Issue Date: September 3-5, 2004
Clues to new cholesterol rules
For years, clinical trials have been conducted to assess the benefits of lowering LDL cholesterol. As these trials have been completed, the message has become clear: The lower that high-risk people can get their LDL cholesterol, the better they do. So new guidelines were released in the July 13 issue of Circulation, the American Heart Association's journal (see chart, below).
The emphasis in treatment is on statin drugs, including Crestor, Lipitor, Zocor, Mevacor and Pravachol, which lower LDL cholesterol and also may help "stabilize" coronary disease that is already present. These drugs are expensive and require monitoring, because a small percentage of patients will develop side effects. But if you're in one of the higher-risk heart categories, don't be afraid to use them. They are generally safe and very effective.
A diet low in saturated fats and refined sugars can substantially improve cholesterol balance. Losing weight, exercising aerobically and quitting smoking all can raise "good" HDL cholesterol. Drugs should be taken in addition to, not instead of, living a healthful lifestyle.
The latest cholesterol guidelines
At the Web site of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (nhlbi.nih.gov), you can calculate your 10-year risk of heart disease and find how you stack up, using these guidelines.
| Risk class |
This is you if ... |
Your LDL goal |
How to get there |
| Risk class: Very high |
You have heart disease and other risks such as diabetes, obesity, smoking |
Below 70 |
Take medication and make lifestyle changes |
| Risk class: High |
You have heart disease or diabetes or two or more risk factors for heart disease (e.g., smoking, hypertension) |
Below 100 |
Lifestyle changes and possibly medication |
| Risk class: Moderately high |
You have heart risks and an increased 10-year risk of developing heart disease |
Below 130 |
Lifestyle changes |
| Risk class: Low or moderate |
You have few cardiac risks |
Below 160 |
Lifestyle changes |
Tedd Mitchell, M.D., directs the Wellness Program at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas.
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Cilantro vs. salmonella
Next time you eat chicken fajitas, it might be a good idea to pour on salsa made with tons of fresh cilantro. Here's why: Chicken is a common source of salmonella contamination. But cilantro leaves contain a chemical that can kill salmonella and other pathogens, finds Isao Kubo at the University of California, Berkeley. In fact, cilantro's antibiotic was twice as lethal to the bacteria as the drug gentamicin, a common treatment for salmonella poisoning. Kubo also found that the juice from tomato, onion and cilantro salsa wiped out salmonella. Since you have to eat a lot of cilantro to kill the bacteria, he hopes to turn the cilantro chemical into a drug.
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Students: Save big
College life comes with plenty of incidental expenses, but discounts, too:
Books. You can save 50% or more by buying used textbooks online at BestBookBuys.com, which compares prices at 21 booksellers. A search for Financial Accounting by Clyde Stickney and Roman Weil (list price: $124.95) found used books for as little as $53.44, including shipping.
COMPUTERS. Manufacturers' Web sites offer deals. Score a PowerBook or iBook laptop and an iPod at apple.com/retail and get $200 back. At Gateway.com you'll find $100 mail-in rebates on PCs and similar rebates for product bundles, which include a printer and software. Hewlett-Packard's Academic Purchase Program (hpshopping.com/education) gives students up to 10% off; Dell gives them 5% to 10% off at dell.com/edubuy.
PHONES. See studentwireless.com for mail-in rebates on phones and plans from major carriers. If you happen to attend one of the nation's 280 largest schools, show your ID at a retailer or campus store when signing up for an AT&T Wireless plan. Discounts grow as more fellow students sign up (rates vary by school).
GENERAL DISCOUNTS. The Student Advantage card (studentadvantage.com, $20) gets you up to 40% off Loews theater tickets, 15% off Amtrak fares and UrbanOutfitters.com purchases, and $40 off last-minute trips at CheapTickets.com.
Leaf peeping in New England
When the leaves change to crimson and gold in New England, many leaf peepers head straight to Vermont, a state that brilliantly markets its foliage. But the changing leaves of autumn are just as colorful in neighboring New Hampshire and Maine. And it's safe to say the roads are a little less crowded and the lodgings not quite as full in those states.
Take the big state of Maine, some 350 miles long: "As the foliage progresses from north to south, it can span a four-week period," says Donna Reinheimer of the state tourism office. She recommends mainefoliage.com, which gives weekly foliage updates. At visitmaine.com, you'll find lodging deals and 10 touring loops that offer the best foliage. A classic is "Windjammers and Water Views," through the seacoast towns of Boothbay Harbor, Rockland and Camden.
In New Hampshire, newhampshire.com/foliage provides a regional guide to foliage, an accommodations guide and 10 routes for exceptional viewing, such as state Route 26 through Dixville Notch.
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