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Original poster

Cardiologist said can’t reduce cholesterol much through lifestyle changes

105 replies

DannyDyersBalloon · 26/04/2025 22:18

Has anyone managed to significantly reduce their cholesterol levels through lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise? My cardiologist has said that there is no point making yourself miserable by trying as it isn’t possible.

OP posts:
Badbadbunny · 27/04/2025 16:51

OH got his high cholesterol down by just being more active and being more aware of his eating habits. His GP wanted him on statins, but he wanted to try lifestyle changes first - that was 20+ years ago and his cholesterol is still within normal levels.

Just listening to an experienced GP on the radio this afternoon going on about the importance of lifestyle etc., and he was saying that even in 4 or 5 years of medical school, the average University provides only 5 hours of nutrition advice, some don't provide anything at all, and the "best" only provides 15 hours - over 4/5 years!

I don't think that medical professionals are particularly well trained/educated to advise on lifestyles! I'm sure lots pick something up along the way but maybe lots don't.

RampantIvy · 27/04/2025 17:48

Augustus40 · 27/04/2025 15:52

The medical profession overprescribes statins.

According to many you tubers statins do very little to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Listen to Dr Suneel Dhand and many others.

PharmaNord likes profits and the public is very easy to convince.

I would rather seek medical advice from a qualified doctor than a YouTuber.

BitOutOfPractice · 27/04/2025 18:59

ShockedandStunnedRepeatedly · 27/04/2025 15:11

Surely that would mean almost everyone has this genetic thing that means changes to diet and exercise won’t help…? Seems hard to believe.

Show quote history

It’s really hard to make a massive change though diet (though that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try) but there’s really easy medical solution to help, so why wouldn’t you?

I speak as a reasonably fit 57 year old who is hugely resistant to taking medication. I’ve not been prescribed it but wouldn’t hesitate to take it if I was.

ShockedandStunnedRepeatedly · 27/04/2025 19:34

BitOutOfPractice · 27/04/2025 18:59

It’s really hard to make a massive change though diet (though that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try) but there’s really easy medical solution to help, so why wouldn’t you?

I speak as a reasonably fit 57 year old who is hugely resistant to taking medication. I’ve not been prescribed it but wouldn’t hesitate to take it if I was.

Show quote history

I suppose it’s the “everyone should“ attitude that I really don’t like. If everyone in a society is having to take something to get back to a normal baseline the it suggests to me that something has gone badly wrong with our lifestyles and we should think about that before blindly popping pills. But it sounds as though you’re not of that mind as you’ve said you’d take it if prescribed - I agree, and so would I, but only if I felt it was being prescribed to meet individual needs and not as a shortcut to save having to do proper screening or whatever or to cover up failures by the food industry.

RampantIvy · 27/04/2025 19:45

Augustus40 · 27/04/2025 14:54

I managed to lower my cholesterol by diet alone. The doctor is wrong.

Not necessarily. Some people can lower theirs with lifestyle changes, but those with FHC can't. They need to take statins.

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