Can anyone advise on my cholesterol results?

[HomeHomeInTheRange]

I had a recent O55's health check at m GP, and my cholesterol results came back high.

Bad cholesterol 6.6 (and was told it should be under 5)
Good cholesterol 3.52 (told it should be under 3)

How bad is this? They told me to go back in a year to see if it has improved.

I am 169 Cms tall, 65Kgs, BMI 22.7 (I have quite a big boned frame)

Excercise 3 times a week plus lots of walking.

Eat a pretty healthy diet - no deep fried foods, granola, berries, wholemeal everything, salads with a drizzle of olive oil, loads of veg, cake no more than once a week.

I have added pumpkin seeds and walnuts to my breakfast / snacks, and am trying to cut down on cheese - not that I was eating vast quantities.

I am finding it hard to put the results into perspective - should I be worrying, or not? (not much chance for discussion with the practice nurse who phoned with the results).

Thank you!

That's high. I'm surprised that they didn't put you on statins for that. But your diet sounds good. Do you eat red meat or full fat dairy? Could you cut those down and maybe add foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like fish. You're doing the right thing in adding seeds and walnuts.

Eek, that’s worrying.

I do eat red meat but not often. Lean chicken, lean pork or maybe something with mince once or twice a week. Already eat oily fish about 3 times a fortnight, the rest of the time I eat veggie meals or white fish. I don’t use tons of oil or butter or douse things in rich sauces.

I drink red wine within my weekly units, and coffee.

I think I will talk to the GP about it. I wonder if anything other than diet could cause high cholesterol? I am taking Lansparazole for reflux.

Actually, I think the 6.6 number is overall cholesterol rather than 'bad'.

Not sure if this improves matters

You can't just go on the number. Cholesterol levels are only one in a series of risk factors that you have to put together to get a risk score so you use your cholesterol levels/ total cholesterol to good chol ratio, BP, Smoking, family history of cardiovascular disease under 65, post code even! And whether you are diabetic, have rheumatoid disease have gout...even. Then you get a score...that gives you a risk rating and that is what should be discussed. 6.6 will be your total cholesterol and I think the other one the total to good ratio.

There is no absolute number. For instance if you smoke you'd reduce your risk by much more tackling the smoking rather than the cholesterol.

High cholesterol is quite often genetic so you may need statins if your dietary efforts don't make a difference. Good thing is you know about it now so it can be brought down by diet and if needed, statins.

I agree with @Musicaltheatremum - when I saw the GP, I had full-bloods done and they worked out my risk factor for having a stroke or heart attack in the next 10 years. My risk came back really low and my cholesterol was fine but due to a strong family history, I was put on statins as a precautionary measure. I was 40 at the time.

I would go back to GP and ask for a conversation around your perceived risk.

Hmmm.

I don't smoke, no one in the family has had heart or cardio-vascular issues before the age of 80, parents lived to 90...and counting... No rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes or any other chronic conditions.

Oh, well, I will keep tweaking my diet and see if it makes a difference.

@CornishGem1975 - were there any side effects from being on statins?

Bad cholesterol 6.6 (and was told it should be under 5)
Good cholesterol 3.52 (told it should be under 3)

From your OP I suspect they told you the wrong things. Ring back and ask for a print out and to speak to a GP.

Try here for more information big.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-cholesterol

Generally total cholesterol should be less than 5
Non HDL (bad) less than 4
LDL (bad) less than 3
HDL (good) more than 1.2 for a woman 1.0 for a man

Not that I've noticed @HomeHomeInTheRange I've heard all the horror stories etc but it's like any medication really, there's always a risk of having side effects. I'm also on blood pressure meds too so it would be hard to tell which was causing anything but to be honest, I've not noticed anything.

@gingercat02

Bad cholesterol 6.6 (and was told it should be under 5) Good cholesterol 3.52 (told it should be under 3)

From your OP I suspect they told you the wrong things. Ring back and ask for a print out and to speak to a GP.

Try here for more information big.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-cholesterol

Generally total cholesterol should be less than 5
Non HDL (bad) less than 4
LDL (bad) less than 3
HDL (good) more than 1.2 for a woman 1.0 for a man

*bhf.org.uk not big

Yes, I will speak with the GP.

Thanks all!

I wouldn't go on statins if you are otherwise fit with a healthy bmi. Try diet and lifestyle changes first (loads of tips online). As a pp said it's one of a range of things to calculate risk of cardiovascular disease. If you use this assessment qrisk.org/three/ you'll see on its own with healthy BP and weight your risk will probably not be raised.

I got mine down from 6.5 to 4.5 just by going low fat and walking a bit more.

When you say that you drink within the weekly limits are you near the limit? Try cutting down a bit if so.

If the HDL is high that's a good thing though and your diet sounds super healthy.

I would chat with the GP and look at the ratio of HDL to total cholesterol

Do you eat a lot of eggs. It’s a myth that they don’t contribute to cholesterol.

Those numbers don't sound right. Ask the GP to calculate your Q risk, % risk of cardiovascular disease over the next ten years. Over 10% triggers the chat about statins (on a population level).
The total cholesterol is irrelevant really, it's the balance/ratio of good to bad that matters.

'Ask the GP to calculate your Q risk, % risk of cardiovascular'

I've just posted a link to it, we can do it ourselves.

You can. OP will need to know her lipid ratio though rather than just the figures she quoted.
A ratio of over 4.5 is not good for example, and if it's the LDL that's raised then diet and lifestyle changes will have little effect. That tends to improve the triglycerides.

Please can anyone explain the standard deviation value that you have to enter on the form?
If my systolic BP is always between 100 and 110, what should I enter?
thanks

Oh. I have figured it out.

I have high cholesterol despite having an excellent diet and exercising a lot.

It's indeed genetic, my grandmother, mum and daughter all have high cholesterol despite all being slim.

My score is excellent though. No family history of stroke or HA, I don't drink at all, never smoked, excellent blood pressure, good diet and very active so the gp is not worried and no discussion of being put on statins, I'm just being monitored.

It's funny I've found this thread as I've just had a phone call from my practice nurse saying that the GP has recommended I start statins as my cholesterol is too high at 6.4. She said my good cholesterol is good though at 2.4. I declined and said I would like to switch up my diet and make sure I exercise first and they are going to re-check in 6 months 😬

If your good cholesterol is high then of course it will push up the overall cholesterol 6.4. That number on its own is meaningless. Again, the ratio of good to bed is what matters.

I was determined not to go on statins, I was told (may not be true) that GPs get paid for every patient they can get onto satins.
Mine was at 9. Very high.
Doctor told me that I should take 3 months to get it down by changing to a mediterranean diet.
Three months later it was down to 6.5. She said she was happy with the improvement, no follow up needed.