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And, as a financial bonus, DH managed to get new life insurance. He is now "super-preferred" and we managed to get twice the amount of coverage at almost for almost the same cost.
How? He got his cholesterol numbers (and amazingly all other numbers) to a textbook case of health range.
What did it take? A detailed conversation with his cardiologist (who happens to be our GP)a few years ago.
Instead of finishing with a routine phrase "your cholesterol is bad, you need to eat better and exercise", like every other doctor (which, lets face it is pretty useless advice. DH was 140lb and 5'11 active guy. "Eating better and exercising more" is completely subjective and all people think they are doing that, and it is just not working for them.
Doctor suggested that DH bring me along for the visit. Than he could find out the details of his lifestyle, and I understood the seriousness of this problem and provide support to what he needs to do. Dr. was concerned that if DH can't bring down his cholesterol that he will have to consider putting him on medication, which he really did not want to do considering how young DH is and that he may than remain on medication for the rest of his life. So he had a talk with both of us, and gave actual parameters (for example consuming under 15 grams of saturated fat per day) and 30 minutes of running minimum 3 times per week while keeping heart rate at a specific range...)
DH has been following the plan for few years now and his detailed 3 page work-up of blood tests is a picture of health.
He is now 130lb though. Wow.
Very few physicians take the time, I'm glad that this one had invested some effort into DH and his patient, who was steps away from being on cholesterol meds is now a very healthy guy.
I wish more doctors took the effort.
How? He got his cholesterol numbers (and amazingly all other numbers) to a textbook case of health range.
What did it take? A detailed conversation with his cardiologist (who happens to be our GP)a few years ago.
Instead of finishing with a routine phrase "your cholesterol is bad, you need to eat better and exercise", like every other doctor (which, lets face it is pretty useless advice. DH was 140lb and 5'11 active guy. "Eating better and exercising more" is completely subjective and all people think they are doing that, and it is just not working for them.
Doctor suggested that DH bring me along for the visit. Than he could find out the details of his lifestyle, and I understood the seriousness of this problem and provide support to what he needs to do. Dr. was concerned that if DH can't bring down his cholesterol that he will have to consider putting him on medication, which he really did not want to do considering how young DH is and that he may than remain on medication for the rest of his life. So he had a talk with both of us, and gave actual parameters (for example consuming under 15 grams of saturated fat per day) and 30 minutes of running minimum 3 times per week while keeping heart rate at a specific range...)
DH has been following the plan for few years now and his detailed 3 page work-up of blood tests is a picture of health.
He is now 130lb though. Wow.Very few physicians take the time, I'm glad that this one had invested some effort into DH and his patient, who was steps away from being on cholesterol meds is now a very healthy guy.
I wish more doctors took the effort.
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