Cholesterol so high it's off the scale - help!

[WTFs]

So I'm a 50 year old menopausal woman. I've just had a range of bloods taken as a general health check, and they have come back that my overall cholesterol is so high it's off the scale GP has said it's so high it must be genetic rather than dietary. She wants me to go on statins asap. Is that the only answer? How much at risk am I at the mo? Also, if it's genetic do I need to get my children checked?? Im a bit shocked!

Do you know what it is? My dad has familial hypercholesterolemia which I think is what your GP is hinting about. His was also off the scale and he's been on statins ever since and is fine. Just appears to be one of those things.

I don't know how the genes work but I think we had 50/50 chance of getting it

Please don’t panic. Statins generally work very well. If it’s genetic that’s all you can do - although exercise and diet can always help to some extent but not so much if it’s genetic. My 17 year old daughter has high cholesterol- it comes from her dads side where they all have it. Hers is 15. Because of her age they’re not giving her statins at present but she has regular blood tests and is under an endocrinologist. She had the genetic blood test and it came back positive for the gene. Her dad and Grandad both have it and are the fittest and healthiest people I’ve ever met...! Grandad is nearly 80 and takes statins, walks 3 miles a day and cuts everyone’s grass!

Something else to consider if you don’t take it already - HRT. Low oestrogen can elevate cholesterol levels and contribute to heart disease. Google the Newson Health clinic and have a look at all their free myth busting stuff on HRT.

I'm 42 and mine was 9 a while ago- down to 7 now after losing some weight. Doc thinks familial hypercholesteronaemia.

I wouldn't go on statins immediately. If you have no other risk factor, then is high cholesterol on its own immediately threatening?

@Bagelsandbrie

Please don’t panic. Statins generally work very well. If it’s genetic that’s all you can do - although exercise and diet can always help to some extent but not so much if it’s genetic. My 17 year old daughter has high cholesterol- it comes from her dads side where they all have it. Hers is 15. Because of her age they’re not giving her statins at present but she has regular blood tests and is under an endocrinologist. She had the genetic blood test and it came back positive for the gene. Her dad and Grandad both have it and are the fittest and healthiest people I’ve ever met...! Grandad is nearly 80 and takes statins, walks 3 miles a day and cuts everyone’s grass!

Sounds like my mum. They've been telling her for decades she has high cholesterol and offering medications for that, but she doesn't smoke, doesn't drink, she's not on the pill obviously, she's not on any other medication, not overweight, eats well, walks far.........

It’s really not straight forward. Statins and cholesterol are massively debated....see here

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4513492/

And this book goes through the facts about cholesterol and it’s relationship to illness

Great Cholesterol Myth, Revised and Expanded: Why Lowering Your Cholesterol Won't Prevent Heart Disease--and the Statin-Free Plan that Will - National Bestseller [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1592339336/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_3JTAE41Q6S4GJMTGN97?tag=mumsnetforu03-21X]]

My opinion on the research is that statins and cholesterol have been a big big mistake

Thanks for the replies, it's given me a focus for doing some of my own research - I didn't even know it was called familial hypercholesterolemia!
hamsterarse thanks for the links, I will be having a good read. Bagelsandbrie Thanks, I am on HRT so that's good. But do need to lose weight!