High cholesterol

[Samsond]

Recently had cholesterol level reading of 6.2. it's always been a bit raised but this is the highest it's ever been. Doctor has told me all the usual things to bring it down but I already do most of them.
I am a healthy weight, haven't smoked for 15 years, gave up drinking alcohol a while back (I used to drink a normal amount) don't eat meat, and I exercise quite a lot. Proper gym classes 3 or 4 times a week and walk every day on the school run (although I do have an office job so am quite sedentary during the day).
The only thing I can think is it's genetic. Parent died of a heart attack at 49 and I'm 42 so not far off. I do have PCOS though. Could it be related? It used to be controlled by Metformin but I haven't used that since my kids were born. Should I ask to go back on it? My blood sugar is normal. Or should I try statins? WWYD?
Have an appointment booked for 3 weeks to discuss but want to go in with a bit more understanding. Thank you

High cholesterol can be genetic and inherited, regardless of lifestyle you just can't lower it without help.

With a family history I would speak to your GP. I have chronic hypertension and alongside my blood pressure medications my GP gave me a preventative statin. My cholesterol was 5.2 so around UK average but the statin has lowered it to 3.4, even with my bloody awful diet (I love junk).

Because of my risk of heart attack, stroke and dementia it's worthwhile taking the statin for me, and I've never had any side effects from it (the media seem to think they are evil).

Mine's been high since my 20s. Back then, I cycled everywhere, and I shared a house with one of the hospital dieticians, so they knew my diet wasn't bad.

I've been on statins since my late 40s (now 51, a year younger than my father was when he had a heart attack, though they have tested and said mibe's not genetic.) I've not had any side effects, but my cholesterol results keep the doctor happier.

If there were anything obvious like losing weight or giving up smoking, then that would be ... obvious. But it sounds like all that's covered, so I'd just put it down to being one of those things and take statins.

I'm not sure why but I'm a bit scared of statins. I mean I'm scared of having a heart attack too but there's something about statins that freaks me out. I think I've just sort of picked up on negativity in the press about them.

Some people do get side effects, but there are lots of different ones, so if one type doesn't work for you, another might. And lots of people don't get any side effects at all.

You won't know till you try.

I do understand though. I refused to take them for years, and as I didn't smoke or drink and did exercise, my GP wasn't too concerned. I can't remember why I changed my mind in the end.

I tried reducing mine through diet and exercise, but couldn’t seem to get it down. Given my mother died after a stroke and my father had a triple heart bypass, my GP said I should go on a low dose statin, I’ve now been on the same dose over 10 years and cholesterol level has stayed around the same since.

I recently brought mine down from 6.3 to 5.2 by:
-eating a high fibre diet
-cutting out bread
-cutting out sweets and cutting down on carbs
-losing 4kg
-doubling my daily exercise
-avoiding full fat products.

I was slightly overweight before but not obese, and already fairly active. But obviously that’s just personal experience and might not work in other cases. Mine went down in only 5 weeks (even GP was surprised), I would try diet changes and repeat the test in 2 months. If there’s no improvement, maybe statins are the answer.

Wow @Cinai that's impressive. I think from your list there aren't that many changes I could make really. I could cut out bread and go low carb I guess. But wouldn't low carb increase cholesterol?
My BMI is 21 so I don't think losing weight would help really. And my diet is fairly good. I don't really have sweets (well I have chocolate once or twice a week but that's about it) and I don't have much in the way of saturated fats I don't think. I don't eat meat and I don't like milk / cream / butter or pastry 🤢 so don't eat those. I do eat cheese though and I drink coffee which I've read can be a problem but really only instant coffee. You think there's enough room there for change?

It sounds like you can’t change much…have you tried eating more fibre? I had some nuts every day. But obviously I don’t have any medical knowledge, just talking from personal experience, and all our bodies are different.

My GP also asked whether I had eaten a big breakfast before my blood test that showed high cholesterol as apparently this could impact results? (Their words, I googled it and found conflicting info. I think they were looking for an explanation why my levels dropped so significantly in a short time period). If you really don’t want to go on statins just yet, I’d give it a bit more time, maybe try things you haven’t tried yet if there is annything, and redo the test.

My total cholesterol is 6.5 and my gp said it isn’t a problem. Should I be worried? I’m a healthy weight, non drinking, non smoking, vegetarian who does plenty of exercise too. I took her at her word.

If you've got a genetic link to heart disease then that goes straight to the top of the list when they look at risk factors.
Some people can reduce it with diet, but if it's high then you've got more chance of bringing it down with statins.

Most people take statins with no side effects and there are different levels of dosage as well as various types. They are definitely a good thing.The alarmist reports aren't helpful.

@79andnotout yours does sound high to me. I think it's mean to to be under 5. In fact yours is higher than mine which was flagged as a problem. It may have other factors that make them decide whether it's a cause for concern or not though. Ie I'm 42 and mum died of a heart attack at 49 so maybe that's the difference?

I'm not sure why I'm scared of statins really. I think I'll see if the GP agrees to try Metformin first. It does help to lower cholesterol as part of its actions apparently (although not as much as statins as far as I can tell) but I know I can tolerate it because I used it for a few years in the past. It also has the benefit of improving my PCOS symptoms. No idea if they'll agree with my logic though.
I'm also going to reduce cheese and coffee. I can't pretend I don't resent having to do that though. I see so many other people with a much less healthy lifestyle who don't have to 😡
It's not fair stamps feet

Oh and does anyone know whether weight training or cardio is better for cholesterol reduction? I don't like weight training really so only do it once or (occasionally) twice a week. I'm wondering if I should really be switching 1 cardio session to weights...

Ok thanks I’ll ask her next time I’m in. I’m 44. My parents are still alive in their late 70s so I’m guessing it’s the familial link that has them worried. We’re almost vegan in our household these days so there’s not much room for a diet change.

good luck with the metformin.

Chances are it's genetic. I have it too. You can try eating things proven to reduce cholesterol but the reality is medication may be the only way to go if there are no lifestyle changes you can make. If you have not yet gone through the menopause it isn't as concerning as oestrogen offers some protection against heart disease (I can't remember the ins and outs of how but this is what I was told).

Mine was high 7.2. Both of my parents had high cholesterol as well, my brother also. I take statins, no side effects at all and my cholesterol is now 4.0

My dh discovered he had polygenic cholesterol after he was diagnosed with angina at the age of 45 and was fitted with 3 stents. After 7 years of statins and other medications, he is now having a 6 monthly injection of a something or other inhibitor called Incliceran (sp?) and he has really low cholesterol levels, especially the bad one. It might be worth having a blood rest, I think my dhs was a genetic one, which discovered this.

If the NHS had the funds, all those with high cholesterol despite good lifestyle choices would be given a cardiac CT scan.

I have had high cholesterol all my life despite being a bloody saint in the food, drink and exercise department! I declined statins. Just my choice.

Anyway I was admitted to hospital for a gastric issue and they were concerned about the cholesterol readings. I then developed a rapid heart beat which turned out to be Atrial Fibrillation. (cardiac arrythmia). This is NOT heart disease at all, it is an "electrical" fault in the Atrium. Anyway as part of the workup for the Afib I was given a cardiac calcium check via CT. My score was ZERO, the best it could be. So despite many years of un statined high cholesterol, my arteries were completely clear of plaque, which is what the statins try to achieve. I do not have to have another for ten years. Cardiology are pleased, but said it is not that unusual.

Of course it is every person's choice as to how to treat and approach high cholesterol, but I'm ok with the fact that I refused to take statins, and you can see my result. BTW the Atrial Fibrillation, to repeat - is not caused by cholesterol or any heart disease at all. It can cause problems with heart failure if not treated, so I am taking meds for that. I have no issue with that - just beta blockers, no blood thinners as I had a procedure to stop Afib blood clots. No side effects. My stomach issue is ok too. H Pylori which led to a bleed.

Best of luck everyone. I posted just to reassure many of you, but I know not everyone can have a cardiac CT scan on demand either!

I have had a cardiac CT scan and mine was also clear for my arteries (though I take statins, I don't have high cholesterol but I do have high blood pressure) but both my echocardiogram and CT scan showed I have an aneurysm, so that's fun!

The main benefit of statins is that it can cut your risk of stroke or heart attack by half. If you're already high risk or have a family history then it's worthwhile.

I have a massive Irish family so figuring out health trends can be complicated as there’s always at least one person who has diabetes, heart attacks, cancers, blood clots etc. each of my parents have ten siblings and they all had about five kids (I have five siblings). And no one tells anyone their health issues! And my mother claims to have every illness under the sun (but will live until she’s about 120 we all fear).

think I’ll just keep the comms up with my GP, and take the offer of a ct scan if it’s ever offered.