Q&A: eggs and cholesterol; when to worry about headaches; alternatives to GLP1 meds for weight loss; are pap tests not annual anymore?
It's December! ❄️☃️❄️
ICYMI 👉
In this week’s reader-submitted Q&A, we’re tackling these questions:
Should I eat eggs if I have high cholesterol?
When should I worry about a headache?
Are other weight loss drugs as effective as Ozempic?
Do I need to get a pap smear every year?
📣 Send me your questions for a future Q&A! Click here to write me your question. ✍️
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are entirely my own. They are not a substitute for advice from your personal physician.
The following subscriber questions have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
QUESTION #1: EGGS AND CHOLESTEROL
Dr. McBride, I have high cholesterol and have been advised to cut back on cholesterol in things I eat. Can you set me straight - are eggs good for you or not?
-Rachel
Hi Rachel,
Ah! This is a great question I get a lot. The relationship between eggs and cholesterol is a topic of ongoing debate. The short story: egg yolks are high in cholesterol, however, recent research suggests that dietary cholesterol doesn't have as big an impact on blood cholesterol levels for most people as previously thought. Research has shown that eggs can raise both LDL ("bad") cholesterol and HDL ("good") cholesterol, but the effect on LDL is usually less significant than the effect on HDL. Importantly, the ratio of LDL to HDL (which is more important for heart health) may not worsen with moderate egg consumption.
In 2015, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee released a report that removed the previous restriction on dietary cholesterol, suggesting that cholesterol from foods like eggs may have a minimal effect on blood cholesterol levels for most people. This was supported by evidence from several studies showing that saturated fats, not dietary cholesterol, are the main culprits in raising blood cholesterol.
Of course, there are always exceptions. Some people—often referred to as "hyper-responders"—may experience a significant increase in blood cholesterol when they consume cholesterol-rich foods like eggs.
Bonus points for egg-lovers: eating more eggs could reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by nearly 50%. For women, eggs may mitigate changes in cognitive function due to old age. This is what a pair of new studies suggest. In one study, a higher egg intake was associated with less of a decline in verbal fluency among women only during a 4-year period (sorry, men!), with those consuming 5 or more eggs per week experiencing the greatest benefit. In the other study, eating 2 or more eggs per week was associated with a 47% reduction in Alzheimer's disease risk over a nearly 7-year follow-up period.
Clearly more studies are needed to confirm the causal relationship between egg consumption and brain health but personally I can’t wait for breakfast. 🍳
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QUESTION #2: WHEN TO WORRY ABOUT HEADACHES
I get headaches a lot, and I will pop a tylenol and get on with the day. But a friend of mine told me I should see my doctor - because it could be something more serious I am masking. So my question is: when should I worry about my headaches?
-Audrey P
Hi Audrey,
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