Cholesterol reading 5.3?

[mumznet]

I'm 33 weigh 66kg and 5'4 height, and recently had fasting cholesterol tested because non fasting one was 6.8.

I don't exercise regularly, try to eat healthy foods but still eat biscuits, cereals with sugar, and snack often in the day.

Should I be concerned because it should be under 5?

Why on earth did you have an cholesterol check? Unless you have high blood pressure or heart disease or a family history of premature heart disease then there is no indication to do a cholesterol check. You're fasting one is fine. Cholesterol is only one risk factor. You have to input cholesterol, high density lipoproteins (that's the good cholesterol), blood pressure, family history's for heart disease, ethnicity, smoking status and any other health problems such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid disease, into a calculator which gives you a risk of developing cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years, if it is over 20% (although NICE want it to be 10%) you would need treatment. The less than 5 is only if you have diabetes or pre existing heart disease or stroke.
Ignore it, unless you have any of the above.

such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid disease, into a calculator which gives you a risk of developing cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years, if it is over 20% (although NICE want it to be 10%) you would need treatment.

that calculator you mention is rubbish because it doesn't include exercise levels or diet.

Well you give advice about that too, but it is better than just a random cholesterol level. And the calculator is used countrywide so it can't be completely rubbish. It would also be very difficult to incorporate diet and excersise into a calculator as they are not reliably measurable.

I don't see how using the calculator countrywide makes it any more reliable!

When it was first launched it came in for a lot of criticism and it's seriously flawed. (I hope you didn't design it )

OP you are very young to have your chol tested unless you have a family history of cadio problems or other medical issues.

Why was it suggested?

The jury is out on cholesterol levels. Some experts think it has no relevance. But in any case, you can reduce your risks by eating healthily which does mean cutting out cakes, biscuits, sugar and taking daily exercise. Your lifestyle and diet sounds as if it needs a good overhaul.

I had my cholesterol measured as part of a "routine" blood test and I'm only in my twenties. My cholesterol was also high, but my good (ldl) cholesterol was high too so the doctor wasn't worried about it on its own. I don't have any of the other high risk factors mentioned (no family history, white British, BP fine, non smoker etc).

I was tested so that we had a baseline before potentially starting treatment for my mental health- which could increase my risk of heart disease.

Perhaps a few healthy lifestyle changes would make you feel more confident about your health in the long run. I know that I now consciously eat more healthy fats, avoid regularly eating processed food and exercise more, because it also helps my other symptoms

Pinkfrocks. It doesn't make it any more reliable, no. And I didn't design it.
Actually it will be interesting to see what happens with cholesterol in the next 20 years. I do despair when I see 80 year olds coming out on statins that make their muscles aches. I often use the calculator to show what happens when you stop smoking. The risks drops dramatically.

Thankyou for your lovely messages. Actually my dad just been diagnosed with high cholesterol so that made me go and get mine checked. His father died under 30 years of age.

He might start statins if he can't lower it naturally. Does anyone have experience with statins? sideeffects etc?