Can there be a hidden cause for high cholesterol ?

[cholesterol]

My GP is constantly telling me I need to lower my cholesterol and make lifestyle changes as it’s been creeping up for a couple of years . They don’t seem to believe me when I tell them my lifestyle / diet isn’t the issue !

Can anyone tell me if there’s ever a hidden cause for high cholesterol? I’m slim, eat healthily, exercise. Don’t smoke drink etc . I’ve been having the cholesterol lowering spread and yogurts but no luck so far. Is there something I’m missing ? Can’t face my next appt being the same as they treat me like I’m lying !!!!

There is so much conflicting information about cholesterol levels out there that it's easy to be worried and baffled at the same time.

At 68 I have had high cholesterol for many years now. I do nothing about it and I will refuse to take statins if they are offered. I had a cardiac calcium scan that shows zero calcium build up in the arteries (leads to plaque deemed to be caused by high LDL cholesterol.) I have had every cardiac test you could name except angiogram as I have Atrial Fib. All clear. Not one person on the cardiac team mentioned my cholesterol levels at all.

My GP is only interested in the ratio and triglycerides AFAIS. Those are well within range, low in fact. Like others I'm not overweight, walk at least 5k every day, and avoid the cakes as much as the next person!

I was reading recently that the brain needs cholesterol and reducing it hugely can increase the possibility of dementia/alzheimers. Well now, I didn't look for peer reviews or research statistics, but that was enough for me. I need my brain and my memory thanks.

I think it's all a con myself. Big Pharma.

I had my first over-50s health check last year (at the age of 63!). I'm a healthy weight, exercise regularly (5k running and cycling) and all my results were fine except for my cholesterol score at 6.2. As everything else was fine, my GP surgery wasn't unduly concerned.

I have recently read the book "The Great Cholesterol Con" by Dr Malcolm Kendrick which suggests that the current cholesterol obsession is misguided and driven by the pharmaceutical industry. An interesting read, whether or not you agree with his conclusions.

It’s a low fat Greek yogurt but I might just cut it out in case. I don’t really use oil for cooking at all as they all set off my IBS. On pasta i have tinned chopped tomatoes and herbs often just have it plain . I tend to have more white pasta and about 25% of the time Wholemeal pasta so maybe I’ll switch to just Wholemeal

Have they done any other kind of testing or investigation? How’s your kidney function?
My DHs high cholesterol is linked to kidney issues. Think his medication also has an impact.

Have you tried a food diary and showing them asking specifically what you should cut out? Because its really easy to say "make changes" change WHAT? And ask to be put on the waiting list to see a dietician if they cant give you any answer

Fibre, esp soluble fibre, helps as it binds some of the cholesterol excreted via bile and takes it out of your system.

It is worth looking at different types of fibre to see what and how you can tolerate them.

If it's genetic I don't believe you can get it down with diet, you need medication.

Write down every single thing you eat for a week, and take it with you next time you see the GP and they say you need to make dietary changes. Hand it to them and say: "Change what, exactly?".

Do you have any other risk factors for cardiovascular disease? It’s thought that people rarely reduce their cholesterol by more than about 10% with diet. But looking at your HDL (good cholesterol), you are getting enough good fats, so your ratio isn’t likely to be very high. Do you know what your triglycerides are?

Sorry forgot to add that you are unlikely to be prescribed statins unless you have other risk factors.

If your QRISK is low they wouldn't treat you anyway. My cholesterol is higher than yours (tends to go up with age) but they won't go anything as my QRISK is low.

Honestly OP you don’t need to cut out the Greek yogurt, your diet is very healthy and mostly low fat. I don’t think you need any changes to your diet but you’re going to make any change it would be to add fibre. Most of us don’t get enough even with a healthy diet.

Some contraceptive pills raise cholesterol. I have just been prescribed a lower dose one. Have been on Jasmine for decades, total cholesterol 6.3. No ratio given (not UK).

Didn’t know that! Just googled the pill I’ve been on for years (Dianette, for PCOS related acne) and it is apparently known to increase cholesterol. In fact it says it shouldn’t be prescribed to people with pre existing high cholesterol. Bunch of GPs must have missed that as I’ve had high cholesterol forever.

I actually came off the pill for unrelated reasons last week so will be interesting to see what happens to my cholesterol.

My cholesterol is about 7.6. My ratios are OKish. I eat pretty clean with plenty of pulses, everything wholemeal, fish and white meat, etc.

My Q3 risk is low. Healthy blood pressure, no family history of heart disease, no diabetes.

My mother has high cholesterol. She's 89.

I am not doing anything about it.

This

I am the same! Have IBS and do best on chicken, rice, avocado, coconut yogurt, nuts and eggs. Listening to podcasts I thought I was doing the best thing for my body as I really struggle to digest carbs comfortably. Was quite shocked when my doctor said they were concerned about my cholesterol, I weight less than 9 stone. I really don’t get it

I am the same, have had 5 different medical people say to change lifestyle or diet but when I explain what I do (walk everywhere, swim 3 times a week, eat loads of veg & pulses, eat no dairy/eggs/red meat) they don’t have any answers. It isn’t genetic for me. I think women are more prone to being in this situation so of course presumably there is little research ?

You say your cholesterol is 5.6. That is not 'high'. They like it to be below 5, and you're very close to that. They are obliged to give you lifestyle advice, but you are already doing all the right things.

My cholesterol was a bit higher than yours when I was tested last year, but I refused the offer of statins and my GP agreed as I don't have other risk factors. They offered me 'lifestyle' advice but I am already doing it all anyway.

some ethnic backgrounds are prone to high cholesterol, My Indian mum is super thin, veggie but has had high cholesterol for years. My results high and now on statins and they asked me to cut out meat (which never formed a huge part of my food intake anyway).

Statins have been super affective.

Your liver is responsible for making 80% of your cholesterol, so only 20% is life style. So genetics are a big factor.

The only time my cholesterol greatly reduced was after following a keto diet, not including meat only fish as I don't eat meat. Interestingly my deranged liver function also returned to normal in a week whilst doing keto. I put this down to the fact that ketosis is using your body fat as fuel. I'm not a dietician but this was my experience. Also a cholesterol of 5.6 isn't worryingly high. Big Pharma guide the ranges been driving them down for years, obviously the lower the ideal cholesterol target range the more statins they sell. Ching ching for them.

My parent had zero risk and had it checked yearly and was fine. Gym goer and physical worker very active and only 60. One day they felt unwell and sores started opening on their skin.

It was during covid so was told repeatedly it was covid related even though negative. They were dead a week later and pm showed it was cholesterol leaking out of their skin.

My Dr was shocked and looked into it further and its most likely genetic causing severe atherosclerosis and heart failure

I'm being monitored but so far fine. But then so were they until they weren't so I'll be following for any advice

I've been investigating high cholesterol since mine shot up in the last couple of years, despite being on a statin. No family history & have had levels done for almost 30 years for a cardiac condition. I came off the statin due to side effects and am now on ezetimibe which isn't doing much for my numbers. I've taken a more aggressive low fat approach to my diet, which wasn't bad before, and have added psillium twice a day. Also attempting to lose a few pounds (BMI 23) and will ask to have bloodwork redone before I look into the injectables. Fingers crossed. I did come across research looking into dyslipidaemia post Covid infection, which is a possibility for me.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9822273/#:~:text=The%20authors%20found%20increased%20LDL,had%20a%20positive%20COVID%20test.

I have high cholesterol due to a medication I'm on. I eat healthily and exercise and refuse to buy in to the marketing of those gross processed spreads and yoghurts. It is what it is

Just had to revive this thread . I have just had a health check and told that I have high cholesterol and have to make changes which has pissed be off because I am strict about my health . I don’t know what changes I am supposed to make
I exercise six days a week , don’t smoke or drink , I eat very healthily ( high protein, ) am 5ft 6 and usually size 10/12 but at the moment I am size 10 .
The nurse didn’t even suggest that there could be a genetic disposition