I Won't Be A Population Statistic
type: Post
type: BlogPost
modified: 2020-07-10T02:15:48Z
created: 2019-02-12T15:08:17Z
link: https://boomersclub.com.au/2019/02/12/i-wont-be-a-population-statistic/
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encoded: I recently visited my GP service and was advised it was time to have my “cholesterol” checked again. This was suggested because my last test showed that my bad and total cholesterol was raised, while at the same time my triglycerides were great and my good cholesterol was fine as well. So I requested that a bad cholesterol subfraction test be added to the slip you have to take to the pathology. This request resulted in a rather problematic conversation which finished with me saying to the doctor “you’re treating the population but the population is not sitting in your office, I am, and I’m an individual, not the population!” I now wonder how many people visiting the GP are offered ‘population’ advise as compared to advice particular to them. Setting The Scene. The fact is that not all bad cholesterol is bad, only certain types of bad cholesterol are bad that is why I requested bad cholesterol subfractions be included in the new test. To my surprise the response was “we are doing subfractions”. This was explained as being the fractions of good cholesterol, bad cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol, but I was talking about bad cholesterol subfractions and the Doc had absolutely no idea. The Doc further commented that if my bad cholesterol was still raised I might consider medication, and a statin was mentioned as being the initial medication of choice. Some Facts You Should Know Statin drugs reduce bad cholesterol and it is assumed lower the risk of a heart attack or stroke, but they can have side effects, for most patients they are minimal or not even noticed, for a small percentage they can be quite debilitating. If the patient already has Cardiovascular disease (CVD) statins reduce the risk of heart attack and strokes caused by blood vessel blockage by 20% to 30%. It should be noted that this is population risk. The fact is statins, while lowering bad cholesterol for all, only actually prevent heart attack and stroke for a percentage of the population w…
content: I recently visited my GP service and was advised it was time to have my “cholesterol” checked again. This was suggested because my last test showed that my bad and total cholesterol was raised, while at the same time my triglycerides were great and my good cholesterol was fine as well. So I requested that a bad cholesterol subfraction test be added to the slip you have to take to the pathology. This request resulted in a rather problematic conversation which finished with me saying to the doctor “you’re treating the population but the population is not sitting in your office, I am, and I’m an individual, not the population!” I now wonder how many people visiting the GP are offered ‘population’ advise as compared to advice particular to them. Setting The Scene. The fact is that not all bad cholesterol is bad, only certain types of bad cholesterol are bad that is why I requested bad cholesterol subfractions be included in the new test. To my surprise the response was “we are doing subfractions”. This was explained as being the fractions of good cholesterol, bad cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol, but I was talking about bad cholesterol subfractions and the Doc had absolutely no idea. The Doc further commented that if my bad cholesterol was still raised I might consider medication, and a statin was mentioned as being the initial medication of choice. Some Facts You Should Know Statin drugs reduce bad cholesterol and it is assumed lower the risk of a heart attack or stroke, but they can have side effects, for most patients they are minimal or not even noticed, for a small percentage they can be quite debilitating. If the patient already has Cardiovascular disease (CVD) statins reduce the risk of heart attack and strokes caused by blood vessel blockage by 20% to 30%. It should be noted that this is population risk. The fact is statins, while lowering bad cholesterol for all, only actually prevent heart attack and stroke for a percentage of the population w…
topic: age-related-illness
topic: wellbeing
topic: general
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topic: https://boomersclub.com.au/