High cholesterol

Kandinsky

MerylStreep

That’s really interesting - thank you.
I really don’t want to take medication unless I desperately have to.

Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Old age itself – particularly reaching the age of 80 and above - puts people at increased risk of a heart attack or stroke. This risk can be heightened by factors such as high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure, even in those who are otherwise seemingly healthy.”

“Previous clinical trials – which are a better measure than observational studies like this - have also suggested that statins can contribute to a reduction in risk of a heart attack or stroke in elderly people with no history of heart disease. However, further trials are needed to better understand how effective they are in this age group. Regardless of age, those who have suffered a heart attack or stroke will benefit from taking a statin.

Regardless of age, those who have suffered a heart attack or stroke will benefit from taking a statin.
“In line with current guidance, the most important thing is that GPs have a discussion with their elderly patients to help them understand their personal risk of a heart attack or stroke, so they can make an informed decision about taking statins.

My Husband has FH but has been living happily on statins for the last forty years. He is very careful with what he eats in terms of content and volume but doesn't ban anything.

DH uses Benecol spread and has a little bottle of cholesterol lowering drink every day, Sainsbury's own brand are good. He also has oats every day, either in muesli which he makes himself or porridge and we drink oat milk. He has managed to avoid medication by these measures.

growstuff

Tbh I don’t eat much cheese or meat, I think my downfall is toast dripping in country life butter, plus I eat a lot of pasta, white rice, basically too many carbohydrates.
But I’m changing my diet now as I’d really like to avoid going on medication.,

Kandinsky

These are my results GrannyLaine

Your triglyceride and LDL levels are quite high, but your HDL level (good cholesterol) is good. Many doctors think the ratios are more important than the total. Have you tried cutting down on meat and full fat cheese?

My overall cholesterol is 3, but my ratios aren't good.

I am a retired GP. My cholesterol was 8.1. I have familial hypercholesterolaemia. I decided to go on statins and take atorvastatin 20 mg daily. No side effects. A recent cholesterol was 4.2. I am happy with this.

My cholesterol is 5.8. I try to cut out fatty items from my diet such as cheese, butter etc. Could someone please explain why bread should be avoided? I would imagine that if it isn’t covered in butter it wouldn’t be a problem but I’m no expert on dietary matters.

Please read The Cholestral Con by Dr Malcom McKendrick ??

Very confusing subject mine went up with meno & ensuing Thyroid
hypothyroid.
All connected ( Thyroid UK on line are marvellous - TSH to be around a one not ok at 4 like my gp said !!!!! )
Will affect cholestral too. Slow metabolism.
Cholestral stored in liver. Good friend when artery walls get inflamed as cholestral comes along & seals it to strengthen Body so clever
Think sugar is the main inflammation rebel ?

Marmight in cases of FH is perfectly understandable and justified.

My three DDs have been on statins since their early teens having inherited FH from their father. Its a bit hit & miss and not every statin suits. Diet plays a part but they don’t go overboard. ‘Everything in moderation’ 2 grandchildren also have it. The 10 year old decided to go veggie when he read about his problem! He’s brilliant and sticks to his beliefs. DH’s highest cholesterol count aged 30 was 18. The consultant said he should be dead but obviously his body had learn to cope with it. Over many years drugs reduced it to around 6 but FH caught up with him, gave him a number of unpleasant symptoms over the years and he died of a heart attack at just 70.

Should say steroids don’t help my cholesterol numbers

So interesting with all the different figures regarding cholesterol mines 5.7 I’m on long term steroids they don’t my cholesterol but I’m pretty happy with my numbers, I would never ever take statins,

Mine was 7 a few years ago. I was put on statins. They gave me severe nosebleeds. I stopped taking them. Like Gagajo I take benecol drinks, spread and yoghurts.
Someone on GN recommend plant sterols which I also take. I haven't had my cholesterol checked for a while but hopefully it has lowered.

Thank you GagaJo - I’ll definitely switch to benecol products.

These are my results GrannyLaine

BlueSky

GagaJo the Benecol products are a good idea if you don’t want to take statins but still feel you should be doing something.

They worked for me. I'd rather do anything reasonable, to avoid drugs. Would love to come off omeprazole too

GagaJo the Benecol products are a good idea if you don’t want to take statins but still feel you should be doing something.

I have familial high cholesterol too I was told 18 months ago. Don’t eat a lot of bread or cheese and only small portions of meat a 500 gram pack of 2% fat beef does me four meals. I eat lots of veg and salads that I grow myself. I don’t eat any ready made meals etc I eat at the most two eggs a week in salads. I increased my intake of fruit by a lot got my cholesterol down from 5.9 to 5. It’s still high but not broken down into good or bad cholesterol.

I am not over weight but the nurse is pushing for me to take statins I am reluctant. I am beginning to think certain medications are promoted. (Any nurses out there I apologise if I am wrong) I bought a basic cookery book for cholesterol recipes it’s pretty much what I eat anyway that went straight into the charity bag.

Watching this with interest. Had routine blood tests last week and had phone call from surgery yesterday saying cholesterol result was high. Have a telephone appointment with inhouse pharmacist on Monday. Did anyone have any symptoms before they found out their result was high? Just wondering as I really feel the cold and sometimes get numb blue fingers. Thought maybe that could be thyroid but that result is normal.

Buy and eat ALL the Benecol products daily (I don't have any connections with the company, before anyone mentions it!).

Marg (yes, yuck I know), yoghurts OR yoghurt drinks and I think you can get Benecol milk now.

It really works. I significantly lowered my cholesterol (can't remember numbers, sorry!) just by cutting out cheese and using those products. I think you can also buy plant sterols in tablet form but I haven't tried those.

Kandinsky has your GP looked at the ratio between good and not so good cholesterol? Total cholesterol doesn't tell you much. I agree with Meryl Streep about statins

I have familial high cholesterol. My parents died aged 94 and 86. It was 8.7 before I reluctantly started statins two years ago. I think it is about 5 now which is still too high.

Kandinsky
If you search cholesterol in the GN search box there have been some long threads with lots of info ( good and bad)

MerylStreep

That’s really interesting - thank you.
I really don’t want to take medication unless I desperately have to.

Glammananna while I appreciate high cholesterol is bad news, I read that very low figures are not advisable either.
Kandinsky yes you’ll be advised to try to reduce it by diet first, also yours at 6 is not tremendously high, and I believe it’s the ratio of good to bad that matters more than total cholesterol. Finally if you are over a certain age (70) statins are not even recommended. That’s what the consultant said to me.