Cholesterol levels

9.5%

silverlining48

I have just done the risk test thanks growstuff and have a 17% chance of heart attack or stroke. I take no meds, have none of the health contraindications apart from being overweight and am nearly 76. I don’t think 17% risk is too bad…..
According to the nhs website people over 75 with no contraindications should be started on statins so I am still confused.

The British Heart Foundation (and some others) dispute whether the NHS advice is right. It's up to you really. Losing some weight would reduce your risk, but there's nothing you can do about your age and older people are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease anyway.

I know this sounds brutal, but I think your average life expectancy is about 82 or 83 (higher if you're otherwise healthy), so there's quite a high risk that you'll die of something within 10 years anyway. If you're really against taking statins (and don't believe that everybody has side effects), it's your right to refuse them.

No GP can make up your mind for you. All he/she will do is tell you what your risk is (which you already know) and tell you that NICE recommends that you take statins, but you can say you've thought about it, done the risk assessment for yourself and decided that you accept the risk - and, let's face it, you have over 80% risk of not developing cardiovascular disease in the next ten years.

PS. Don't do what some people do, which is accept the prescription and not take the meds. Firstly, it's a waste of the NHS's money and, secondly, the GP might think the meds aren't working and prescribe something even stronger.

Joseann

I'm 9 5% according to that.

I'm surprised, I must admit, given the fluctuation in your blood pressure which you've mentioned before.

NICE now recommends that everybody with a risk score over 5 is offered a low dose statin. The operative word is "offered" - you don't have to accept the offer - just say you don't want to take them.

I'm 6%.
The person who I was talking about would be 6% too, as far as I know.
So if she is offered something, which I think she will be, I may send her the link. She can make her own mind up what to do.
I suspect she will do what the Pharmacist advises. Which is fair enough I think?

growstuff

NICE now recommends that everybody with a risk score over 5 is offered a low dose statin. The operative word is "offered" - you don't have to accept the offer - just say you don't want to take them.

To get a score of under 5 and female, you have to be under 60 years old, with nothing.
Over 60 and you are 6%, as far as I can work out.

If over 60, and male, you are 10% risk, even if dont tick any other box.

9.5% ? Well done. It used to be over 10% before the pressure to take statins was put on and at that time I was 11% so turned down the offer.
It’s now been reduced to 5%. Catch all?

growstuff

Joseann

I'm 9 5% according to that.

I'm surprised, I must admit, given the fluctuation in your blood pressure which you've mentioned before.

It just asked if I was on BP medication, but not what the elevated readings were. Maybe it assumes the GP has things under control with treatment?

What I should say, is that I didn't enter the BP they could either be like 220/180 or 120/65 which makes it meaningless.

I'll try it with a 24 hour average when I get a chance.

It’s now been reduced to 5%. Catch all?
Yes, it seems like it, but I guess there's a reason somewhere.

Shantygirly
I Trump your Dr with a consultant 😀
I was in his surgery with my friend for a follow up after her op.
He said i see your taking statins her reply was i was but I’ve stopped as I could hardly walk
His reply was and keep off them He didn’t elaborate, he didn’t need to.

My cholesterol was 6.1 last September, it’s now 4.5 after taking statins, I’ve had no side effects from them.

I had high cholesterol for years until finally coerced into taking statins. I then had a series of brain scans that showed that apart from one small area my arteries and veins were clear of any thickening.

There is also research coming from reputable research institutes that the link between high cholesterol and clogged arteries may not be as strong as we have believed. Michael Mosley, in one of the Sunday papers reported that the BMJ had recently published a peer reviewed article on this subject.

I read that research yesterday Monica, I have been recommended for the new twice a year cholesterol lowering injections, I have spent days researching different articles and I'm more than ever confused about which decisions to make, such conflicting advice !

Bridie22

I read that research yesterday Monica, I have been recommended for the new twice a year cholesterol lowering injections, I have spent days researching different articles and I'm more than ever confused about which decisions to make, such conflicting advice !

Iam going to the lipid clinic soon with a view to having these injections.. My pharmacist described them as being similar to the covid injections and that they are different to statins. I am now completely confused as to what I would be putting in my body. and also worried that if I had side effects that there would be no way of stopping them for 6 months..

Pascal30, my worries exactly, the injection is a gene modifying one and I'm a bit concerned like you, it was the lipid clinic that have recommended to my gp I have them, I will be interested in the outcome of your visit.

I had not heard of lipids until the person I know has been told to see the GP pharmacist.

I am now completely confused as to what I would be putting in my body. and also worried that if I had side effects that there would be no way of stopping them for 6 months..

Good point about them then being in for 6 months.