Data source:
[1] Liu Xin, Mi Jingjing, Sun Xiaochun. Clinical study of HeartMai Tong capsules combined with rosuvastatin in the treatment of hyperlipidemia [J/OL]. Modern Drugs and Clinical, 1-5.
[2] Lu Zhenkai, Liu Fumei, Zhang Xuming, et al. Clinical comprehensive evaluation of Jiangzhi Tongluo soft capsules in the treatment of hyperlipidemia (blood stasis and qi stagnation syndrome) [J/OL]. Journal of Chinese Medicine, 1-11.
[3] Song Shuhuan, Li Chaoran. The effects of atorvastatin combined with rosuvastatin on the treatment of acute cerebral infarction and the influence on vascular nerve repair factors [J]. Jilin Medicine, 2024, 45 (07): 1672-1674.
Data source:
[1] Liu Xin, Mi Jingjing, Sun Xiaochun. Clinical study of HeartMai Tong capsules combined with rosuvastatin in the treatment of hyperlipidemia [J/OL]. Modern Drugs and Clinical, 1-5.
[2] Lu Zhenkai, Liu Fumei, Zhang Xuming, et al. Clinical comprehensive evaluation of Jiangzhi Tongluo soft capsules in the treatment of hyperlipidemia (blood stasis and qi stagnation syndrome) [J/OL]. Journal of Chinese Medicine, 1-11.
[3] Song Shuhuan, Li Chaoran. The effects of atorvastatin combined with rosuvastatin on the treatment of acute cerebral infarction and the influence on vascular nerve repair factors [J]. Jilin Medicine, 2024, 45 (07): 1672-1674.
With the change of modern lifestyle, more and more people are suffering from hyperlipidemia, not only middle-aged and elderly people, but also the population with high blood lipids is becoming younger. Hyperlipidemia, also known as high blood lipid, is a common chronic disease, referring to the abnormal increase in cholesterol, triglycerides, and other lipid content in the blood. This condition not only affects blood flow, but may also lead to atherosclerosis, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Zhang Xiaochun is a typical rural woman in Shandong. At the age of 67, she can still effortlessly work a large vegetable field, living a rhythmic life of going out at sunrise and resting at sunset. Although she has a wheat-colored skin, the healthy flush on her face is evident.
However, as she ages, her physical function gradually declines, and she begins to feel somewhat inadequate in taking care of the large vegetable field. Often, when she returns home with a hoe, she needs to lean on it by the roadside to rest, to relieve the soreness of her lumbar muscles. Sometimes, after squatting in the vegetable garden for a long time, she can only walk home with bent legs to alleviate the soreness in her knee joints.
On June 23, 2015, after breakfast, Zhang Xiaochun, as usual, took her straw hat and hoe to the vegetable garden. Suddenly, she felt dizzy, and the early morning sun was already very dazzling, making Zhang Xiaochun, who was already dizzy, have difficulty opening her eyes. After staggering back several steps to stabilize herself, this sudden dizziness appeared almost every day. Zhang Xiaochun thought it was caused by the excessive heat of summer, so she didn’t pay much attention to it, just thinking of going home to drink a bottle of Huoxiang Zhengqi Water.
Upon returning home at noon and planning to take a short nap after lunch, she suddenly felt a spasm in her left calf while she was sleeping soundly. The muscle spasm sensation made it impossible for her to continue sleeping, so she opened her eyes and tried to relieve it through massage, but the effect was minimal. She could only tightly hold her left leg, waiting quietly for the pain to pass. This symptom of cramping in her sleep often occurred, disturbing Zhang Xiaochun greatly. Therefore, she asked her son to take her to the hospital for an examination.
Upon arriving at the hospital, after listening to her symptoms, the doctor carefully observed her face and palms, finding some yellow nodules on her face, known as xanthomata, and a cross-pattern on the palmar lines. Combining these symptoms of cramps in her calf, sudden dizziness, and decreased physical strength, the doctor essentially diagnosed her with hyperlipidemia. As a precaution, the doctor asked Zhang Xiaochun to undergo a blood routine test.
The test results showed a total cholesterol (TC) level of 7.4 mmol/L, triglycerides (TG) level of 3.2 mmol/L, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level of 3.9 mmol/L, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level of 0.8 mmol/L.
The ideal levels should be lower than 5.2 mmol/L for total cholesterol (TC), less than 2.6 mmol/L for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), normal levels above 1.0 mmol/L for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and lower than 1.7 mmol/L for triglycerides (TG).
The doctor prescribed her with the commonly used lipid-lowering drug – atorvastatin and advised her to control her diet and exercise moderately daily, especially not to spend the entire day in the vegetable garden. Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaochun’s son took the opportunity to say, “Mom, you shouldn’t plant so many vegetables from now on, I will supervise you.” Zhang Xiaochun realized that her current health was not suitable for too much physical labor.
Zhang Xiaochun strictly followed the doctor’s advice, taking the medication on time every day. She delegated the task of watering and fertilizing her vegetable garden to her son, while she acted as the overseer holding a fan on the side. After three months, during her hospital reexamination, her TC level decreased to 6.4 mmol/L, and TG decreased to 2.8 mmol/L. This decrease made all three of them see hope for her blood lipids stabilizing in the normal range. The doctor said, “Maintain your lifestyle rhythm and keep your blood lipids under control, hopeful days are imminent.”
Over the next two years, Zhang Xiaochun’s levels continued to drop slightly during subsequent follow-ups, eventually stabilizing at the borderline level. Thinking that she had already mastered the secret to control, she soon forgot about her follow-up appointments, completely ignoring them.
On the morning of October 3rd, Zhang Xiaochun planned to take her usual stroll in the vegetable field to see if any vegetables were ready to be picked. However, while inspecting, she suddenly felt as if a large stone was pressing against her chest, causing persistent pain that made her restless, and her breathing gradually felt obstructed.
Subsequently, pain also occurred in her left scapula and upper left arm. Her back was covered in cold sweat, and the autumn breeze made her shiver. Gradually, her vision began to blur, and she experienced dizziness and nausea. Zhang Xiaochun tried to stand firm and call for help, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she lost consciousness and fell in the vegetable field.
Seeing that his mother had been out for over two hours and had not returned, her son felt a sudden panic. He thought whether his mother had quietly gone to the vegetable garden again? He went to search for her in the vegetable garden, and from afar, he saw his mother’s big floral coat motionless in one place. Running over, he found his mother lying on the ground, eyes closed tightly, and breathing weak.
Trembling, he dialed 120 with his hands and called out to his mother. However, Zhang Xiaochun showed no response. Rushing her to the hospital for emergency treatment, Zhang Xiaochun’s son, outside the operating room, clasped his hands tightly, praying for a miracle. Unfortunately, the doctor, with regret, said, “I’m sorry, the patient had a sudden heart attack, but it was too late by the time she arrived, missing the prime opportunity. We did our best, please take care.”
The doctor’s words made Zhang Xiaochun’s son immediately kneel in front of the operating room, crying loudly like a child, calling out for his mother repeatedly. The doctor and nurses tried to comfort him, but he pushed the doctor aside and shouted angrily, “It must be your incompetence, my mother has been managing well for the past two years, how could she have a heart attack?”
The doctor empathized with the family’s emotions. After reviewing Zhang Xiaochun’s follow-up results over the past two years and her medical history, it was indeed high blood lipids as the only symptom. Typically, taking medication on time can control the condition, so did Zhang Xiaochun miss her medication schedule? Immediately getting a denial from Zhang Xiaochun’s son, “My mom never violates medical advice or takes medication randomly! She even eats homegrown vegetables!”
So what caused it in the end? The doctor carefully inquired about Zhang Xiaochun’s daily habits and medication process. However, he never expected to stumble upon the answer here! Shaking his head and sighing deeply, he said, “Why have high lipid patients frequently stumbled over this matter in recent years? Your mother has also fallen into this trap, made the same mistake, and this kind of life is unsettling!”
And this mistake is—eating leftovers. Zhang Xiaochun had been thrifty all her life, always reluctant to throw away unfinished meals, repeatedly reheating them before serving, thinking that since the next day’s meal was low in oil and salt, it shouldn’t pose any problems. Unfortunately, this turned out to be the insidious hidden hand that pushed her into the abyss!
Hyperlipidemia is a common chronic disease characterized by abnormally high levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and other lipids in the blood. This condition not only affects blood flow but may also lead to atherosclerosis, increasing the risks of heart disease and stroke. Leftover dishes, due to their longer storage time, may contain some substances detrimental to health, such as nitrite, which, when accumulated in the body, could increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Eating leftovers frequently may increase the risk of heart attacks, primarily due to the high salt and stale fats that may be present in leftovers. High-salt foods can raise blood pressure, and hypertension is among the significant risk factors for heart attacks. Additionally, the oxidation of stale fats in the body produces harmful free radicals that damage the vascular endothelium, promoting the formation of atherosclerosis and increasing the risk of heart attacks.
Furthermore, the nutritional components in leftovers may be lost due to prolonged storage, leading to an imbalanced nutrient intake. Prolonged consumption of an unbalanced diet can reduce the body’s antioxidant capacity, increase oxidative stress, and further exacerbate the progression of atherosclerosis. Therefore, to reduce the risk of heart attacks, it is recommended to avoid consuming leftovers as much as possible, maintain a balanced diet, and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
(Note: “67-year-old Shandong woman eats statins for a long period, dies of heart attack 2 years later, she has a misconception” All names have been changed, some images are from the internet; The article is prohibited from being reprinted or plagiarized)
