Low cholesterol may be danger sign
Q. What is considered low when it comes to cholesterol? My levels were always low, but now they are back down to 120, just like they were in my mid-20s. I am almost 49. The highest it has been is 142.
I am very forgetful, especially now with customers’ names. I don’t sleep well and have never been a great communicator because I have trouble remembering all the facts and have trouble finding the right words (usually technical or specific ones, like the name of a place). Is this related to my cholesterol?
A. Many doctors believe that cholesterol can never be too low. New research throws that concept into question.
The importance of cholesterol in neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease is controversial. A recent study in the Archives of Neurology (January 2007) concluded that, “A decline in serum total cholesterol levels may be associated with early stages in the development of dementia.” Another study (Movement Disorders online, Dec. 18, 2006) has linked low LDL cholesterol with a higher occurrence of Parkinson’s disease.
You might want to discuss your lab results with your doctor in light of the new research. We can’t say whether your memory problems are related to your low cholesterol, but we can’t rule it out, either.
Q. Is it possible that iron tablets can cause constipation? I have been taking iron to prevent restless legs syndrome and wonder if this supplement could be causing a new issue: constipation.
A. Many medicines cause constipation, including antidepressants, blood pressure pills and pain relievers. Iron and calcium supplements are notorious for this problem.
Chewing sugarless gum daily might be enough to solve the problem. Blackstrap molasses dissolved in hot water supplies iron and may ease constipation as well.
We are sending you our Guide to Constipation with Ten Tips to Combat Constipation plus recipes for power pudding and dynamite pumpkin-bran muffins. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (63 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. GG-30, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It can also be downloaded for $2 from our Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.com.
Q. I’ve heard that steeping tea for 30 seconds and then pouring off the water and steeping the bag again in new water dramatically reduces the amount of caffeine in the tea. I’m wondering if this is correct. I love tea, but too much caffeine triggers my acid reflux.
A. Much of the caffeine in tea is released within the first half-minute of steeping. Your technique won’t decaffeinate your tea completely, but it should help considerably. It might bring the caffeine level down enough so that tea no longer gives you terrible heartburn.
Q. Are you aware of any side effects after long-term use (10 years) of Prozac? Do the benefits of Prozac decrease over time?
A. Some psychiatrists refer to the diminished effectiveness of Prozac after long-term use as “Prozac poop-out.” If this has happened to you, ask your doctor about other ways to deal with depression.
Canadian researchers recently found that long-term use of antidepressants such as Prozac, Paxil or Zoloft is associated with a higher risk of bone fractures in older people (Archives of Internal Medicine, Jan. 22, 2007).