Atherosclerosis risk

QUESTION: My brother uses to eat lots of meat, I call him carnivore. He's 25, obese, smoking and doesn't exercise much. He often complains of chest pain, that comes and goes.

I've advised to go for fruits and vegetables and eat meat only once a week. I'm not sure why meat raise atherosclerosis risk? What if it is lean meat, can it still raise the risk or how is it?


ANSWER: Everything, which comes from saturated fats and cholesterol, are good risk factors of atherosclerosis disease onset.

Your brother is still young, and with a good willing and strong personality he may do the right changes for the sake of his health.

It's true that lean meat is better than the non-lean one, but fat is still there in the meat. Perhaps you might not see but its inside the red meat. That's why, it's better chicken breast (smoked or baked) rather than meat (or lean meat).

I know it would be difficult to convince your brother to change his "bad" habits, but just tell him: It's better one less meat meal than an entire day ill tomorrow.

In addition, smoking and lack of activity are other atherosclerosis risk factors, which may lead further to earlier death.

Dr.Alba

What is the percent of risk of heart attack in high cholesterol patients?

QUESTION: What is the percent of risk of heart attack in high cholesterol patients?


ANSWER: Hi there,

You have to know that for the exact calculation of the heart attack risk a lot of parameters are needed. These parameters are known as risk factors, which are: high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol level, being diabetic, being smoker, the exact body weight and the physical activity.

As you can see by yourself the exact calculation of the heart attack risk is very complicated process and I�m not able to calculate your heart attack risk with the date you gave me.

Besides, it would be good if you try to mention the exact result of your blood cholesterol level, the values of your blood pressure, the exact number of cigarettes, which you smoke per day, the exact weigh of yours along with the daily physical activity.

Other thing, which is important in here, is that the calculated risk doesn�t correlates to the real one, because the genes are taking in a part in this disease.

However, if you still want to know your tentative heart attack risk, you can enter the AHA (American Heart Association) web site, where a calculator of the Heart attack risk is posted.

My advice for you, in purpose to reduce the risk for development heart attack, is to quit smoking, if you smoke of course.

In addition you have to start following diet, which is composed mainly by vegetables and food low in cholesterol and low in glucose. Other good thing is to start running in the morning or in the evening for about 30 minutes. Better control of your blood pressure and diabetes, if you have these diseases.

By following these simple steps, you will reduce the risk of heart attack, so you will not be afraid of this disease no more. I know that it is hard to do all of the steps, but you have to know that you are doing this for your health.

Hope it helped!

Dr.Alba