Hi ffskier, I’m curious as to which diet you refer to not playing a major role. A ketogenic diet? Carnivore? A diet high in carbohydrates and sugary over-processed junk foods? As I’ve certainly read there is a link between the latter and heart disease, but because this is an idea both Big Pharma and Big Food would benefit zero from financially, you don’t see this link hinted at in the press. So the general idea is still in the medical profession that so long as all prescribed medication is taken, there need be no further investigation of peoples’ lifestyles and WOEs. They are in fact considered as irrelevant.
I had my lipids done 12 October 2022 and they were well within normal range, I’m happy to share my cholesterol numbers with you.
As to blood pressure, I’ve always had low blood pressure all my life.
12 October 2022 I was also tested for diabetes, as my GP wanted to run routine checks because I told her I was experiencing pain in my legs which I suspected to be caused by peripheral arterial disease. This was disproven, and instead it was discovered to be lipoedema pain as well as varicose. And what was curious is that pain and tenderness went away when I started keto (12 October 2022). It has since stayed gone along with the inflammation and lipoedema and lymphedema swelling. Then I transitioned to carnivore because quite simply, I feel even better this way.
The very slight shortness of breath is more like a desire to breathe more deeply. It’s something I began to notice after my radiotherapy and subsequent Tamoxifen therapy. Everything went downhill after Tamoxifen, as I began to deal with a lot of side effects, though they’ve either tapered off now, or I’ve simply got used to them. But I’ve made another observation, and that is, that since getting into ketosis the side effects from my Tamoxifen have become less noticable and more manageable. As to that slight shortness of breath … Well, the curious thing is when I go for my brisk morning walks I am not out of breath at all. I can hold a conversation just fine. I never notice any shortness of breath outdoors, which makes me wonder if it could also be something in the house I am reacting to, like the central heating, or the chemicals I use to clean the bathroom.
My lungs and heart were checked 12 October 2022 and nothing was found wrong. I am pretty certain if I was to stop Tamoxifen, I’d be feeling a ton better.
As to family history, my mom believes that because her mother had supposedly high cholesterol and was on heart medication. But the more I’m learning about cholesterol and the general medical professionals’ opinion about it and recommended levels, the more I am beginning to doubt whether my grandmother actually required that heart medication. Statins are handed out even if cholesterol numbers are only slightly outside normal range, but there needs to be a lot more research just what impact on quality of life those statins have, and just how healthy low cholesterol is, as from what I’ve read, and I’m still reading up about it, having low cholesterol can lead among other things to cognitive decline, although I’m not sure whether that couldn’t just be the effect of the statins.
My grandmother ate margarine and drank skimmed milk. She ate low fat bread, and pretty much low fat everything, shunning fat like the plague. My mom has been eating a diet sky high in carbohydrates and sugary junk foods for years, and likewise shunned fat like the plague. And from what I’ve been reading such a diet can lead to inflammation and atherosclerosis.
I am currently reading up on ApoB as well. Thank you for your reply and input.
If the inner wall of an artery is damaged then the possible buildup can collect in that area for sure but that damage can come from many issues leading to it too.