My cholesterol is REALLY high - can i fix this?

But it might mean you have a survivable heart attack rather than a fatal one. I don't know the stats on that though.

I told you I was brutal at statistics! I'd be mad as hell if I was one of the 2/3rds who got a heart attack despite my statin taking though. (If I've even got that bit right!). Thanks for your statistical interpretation.

Nope. 7 out of the 20 people who would have had a heart attack without statins won’t have one. The other 80 people are irrelevant - taking the statins doesn’t affect them either way. So it reduces risk by about 1/3, which is pretty significant. It also reduces risks of strokes and other heart disease.

Looking at the NICE info above, it looks to me that 7% of people taking statins will avoid heart attack. That doesn't sound like a lot to me. Presumably they would be in the high Qrisk score cohort. I'm useless at statistics, so is there anyone out there who can elaborate?

Is it saying that if you are high risk and take a statin you have a 93% chance of still getting heart disease and stroke?

I told you I was dumb about stats. I don't mind being corrected at all, in fact I'd be delighted if someone can explain better!

GPs use an algorithm to assess whether a patient should be offered statins.

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng238/resources/patient-decision-aid-on-should-i-take-a-statin-pdf-243780159

". . .although I suspected it might be the case due to milia on my eyelids... a classic symptom,"

I wonder if you might be confusing milia with xanthelasma?

https://skyclinic.co.uk/explaining-milia-vs-xanthelasma-what-are-the-differences/

Same here and the one time I didn't it was so different to usual that I was retested a week later after fasting

I'm following this. I was sent for a blood test last week for inflammation and GP added cholesterol without mentioning it. So it was a shock to see it on my NHS app!

Mine was 6.6 and GP wrote and said it was normal. No action.
HDL was 2.4 and Total/HDL ratio 2.7 and very low tryglycerides ratio. Both ratios indicate low risk for heart issues and healthy metabolic response.

I eat massive amounts of fibre and avocado and oily fish and have eaten oats daily for many many years - none of that's a hardship. But also lots of weekend crisps. I also drink espresso from a machine (surely the polyphenols are beneficial?) and I eat 4squares of 90% chocolate every day. Not a huge amount of alcohol but a couple of drinks each weekend.

I am also about a stone over my ideal weight (but still under bmi25). I've exercised regularly for many many years. Weights mainly as the only cardio I can do is swimming since surgery a few years ago.

I'm quite confused now after reading all of the above! But GP says it's fine 🤷

Hi op at least you are monitoring it. Heres my readings. Chol 5.6. Trigly is 1.06mmol. Hdl of 1.58. Gp seemed happy but said I need to watch it still. Im awful for sweet things!!

My cholesterol was v high and yes, I did manage to reduce it by 6 points through diet but it was still high. Following a medical event probably caused, in part, by my cholesterol I now take statins as we’ve discovered I’m genetically predisposed to high cholesterol.

I think you could introduce more things into your diet that are know to aid in the reduction of cholesterol levels - oily fish, beans, avocados to name just three. Take a look at the heart UK pages as there is loads of great advice and some great recipes on there.

This! To go from 6 to 11 suggests a lab error.

Sounds as if you could be like my mum. She always ate a low fat diet, but her cholesterol was through the roof. Turned out it’s genetic, she actually makes her own cholesterol, so she could live of nothing but salad leaves and still be way over desirable levels. She’s been on statins for years.

Mine is about 7 and I have only been able to make slight changes with diet (e.g. 7.2 to 6.8) by adding benecol, oats and green tea, but I'm also trying weight loss at the moment. If this doesn't help I will probably ask my GP about statins.

Mine keeps showing as slightly high, but as it's only the good cholesterol that's high and I'm slim and active they're not worried. I'm not convinced as we're heart attack family.
I was listening to a new Dr Chris & Dr Xand podcast on cholesterol this week. I hadn't realised it was linked to the liver until now.

Have you tried taking plant sterols?

I would get it rechecked, it could be a bad reading.

Does anyone else feel that the interpretation of cholesterol tests is confusing and may not give a reassuring picture? Reference is always made to Total Ch. and LDL in isolation.

Very little focus seems to be on the ratio of HDL/ Total, and LDL/ HDLwhich can be more accurate indicators regardless of the individual HDL and LDL scores. Triglycerides are an important indicator also. The picture is rarely given in the round.

As a case in point, my chol readings (total and ldl) were over the limit. Ratios and triglycerides were excellent though. I was being treated for Afib and as part of the workup had all the usual cardiac tests + a cardiac calcium CT. I had a zero score, the best there could be, despite having high LDL and totals. Now the cardio team explained about the ratios and triglyceride score and it all fell into place. I still have slightly higher than the limits but am not taking any statins.

I'm not saying that is the case all the time, or should be for everyone, but it is food for thought just the same!

I suspect with it being that high it’s mostly genetics. My dd aged 21 (5ft 11, 9 stone and vegetarian) has very high cholesterol and they’ve put it down to genetics - her dad’s side is the same. I am 5ft 6, 15 stone with multiple disabilities and autoimmune issues and eat whatever I want whenever I want including butter, bacon, all sorts, and mine is low. I don’t think it’s always diet related, although obviously it can help to some extent.

I think this could be | Hypercholesterolaemia - familial as that’s a high level considerating your current diet .

That’s really helpful! Thanks :-)

I have just started taking plant stenols from British Supplements - their reviews are good so worth a shot.
My diet isn't as good as yours but I also have good BMI and low BP, exercise, no booze etc and high cholesterol.

@CholesterolHelp- here’s some sensible advice on diet:

https://share.google/RsGh3DAiIsDFOvM9Y

Please get to a lipid clinic to rule out hypercholesterolemia. I am awaiting genetic results for this.

The amount of oil added to meals can have a massive effect on cholesterol.