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 ?

They will likely push statins on you. Please do your research.

I'm the same OP - cholesterol always been fine despite my mother having high cholesterol. Had it checked recently and it's 5.4. Been perimenopausal for the past year so maybe that's the reason. On HRT and eating a healthy diet as well as exercising regularly, not much alcohol. Not sure what else to do

I'm so glad I came across this thread. I was diagnosed with high cholesterol in December, which came as a bit of a shock as I don't smoke or drink, eat well and do loads of exercise. I'm slightly overweight and through the menopause. I've spent the last 6 months trying to tweak my diet ahead of a re-test, as I don't fancy statins.

This could definitely be due to genetics/ age. I also have a healthy lifestyle, am not overweight, have never smoked etc, but cholesterol went up to 8.5.
I have reluctantly decided to go down the medication route as I have a bad family history in terms of cardiovascular issues.

Yes, same here.

And every statin I've ever tried gives me heart palpitations!

Mine was always normal but been around 6 since menopause. I’m on HRT, normal weight, don’t drink, excellent diet with very limited cheese and red meat.
They seem go more on your ‘Q Risk’ these days which looks at your over all risks rather than just cholesterol alone. My Q Risk is low so they’re not worried (and nor am I) and I don’t have to go on a statin.

What does your GP say/recommend?

@JasmineAllen
It is an inherited genetic disorder that causes high levels of 'bad' cholesterol in the blood.

Do You drink coffe capsules? Apparently they have a lot of cholesterol..

I suspect it’s not even the menopause, just straightforward age as it seems to happen to men too. It’s really outrageous, we do all the right things and it still creeps up.

As PP said, have a good hard think about rushing to take statins. The medical profession get quite excited when they give a drug to 1000 people and 10 people benefit, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth you taking it. On the other hand beware the rabbit hole that is stuff about statins on the internet. (FWIW I do take them now, but that’s my personal choice).

As its under 6 the advice is all diet and exercise related and to recheck in 6 months.

From seeing the replies on here I think menopause is more likely the cause as up until then my cholesterol was routinely 4.6.

No I don't. I have 1 cup of instant after lunch and that's it.

Unless it suddenly goes a lot higher I have no plans to take statins and they've not even been mentioned as an option.

I've just checked and my Q Risk is also low thank goodness.

Watching this as my reading was 6 last year but my HDL levels are good so no concerns from the GP. Yet. I'd just add more oily fish - three times per week - and olive oil etc. Also, I know you're not told to fast now before a check but maybe try that before your next one. I know I'm going to. Bizarrely (or not as we eat mostly the same things) my scores are all almost identical to my partner's.

Don't be spreading misinformation.

High cholesterol is the biggest cause of atherosclerosis causing heart attacks and strokes. (Put simply) The plaques are literally made up of LDL cholesterol.

Statins, therefore, will reduce this risk factor significantly. Encouraging people to reconsider literally the biggest preventative medication for heart attack/stroke because you've bought the daily mail anxiety -fest is ridiculous. The biggest side effect of statins is myalgia (muscle aches) which will eventually ease.

Get your LP(a) and apo(b) tested. I paid to have extra tests to see these. Think LP(a) is a reflection of your genetic risk and apo(b) is a reflection of the bad particles in LDL. Mine were both high so I think I should go on statins but these tests are not offered by GPs yet (I got mine via Thriva).

Encouraging people to reconsider literally the biggest preventative medication for heart attack/stroke because you've bought the daily mail anxiety -fest is ridiculous.

That.

My mum was put on statins when they first came out, but after a few months, she came off them because she didn't like the side effects. A year later she had a massive disabling stroke, just as her father had had.

Last summer my cholesterol was found to be 7.5. initially I was given a low dose of thyroxine and followed a really restrictive diet. It came down to 7.3.

I'm now on 40mh of Atorvastatin and down to 4.5. I don't like the side effects much either, but no way am I stopping the meds. And the last thing I'd do is put anyone off them, who has results as high as mine.

It can be genetic. Do your parents have high cholesterol?

Mine is 9 as well and I'm post menopause. ( and have an underactive thyroid) My Dr won't prescribe HRT as a result, but is desperate to put me on statins. I feel really reluctant to go on them as they feel so unnatural and can have bad safe effects. I find it all so confusing, I really don't know what to do?

I'm on statins - Avorastatin - and can't say I've noticed any side effects. I take mine before bed so maybe I sleep through them.

I am slim, eat well and exercise so doctor said lifestyle changes weren't really an option. She pushed for statins.