High cholesterol but I don't really understand why

[JasmineAllen]

I'm hoping someone with experience can advise me please.
I've just had a cholesterol check and it's high, not crazy high, but 5.9 with low hdl and high ldl. Which is not great 😕

The thing is I'm struggling to understand why.
Less than 10 years ago I always had healthy cholesterol levels. In fact I was told by the nurse I had some of the best she'd seen so I'm assuming it's not a genetic thing.

I've a bmi of 20, don't drink much alcohol, don't smoke and have been a long time lover of brown rice, veg and lentils/high fibre. I also each salmon at least once s week. I'm no gym bunny but I am quite active with walking, gardening etc.

I'm considering 5:2 fasting to see if that helps but I'm not sure where I'm going wrong.

I'm now having porridge every day and drinking lots of green tea 😁

Does anyone have any tips ?

How much part does activity play?

Have they checked for anything else? I had really bad cholesterol but they also found out I had an underactive thyroid which can throw off cholesterol levels.

It can be genetic, and as you've got older 10 years on, this is how your body is working.

I think its often a red herring around lifestyle and cholesterol, there are some clear cut reasons why its sometimes high, smoking being very very overweight, no exercise

But for the averagely healthyish person, with high cholesterol sometimes its just the way you're growing older.

How old are you? Age and genetics are a factor. Genetics is sometimes the only factor. Unfortunately it’s not as straightforward as lifestyle dictates it or would be easier to change. Statins may become your friend.

How old are you? Cholesterol often goes up as we go through menopause.

mine was 4 in 2018 and they randomly tested it earlier this year and it was 8.1!!

Mine went up after the menopause.

What age are you, Op? Peri-menopause can bring on changes to just about everything in our bodies, cholesterol levels included.

The lack of oestrogen really does contribute to so much decline in our bodies. Another reason for HRT.

My thyroid was check a few months ago and it's fine.

Possibly hypercholestrolemia familial ( check the spelling 🤔) As others have said it can be down to genetics unfortunately..

This. Mine has increased from age 50 to 60 and my diet is much healthier than it was.

As a few of you have pointed out it could be my age. I'm 55 and recently started hrt.

I'm not liking the sound of that !!!

Which kind are you on/dose?

Mine went up when I had gallstones, about a year before the other symptoms arrived. It also stayed high for a couple of years after they were removed, but all fine now without statins.

Everol conti atm but I'm hoping to try the everol oestrogen patch and utrogestan instead.

I definitely don't have gall stones.

Being 10 years older and peri-menopause would be enough.

I've just looked that up and it causes heart problems in your 30s. I definitely don't have that.

😭😭😭😭😭

Thank you for all your answers.
I'm starting to suspect it's another wonderful side effect of menopause.
I used to be so smug with my cholesterol of 4.6 as well 😂

Worth asking Grok on X - obvs caveat that it's AI and not a medical doctor but I've found it to be rather impressive and helpful...

Thanks for the suggestion but I'm not on x/twitter.

Mine rocketed up after menopause as well and so did my mother’s. It’s to do with the decline of our estrogen hormone levels, which would previously keep cholesterol under check. Women’s risk of cardiovascular disease increases a lot after menopause and puts us closer to the risk to men.

If there are any people in your family who have had heart attacks or stroke at a relatively young age, it might be worth letting the GP know. They did further testing and found a common genetic issue with me (and also in my daughter when she was then tested) that makes our LDL cholesterol stickier and therefore more risky even at only moderately high levels. My daughter’s levels are normal still but she is still being referred to a lipid clinic for early intervention.

Mine leapt up to 9 in menopause and I was referred to the lipid clinic. I now take statins and it was 6 when last tested. That’s considered acceptable by the hospital consultant.