to a heart attack. As you know heart attacks and strokes can often be fatal.
- The TIAs are your body's warning sign to you - you must make a 180 degree change in your lifestyle. Your current lifestyle which includes diet and exercise, has gotten you to this situation, so you must now change it, as uncomfortable as that is. Otherwise the next event can be fatal.
- Next you must immediately begin an exercise regimen. No excuses about weather and lack of recreational centers, these are just excuses. I live in Canada and the temperature in the winter often gets down to - 20 degrees celsius, (-4 Farenheit). I put on layers, wear a ski jacket and toque (a knit cap), take some tissues for my nose, and off I go for a one hour walk.
- You can also buy a treadmill and put it in front of your TV and walk an hour a day. You can break up the one hour into 3 x 20 minute walks spread throughout the day. You eventually want to work up your way to 90 minutes per day.
- You should find out about eventually doing some form of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) which can reduce your time commitment to exercise to no more than 20 minutes per day. First though you need to get your heart to a level of fitness that it can handle the HIIT.
- By the way, I had open heart surgery March of 2015 and have lost nearly 40 lbs since, by doing all of the things I've recommended to you. I too had to make a 180 change in my lifestyle, I didn't like it, but death was not an option. Your attitude should be, 'if I don't do this, I will die'.
- Read all of my various posts on this website, starting with 'Coming Off Statins'. Educate yourself about how cholesterol works and what foods you should focus on. In general, a plant-based diet, supplemented by cold-water fish for 2-3 meals per week. Cold water fish - salmon, trout, arctic char. Take krill-oil supplements daily, as well as tumeric, vitamin C, B12, Vitamin D, and CoQ10, as well as the baby aspirin. You should consider taking the statin temporarily until you get your lifestyle under control and then gradually weaning your self off it. The statin will bridge the gap until you have changed your lifestyle. If you take the statin, you must skip the Vitamin C as there is a conflict between them.
- Important things to eat daily - blueberries, ginger tea (2 cups) unsweetened, 4 cups green tea (decaf) unsweetened. Don't like the taste? Too bad, its medicine and will make you better. Almonds and/or almond butter, unsweetened, unsalted, organic. For breakfast, I put almond butter on a slice of whole grain bread, drizzle VERY lightly with honey, then dust on ceylon cinnamon - delicious and healthy. An apple every day, an arugula salad every day. Try and incorporate spinach every day in to your meals.
- avoid butter, use olive oil to replace canola oil and butter.
- buy 0% fat, plain Greek yogurt and eat to servings per day - it is full of protein.
- have egg-white omelettes - find a recipe on the internet. I saute onion and green peppers in a non-stock pan, add 1 cup egg white, add diced pitted kalamata olives, cook until firm then top with a light sprinkling of 'Greek' feta (must be Greek, made of goat and sheep milk).
- Goat and sheep milk are healthier than cow's milk. Recent studies show goat milk may actually help reduce LDL cholesterol. Read up on goat milk dairy products. I converted to goat milk, it tastes the same to me as cow's milk.
- Use the Pritikin Longevity Centre website as your source of information on diet and exercise.
Thanks so much soss007 for your reply! I am doing quite a lot of what you suggested. Except that I drink whole milk and make yogurt, love dairy products as mentioned in my post.
Also, for some reason, I have to be careful when I am away from home and get hungry b/c the first thing I will get is a candy bar or one of those snack bars that you buy 5 or 6 to a box, or, chips. I try not to let it happen, but, sometimes it does.
Also, you are right on the walking. I love to walk, but, I don't do it long enough.
Goats milk is great and I think I can easily incorporate that into my diet and not take ANY cow milk products. Fruits and veggies I have no problem with either. So, I can try the Pritikin diet w/o much problem.
I'm still scared about taking this baby aspirin the hospital doctor prescribed as it says NSAID 81 MG and taking the ATORVASTATIN Tablets. I've read where it can be even worse to get off these. My appointment with my regular doctor is in two days and I really like her. I don't want to offend these doctors that are trying to help me, but, if I can help myself thro lifestyle changes, instead of medication, then that's the route I want to go. I have always prided myself in the fact that I don't take any medications and last year when I had my first TIA I wouldn't take the aspirin either. Evidently, I'm doing something wrong. As you pointed out, there's much more that I can improve on. Thanks again!
@ elay Sweet temptations are what got me under the knife. Since the surgery and my commitment to get off of all medications, I've had to develop a system of accountability as a discipline to avoid these things.
For eating, my accountability is a quarterly blood test.
I know if I stray from my diet it will show up in my lipid profile and glucose levels. We are all competitive by nature so I 'don't want to lose' when I view my results.
Aside from that, I firmly believe that if I start eating that junk again, I'll die. The surgery has left me with a certain chest discomfort that reminds me daily of my health issue. Perhaps you can wear something on your wrist to remind yourself of your health risks.
If you think you'll get hungry away from home, carry around some nuts or some homemade popcorn. Almonds are like dry sponges, have 10-12 pieces with a glass of water and they will swell and expand in your stomach and keep you feeling full longer. Also apples can be satiating. So bring an apple or two.
As far as exercise, I have a Fitbit device that measures steps. I have targeted 15,000 daily, so in order 'not to lose' I make sure I get to 15,000.
Recently I wrote a post on behavioural change 'How to Start and Maintain Good Health Habits', you may wish to read it.
Probably, but sometimes companies bend the truth for marketing. Read the ingredients, it should only contain skim milk (I buy 0% fat) and active bacterial culture.
Blue top cow milk any time, full cream, real butter, cheese, olive oil, coconut oil onions and many more.
Aspirin? if you are allergic to Aspirin then what do you take?
Why zero fat?, human body do need some fat intake.
We al have different shape and size due to our family, what works inside for some may not work for others!!!. one life enjoy it. Healthy eating, portion control and regular exercise can help towards a healthy life. If we can avoid man made medication to live our life then it is positive thinking.
While I have read the same things you have about the merits of full fat dairy products, understand that there is still an active debate in the medical community about the role of animal fats, versus sugar and simple carbs, on cardiovascular health.
While it would be nice to believe that we can eat full fat dairy with impunity, it may well be just wishful thinking. Not to mention an overt effort on the part of the dairy industry to combat the sugar industry's demonization of saturated fats.
Common sense would dictate that both sugar and animal fats play a role in the process of atherogenesis and moderation should be the order of the day. There's a reason why 'gluttony' is one of the 7 deadly sins - we should never over-indulge in anything.
Fat indeed is required by the human body but it is also attainable from plant sources. While I personally lean toward the view that sugars and simple carbohydrates do more damage than animal fats as well, there isn't explicit evidence for that perspective. There are many well-spoken advocates for both views who will trot out numerous medical studies to support their respective viewpoints.
I have been reading medical studies for the last 12 months on this subject matter. I'm a professional investment manager and am very analytical by nature. What I have found is that medical studies can have significant flaws in their construction and in their ability to control variables. They also draw conclusions from 'averages' - based on how things impact groups 'on average'.
To date I have not found a study that focuses on people like myself who have taken an extremely disciplined approach to diet and exercise to determine the need for continued statin medication, for a post-revascularization cohort. Many medical professionals also don't keep completely up to date on current research and so take the default position that everyone who has elevated LDL-C or has had revascularization should be on statins.
Given everything I have learned over the last year about CVD, statins, cholesterol and medical studies, it is impossible to be dismissive of either of these two schools of thought on the causes of CVD. We cannot outright say sugar consumption and therefore inflammation is the primary cause, nor can we say consumption of saturated animals fats is the principle cause (the prevailing medical view).
What I can tell people from my own experience is, I have dramatically curbed my consumption of both animal fats AND sugar and simple carbohydrates. This has allowed me to achieve much better health, physical appearance and to feel great and full of energy.
I cringe when I read posts that talk about having to 'enjoy your food' as a cop-out for not making drastic changes to their diet . I still enjoy my food a great deal. I enjoy all of my meals. We don't have to load up on fats and sugars to eat in a satisfying manner. Food taste is about preparation - and if you come from a mediterranean country as I do, the recipes are very flavourful, regardless of what you eat. Eating is also an experience, it is important to eat leisurely, and in good company and enjoy the process.
If you enjoy steak and desserts, you can still have them on special occasions, but to have them as frequently as most westerners have grown accustomed to over the last 50 years is asking for trouble.
Sugars are very addictive and as is fat, when combined with salt. For that reason, it is best to keep such indulgences as infrequent treats.
Taking the side that full-fat dairy is totally acceptable because that is an easier lifestyle to maintain, and to avoid change, is cheating yourself of objectivity and potentially your good health.
This is a tough battle, and the best weapon we have is our ability to constantly seek out new information. We cannot rest on our laurels.
curbed my consumption of both animal fats AND sugar and simple carbohydrates.
I agree with your thinking! We cannot just eat anything we want and expect to be healthy. But, for me the whole thing is confusing as to what to do. I understand about leaving sugars, animal fats and other foods out of our diet. I call them non necessities (if that is a word :). We don't need them. Years ago, people raised their own animals, grew their own food and were much healthier. But, now, even if we did grow our own food and raise our animals to eat, we still have to contend with the fact that the air, soil and water is not as good as it perhaps was back in yesterday years. Also, people were more physical than they are today.
Like I just said, I understand all that. I think I was doing good until I slipped up, b/c I was following a very strict diet that I figured out for myself; most veggies ( I don't like avocados); fruits, but not bananas or tropical fruits. I was also drinking 1/2 cup of fresh pineapple and 1/2 lemon add a little bit of water in the blender, strain it and sip it. I don't know if it helped or not, but, I did this every day. I also eat couscous and quinoa. I was also eating frozen blueberrie every night b/f bed (they are cheaper than getting the fresh and are basically the same. I used to live in Maine where they were plentiful and there was no difference b/t fresh or frozen.) If I don't buy or make sweets, then obviously, I won't eat them. I am worried however, about the diary consumption. I drink a lot of whole milk and make my own yogurt every week. I use butter, canola oil, couple eggs a week, as I'm not an egg fan. It seemed like I was doing good for a year. But, then someone gave me one of those popcorn tins with caramel popcorn and I could not leave the stuff ALONE! Then I bought some cookies. When I'm around cookies especially, I cannot eat just one or two. I just won't leave them alone. I would mostly buy cookies or frozen cake if I was hungry, and for some reason, that is what I go for when I 'm not home around my food (apples, dried fruit or nuts).
I think all of you have been giving me some good info and I had never thought about being pre diabetic, as my tests are always negative.
As I said, commit to doing a blood test every 3 months. With the knowledge that cheating on your diet by eating sugary things will show up on your blood test, you can use this as your motivation to stay disciplined.
Thank you for your response. My life style change started 5 years ago. since retirement as an IT engineer I have taken many online free course on medical subjects, including heart's health. Sugar has been out for many years. Now days I look for hidden and free sugar in food and drinks. Now I am 70, I watch my food and rinks intake. I do enjoy my whisky. My daughter gave me a bottle of blue label, Johnny Walker for my birthday and I will enjoy drinking it this year. My strong belief the number of ticks my mum gave me will expire one of these days. I am informed I was put in a small glass box at the time of my birth because of weight!!!, today better system available. Only time will tell.
HbA1C blood testing is very important to all of us.
Thanks for your discussion for all of us to learn.
well, my mom did die of a stroke. In fact, she had had several b/f she died, from what I had heard. However, my mom abandoned me when I was 2 years old and foster parents took care of me and they were very good (all 3 sets). I saw my mom maybe twice while growing up and then later in my twenties tried to get some type of relationship going, but, she didn't seem to want it. One day, one of the others in the family called me and told me she died of a stroke. The reason why I'm telling this is that the nurses have asked me what my mom died of. I tell them of a stroke, but, she didn't bring me up and I lived much better and was brought up in a much better atmosphere with plenty of good food, ect than anything she could have offered. But, everyone is telling me that it doesn't matter. I seem to be predisposed to having a stroke. Doesn't seem fair.
Anyway, I'm still going to fight this thing w/o meds (they make me feel awful) and by getting back to eating better foods and exercise. Many here have really helped me with GOOD suggestions regarding more serious time in walking and every day, and being more serious about eating good food that will help me and NEVER straying to the sugar and other stuff that has no benefit to our health. I am glad that I came on this b/c all of you have helped me to see that even though I thought I was doing ok, there is a whole bunch of room for improvement. I don't think that I have to die of a stroke, like my mom did.
You haven't mentioned much in the way of protein. Do you rely on dairy products? Make sure it's the best quality you can get. Perhaps investigate an alternative protein source such as legumes, if you don't eat them already.
The human race has been eating meat and saturated fat for thousands of years. Again, the quality is important. Organic, pasture fed is preferable and it will be expensive, as it should be. Meat is a source of vitamin B12, and I prefer to eat some meat rather than take a supplement.
I had forgotten to mention b/f that I do make bean soups every week. I also eat garbanzos quite often in my salads. I eat salmon, but, I really have to hunt for good salmon, as much of it here does not smell or "taste" right. (After living in Maine for a few years, you do get to "know" fish .) It is really hard here in this area to find good anything in the way of meat or fish. This area is not particularly concerned with what or how they eat. Sometimes I can go 45 min away where there is a Harris Teeter store and buy good food.
It certainly makes it difficult to eat well if you can't source it locally. I am gluten and lactose intolerant and buy some of my food on-line, I don't know if this form of shopping would be an option for you?
some of my friends do buy some food stuff on line. One even has ordered Buffalo meat on line and she says it comes right away and is always good . As far as fresh veggies, I think I'm ok and fruits too. But, I'm not buying meats from the local grocery and like I said, good fish is hard to buy .
Humans may have been eating meat for thousands of years, but they didn't eat it in the quantities that our western culture has adopted. Furthermore, life-expectancy prior to 1900 was less than 45 years and often even less.
If longevity is your goal, then you should read about National Geographic's Blue Zones - there's even a couple of books out on the subject. Learn more here: travel.nationalgeographic.c...
What these places have in common is they consume meat as an occassional treat, perhaps every couple of weeks, not daily. They live primarily on a plant-based diet, high in fresh vegetables and plenty of legumes such as beans, lentils and chick peas.
For protein on most days I eat egg whites, Greek yogurt, and lots of beans. I also have 2 servings of cold-water fish such as salmon, trout or artic char, each week.
Longevity may be one goal but being healthy and fit for as long as possible seems more important to me, perhaps they go together. Life expectancy has been greatly increased by advances in medical knowledge and reduction in cigarette smoking.
The Blue Zones are an interesting concept but traditional ways of eating in other parts of the world can also be healthy. They may share limited meat consumption but also share a lack of processed or junk foods and added sugars, which I think may be just as, or even more, important.
Finding a way of eating and exercising that can address particular health issues is important to many of us. It's good to hear that you have found one.
If you have osteopenia you must make sure that you have enough vitamin D as well as calcium in your diet. A lack of vitamin D has also been associated with heart problems. Fatty fish like salmon or mackerel are a good source, if you can't get fresh fish buy some frozen or tinned. It's difficult for most of us in Northern latitudes to get enough vitamin D from sunlight, so you might want to consider a supplement. It's also a fat soluble vitamin, so going very low fat is not a good idea.
As Concerned has said, stay away from the sweet stuff "pure, white and deadly". Carry some plain nuts when you go walking, so that you will have something healthy to eat if you need it.
You could perhaps read Robert Lustig's book "Fat Chance", for a good explanation on how food affects our bodies and how to eat healthily.
thanks for your advice! It is osteopenia that I have (thanks for that too! I couldn't remember the word :). I saw anther poster who said he was in the process of packing up all sugar, white flour, crackers and giving them to the food bank. I'm right behind him! I started cleaning out all that stuff this morning! Good idea! ( i have brown rice, Mahatma, should I get rid of that too or keep it?) There are no health food stores within 30 miles of me.
Thanks for the tip about bringing nuts with me and then, if I'm away from home, and get hungry, I can eat the nuts. They store easily in my purse or pocket!
I will indeed look at the FAT CHANCE book that you suggested! I thought I was doing ok this year as I have been to my doctor twice and she said that my BP was ok and cholesterol was ok, but, when I was in the hospital, the doctor there said that it was higher than it should be. I think it might be b/c having an TIA is a little nerve wracking
I am willing to stick with a better diet and walk more. I was walking 20 min, but only about 2 or 3 times a week. I am still working, but, it is online, so I'm sitting on my rump a lot.
Thank you for taking your time to try to help me figure out what to do!
Whole grains are good for you - quinoa, barley, spelt. Look up some recipes online. If you eat beans with whole grains they form a 'complete protein' which is always a concern for those on plant-based diets. Remember also that oatmeal and bran are great for lowering cholesterol.
I eat quinoa, couscous, quite often , like 3 or 4 times a week. Since I didn't know if I could eat brown rice or not. I make a 7 bean soup or black bean soup every week. I also like baked beans (homemade.. New England style recipe) .
the recipe I use calls for 1/3 cup of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of molasses for a 3 quart dish. I sometimes exchange the brown sugar for real maple syrup. I could maybe leave it out and just use the molasses.
Molasses are also sugar. So is maple sugar, agave etc...Sugar in any form causes inflammation which results in oxidized LDL and plaque accumulation. I would bake the beans in a tomato sauce. You should avoid sugar at all costs. It is little things like this, here and there, hidden sugars that undermine your health. Look up the Pritikin diet and follow it. Generally comfort food is bad for you.
Try this for a snack: in a 3 quart pot, put 2 Tablespoons of olive oil, add 1/3 cup hard corn kernels. Place over low-medium heat and wait for the corn to pop. Make sure you cover pot but allow a small crack for air. Lightly salt when done and enjoy. Serves 2-3 people.
Well, you are all probably wondering what went on at the doctor appointment that I mentioned I had today. She (the doctor) seems to think that I should stay on the baby aspirin and she said that it didn't matter which one I chose. So, I think I will go with the ones that were around when my kids were young in the 1970's. St Joseph's and Bayer orange flavored baby aspirin.
On my tests from the hospital and the ones that she took a month ago, the only items that came up as "abnormal" were Glucose serum which was 100 ( normal range is 65-99) She didn't seem to think that my cholesterol was all that high and in dire need of statin drugs. The other item is TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) which was 5.740 (normal is 0.450 to 4.500) .
So, she thinks that aa appointment with a heart doctor would be a good idea and also an appointment with a nutritionist to help me figure out what to eat and not eat.
She did agree that tweaking my foods, more exercise as 007 suggested (and she liked the idea of 90 min of walking daily), watching my cholesterol intake and losing this excess weight would definitely help me to the point that I may not have to take aspirin.
When I got home I looked up some info on what foods have salicylates in them so as to know what to avoid.
She praised my effort to want to handle this without relying on drugs.
here is a good link for any of you that would like a comprehensive review of foods that have salicylates in them and how much. You don't want more of this stuff in your system if you are already on aspirin. Anyway, here it is slhd.nsw.gov.au/rpa/allergy...
It isn't usually necessary to exclude salicylate containing foods if you are taking aspirin. If you can't tolerate salicylate foods, you shouldn't be taking aspirin.
The reason why I'm trying not to eat foods that contain salicylate is b/c I'm taking the aspirin. Certain foods contain salicylate and I don't want to take more than what I need. I'm just trying to be cautious of having more salicylate than what I need.
Trying to do that and match the foods that are low in cholesterol is interesting at best.
These TIAs get in the way. I was supposed to get started on seeing about getting cataracts removed. I had an appointment the very next day to do the preliminary testing. Now, my doctor thinks I should wait on the cardiologist, b/c even though I would not be operated on the day the doctor does the preliminary, they like to get it set up. I was also thinking of driving down to Florida and visiting my son. Not now.
Sorry to hear that you can't get to visit your son. Florida this time of year would be great!
Our liver produces about 85% of the cholesterol in our body, the cholesterol in food has little effect. Cutting out the sugar and white carbs that cause inflammation is far more important than cutting out foods containing cholesterol.
Hope you can get the cataracts sorted soon. It does make such a difference. Good luck with the cardiologist.
What reaction do you get from aspirin and salicylate food?
The above products can cause the lip and mouth to swell and may cause breathing difficulties. You can avoid some of the food by keeping a record of food and drinks intake.
Can you grow out of it, in my case yes after a long time.
Cataract operation normally with local anaesthetic I have both my eyes done in one month 10 years ago. Need to keep away from bright sun light for a month or so.
Ok, I just started on the baby aspirin to thin my blood b/c it appears to be the reason for my TIA. Food also has salicylate and if I get too much salicylate , it can cause excess bleeding.
So far, the aspirin is helping my heart to beat calmly instead or out of rhythm .
i found a better cite and it explains about having too much salicylate in your system. This is especially important if you are taking baby aspirin or low dose aspirin
And, it also goes category by category of foods, ( vegetables, fruits, nuts, ect )
The salicylates found in aspirin and food are two different variations (acetal and non-acetyl). Problems with salicylate in food can cause an allergic response. Unless you are a 'bleeder' or have been told by a doctor to limit your salicylate foods, it is unlikely to be a problem.
Well, i still don't like the idea of taking aspirin. even tho i thought i might be ok with it, i'm really not. From what i can surmise, men don't seem to have the problem taking aspirin that women seem to. Maybe it is just me.
I have been taking the aspirin since the day of my stroke, Jan 3 and now it is Jan 13 and I''m ready to get off it. I am not taking any other meds.
The reason for my taking the aspirin is b/c my blood platelets are sticky and the blood needs to be thinned. The aspirin thins the blood, but, does not solve the problem. Last year, when I had the TIA no one knew why; b/p good/ cholesterol was good, ;MRI good; ultra scan was good. So, I asked, if everything is so great, what am I doing having a mini stroke? No one knows. No one in the medical establishment knows. Interesting.
This year, same thing happens only my cholesterol is up a little and the doctor told me that I might possibly have some plaque in the arteries.
So, there are lots of foods that have salicylate ,apparently.the same as aspirin and there are lots of foods that can eliminate the plaque. I think 007 is on to something and someone else mentioned that I could be prediabetic and I have ordered books and cookbooks on that. I firmly believe that food and exercise is the way to take care of out bodies.
Lots of comments here have given me a direction and I plan to give it a try.
Blood test print out is different in every country and the units of quantity. If a doctor request for blood test then it the duty of the doctor to explain the results.
Cholesterol numbers:
As for triglycerides, it is below 150. HDL should be 50 plus, under 35 is very risky. Finally, LDL should be below 130. These numbers are in the unit of mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter of blood) in the USA.
For people with diabetes this is important as the higher the HbA1c, the greater the risk of developing diabetes-related complications.
HbA1c is also referred to as haemoglobin A1c or simply A1c.
Definition of HbA1c
HbA1c refers to glycated haemoglobin (A1c), which identifies average plasma glucose concentration.
If you had a fasting blood glucose test: A level of 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) means you have impaired fasting glucose, a type of prediabetes. ... A level of 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) and higher usually means you have diabetes.
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Possible side effects since moving on to generic atorvastatin - continue or stop taking meds?
Lp(a) results are in ….
Lp(a) and IMT scanning
I have been taking atorvastatin for nearly 6 yrs after it was found my cholesterol was 9.5 . family history of heart disease etc 
