Health anxiety due to elevated cholesterol and other factors

[User36362537363344]

Trigger warning - death

I’ve been experiencing a lot of health anxiety lately. I’m already on a high dose of sertraline but the health anxiety has been high lately. Sadly a few people have recently died some young, some older but all sad regardless, including a male relative in their 50s recently, suddenly dying of a heart attack but they did have a few contributing factors including an inactive lifestyle, poor diet, type 1 diabetes and a heavy smoker but still terrible of course so sudden. There seems to somewhat of s family history of heart disease but hard to know if its genetic or from lifestyle 🤷‍♀️my mother has high cholesterol and my grandfather had his first heart attack at 50 but lived for nearly another 30 years after that.

there seems to be a lot of younger people passing away recently!

as for me, I am 32 non smoker, non drinker, diet not the best, about 3 stone overweight but lost a stone recently

my son recently had a blood test which showed elevated cholesterol - which is a worry in itself but he’s been referred to the lipid clinic and I was told to get mine checked out and my results were as follows:

Serum cholesterol 7.4
HDL 1.5
non HDL 5.9
Ratio 4.9
Triglycerides 1.7
LDL 5.1

firstly, is this really bad? I have a gp app soon to discuss and the lipid clinic said they will also see me as well as my son. I’m worried about both of us.

I have been having a lot of anxiety about what the doctor will say, will I be judged? I’ve lost a stone but need to lose more. I haven’t really been strict with mr diet lately though. My weakness is chocolate.

Anyone?

Instead of being anxious, why don't you use the opportunity to take control of your health?

Incidentally I started drinking proper coco for the benefits and always surprised to see it controls sugar cravings. It's not the nicest but anything that controls the need for chocolate is a bonus imo.

Could you try the really dark chocolate - 70% +? It’s not Dairy Milk, but much better for you in small amounts (one square is enough for me!)

I intend to but as someone who suffered with anxiety and depression I can’t just stop being anxious.

I have already lost a stone. I just need to get stricter I think.

Thank you. Not really keen on dark chocolate and find it causes bad acid for me but may try it again!

It could also be genetic. I feel like I’ve just been left to it it worry. I get that eating healthier and exercise may help and that has other benefits too but due to losing a relative last week young to a heart attack I’m nervous it is genetic, my anxiety is in overdrive. Admittedly they did have an array of other health issues and a bad lifestyle but I’m so stressed about it.

I am sorry that you are stressed and it’s quite understandable, but it’s not doing you any favours. The doctors will prescribe you medication and will work to solve it. Isn’t it great it’s been spotted! You should be relieved, not anxious.

Depends on what you mean by genetic.
There is a blood test for familial hypercholesterolemia, which is the genetic test. Looking at your results I doubt you have that, but I'm not medically trained.

A lot of the time when people say it's genetic, it's because generally lifestyles are similar in families. So as a family will have a poor lifestyle, they will all have high cholesterol.

My cholesterol is/was higher than that - over 8. I’m very slim, fit, vegan, eat very healthily. I was seen at the lipid clinic but there was nothing to say about lifestyle factors. I now take statins.

Your results are elevated, but you need to look at the whole picture. Your triglycerides are just within target. If you are eating things like white bread or sugar, try to reduce those.

Your HDL should be above 1.2, as that's the good cholesterol. Your results look really good for that.

I think like most people you'd benefit from more exercise, a healthier diet, reducing sugar, but I don't think you have anything sinister to worry about.

Disclaimer- not a doctor, just someone who has researched cholesterol too much!

thanks all. We are having an app at the lipid clinic in the summer at potentially looking at testing for FH 🫣

I am hoping to see if Lifestyle changes will help before our lipid app - not so easy with ds who’s a teen who’s autistic and doesn’t understand 🫣 as his was elevated too and was found on a routine blood test!

I have been eating poorly lately, been under a lot of stress with every day things as well as bereavements etc. eating ceos for convenience! Luckily I haven’t gained any weight for years, in fact I’ve lost a stone likely to stress which isn’t ideal either.

been sorting out my relatives property since he’s passed away as well as funeral arrangements etc, so been living off more take aways than usual the last week or so 🫣

I am going to use nutracheck I think! I’ve used it with success in the past.

thanks. My anxiety is just in overdrive worried about both myself and ds

my OH had borderline high cholesterol but they deemed how low risk as he’s a healthy bmi and no other risk factors and no family history but there is family history with mine and I’m overweight! I’d need to lose about 3 stone to be a healthy bmi, maybe a little more 🫣

My dad has high cholesterol and he takes meds for it. He's really quite fit and has always eaten well, so I guess some people could just get high cholesterol? I'm not an expert so this is me guessing.

My friend's partner has the genetic version. He has always been mega fit and very strict with his diet, and he was pissed off when he was told his cholesterol was sky high. He's fine now though. Think he takes meds and avoids certain foods but is generally not affected that much.