I had some blood tests done for unrelated stuff ad my cholesterol has come back high! I need to do some research into all this to decide my course of action and I know from previous threads on here that there are folk with expertise in the area and I was also hoping for some pointers to good data given how much debate there is about this
Chol 8.7, LDL 6.6, HDL 1.3, ratio 6.8
BMI 23ish, no significant familial history of cardivascular disease, mother also has a bit high chlesterol but like me eats too much cheese butter and bacon!
Risk verses Reward. You seem to be on the reward end of the deal.
I was 7.5 last year, and it looks like it's genes as both my folk have high cholesterol. I'm on just 20mg of atoravastatin and it brought my cholesterol down to about 5 within a couple of months. Absolutely no side effects at all for me, so a no brainer.
Had a mate of mine drop dead last year, 53, heart attack on the bike. Hospital, stent fitted, felt fine, dropped dead a week later.
Doc said there wasn't much chance of me lowering it naturally/through diet as it's fairly good as it is.
I had a heart attack whilst out on the bike back in October (a few days after being given a less than 5% chance of a heart attack based on lifestyle); my cholesterol in hospital following the attack was 4.2 and I was 51.
There are no guarantees and anyone can have a heart attack but it's a game of risk and improving the odds.
I've had to stop cycling again due to onset of chest pain & angina like symptoms, so my activity is low and my diet remains the same (I think that I've put on about 10lbs); my cholesterol has dropped to 3 presumably as the result of the statins.
I'm certainly not an expert but if I were you I'd be looking at statins & changes in diet if possible.
I'm waiting for a doctor to call me back about Statins and BP meds. My annual blood test back in December came up with high cholesterol and was offered them but said I'd try and change my diet first. January was excellent but diet and exercise have gone downhill since and in the current climate I don't see that changing so I'm going to go on them just to reduce the risk. My BP appears to have gone up too despite already being on Ramipril.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-cholesterol/cholesterol-levels/
TJ, at your levels it’s a no brainier. Get on a statin ASAP.
Those levels are very unlikely to be completely diet related and are more like familial, especially with what you say about your mother. That’s not to say don’t watch what you eat either.
I tell my patients that taking Statins is just like brushing your teeth. Yes it’s a bit of an inconvenience but you soon get used to doing it you’ll be grateful in the long term.
Ta
Any link with Vit D? I was very low on vit D and have been taking supplements when I remember!
I have no issue withtaking pills - just with unneeded ones so trying to work out on balance if I should!
That's a pretty impressively high cholesterol. Although the link between cholesterol and MI is well-established now, most of our heart attack patients do not have cholesterol that high. As with everything in healthcare, it's just one of a number of risk factors.
However, at that level (TC >7.5), you're in the realm of familial hypercholesterolaemia which is something to consider. In our system you could be referred to a lipid clinic but that may vary in your area and at any rate that's not sensible or feasible right now. For now, just take the statin. No brainer really. NB that's assuming that you are aware of statin side effects and don't have them. If you get side effects then the risk:benefit equation is different. The vast majority of people have no side effects.
If you want to see the numbers and figures that your GP will be using to assess whether you should take a statin, see here. https://qrisk.org/2017/index.php Essentially the recommendation to take a statin (in primary prevention, not in FH or other genetic disorders) is based on your age, BP and other factors as well as your cholesterol. But the cholesterol plays a part, and you can play with the calculator to see how much difference a reduction of ~40% will make.
More info on FH here:
https://www.heartuk.org.uk/cholesterol/fh-diagnosis-criteria
(I'm a cardiologist)
ta again
i hate getting old
One point with that risk assessment calculator - it takes no account of exercise. Surely exercise has a preventative effect?
One point with that risk assessment calculator – it takes no account of exercise. Surely exercise has a preventative effect?
The lifestyle risk assessment for a heart attack I did with the nurse at the surgery (the one that gave a less than 5% risk) did take account of exercise but again, a low risk (even a silly low one like mine) is no guarantee; not sure if the NHS have a cholesterol specific one though.
The other thing I found odd was that, following my heart attack, my angiogram showed that one of my coronary arteries (LAD) was completely occluded, but the other 2 were only mildly affected - same blood & cholesterol flowing through all 3; nobody was able to say why this should be (the consultant simply stated that it was "just one of those things").
Having gone through it and now struggling with the consequences, I'd be looking reducing whatever risk I could.
One point with that risk assessment calculator – it takes no account of exercise. Surely exercise has a preventative effect?
Nope, as I said on the similar thread, I was cycling home each day (25 miles), running, touch rugby, 5-a-side footie etc. Not smoking. And mine was measured at 8. Living in Switzerland at the time and it was a routine test.
It was hereditary on my mother’s side.
Ta folks - I have made the decision - statins it is.
My point about exercise is the risk calculator used does not take it into account - so according to that my risk is the same as a sedentary person of similar age and BMI
Anyway - on balance statins it is.
I don’t think exercise per se is enough to cover what goes on in your arteries.
In July 2012 my dad was on holiday with us- a lot of running around with my kids (6 &3). In Aug he spent a month in Spain with my sis, walking in the mountains and bike riding with my teenage nephews and no issues. Last week of Sep on holiday with friends doing a lot of walking and swimming. 1st Oct has a massive heart attack and drops down dead at 69. All the arteries that supply the heart were restricted and a piece of plaque broke off and blocked it.
This was in someone who gave no appearance of struggling. All of my parents friends of similar age have some medical issues and on loads of pills but dad was on nowt.
I was tested last November, with very similar levels to OP. I worked hard for 2 months, lost 21 pounds, ate nothing but porridge, oily fish, nuts, etc etc. After two months it had gone down to safe, normal levels.
Checked again last week, whilst still on a near perfect diet and not putting on any weight.If anything I was exercising more than I was. Still no cheese, no dairy etc, perhaps a bit of chocolate, but still maintaining a very careful diet, and it was back up to 7.0.
Awaiting a call from my GP to prescribe Statins. I guess its a no brainer.
Ta folks
I know enough medicine to be able to disregard the quacks. Quite surprised to see so many on here promoting quacks
I do think Statins are generally over prescribed but I also understand they are lifesavers.
According to the calculator my chances of stroke are 20% which really does not seem like a good gamble
I hate getting old.
The link that Paton has provided for a BMJ article has nothing to do with Zoe Harcombe. It's a rapid response written by someone else.
I haven't promoted a quack, my link was to the website of a GP with a particular interest in cardio and statins. He writes a popular blog and also a number of books including "Doctoring Data" which is definitely worth reading. Actually, everyone should read it.
Sorry CG - it takes about 2 mins to see that Kendrick is a dangerous loon. He promotes conspiracy theories and his supposed "science" is laughably poorly done
There is no doubt AT ALL that statins reduce cardivascular risk which he denies. The questions are around how appropriate the prescription of statins is in marginal cases and how big this reduction is - ie where the cost / benefit ratio makes taking them useful
If it sounds like a duck and looks like a duck?
if you’ve had high cholesterol so your arteries get clogged up, if you improve diet/ go on statins etc so the cholesterol in your blood reduces do your arteries remain blocked?
