High cholesterol

[Daftsheep]

Hi. I've been diagnosed with high cholesterol after a couple of blood tests and have a follow up appointment next week. I'm late 40s. Dr was keen to put me on statins immediately but I said I want to discuss things first. Dr thinks it's genetic as I'm not overweight and have family members who also have high cholesterol but no history of heart attack or strokes in the family. DM is on statins. I'm being referred to the lipids department to investigate further, no appointment yet.

Since I was informed I have done a bit of reading and have started eating more fibre and cut down saturated fats. While I wasn't eating loads of junk food previously I enjoyed cheese and chocolate and didn't think about it. I like vegetables but could probably have more and don't exercise much apart from walking.

Anyway I think the dr is going to recommend I take statins. I've not done any reading on them yet but have heard they can have unpleasant side effects and you're supposed to take them for the rest of your life once you start.

Is there a particular type/brand that is better than others and doesn't give nasty side effects? Or a particular type I should stay away from? Thanks.

I avoided statins for ages then went o atorvasyatin - no side affects at all

Thank you, will look into that.

What you need is Red Rice Yeast. You can buy it otc in Boots or any pharmacy. A good brand is Bio-Active. It’s a natural remedy originating from Japan and it really does work at lowering cholesterol. A lot of UK based GP’s recommend it now instead of statins or for people who are not suited to statins for various reasons. Are you in the UK? Wherever you are in the world I’m sure you can buy it or order it online!

Can’t edit post but that was meant to say originating from China not Japan!

Hi op mine was high 8. Down to under 6 now with statins. He prob keep me on them now. I feel ok. I felt jaded for while but my vit D was very low.

Red rice yeast is essentially a statin - it contains the same drug but is not as well controlled as a statin as it’s not medically produced. If you’re going to take that, it’s probably safer to take the statin.

Red yeast rice contains several compounds that can lower cholesterol, primarily monacolin K, which is chemically identical to the active ingredient in the prescription statin drug lovastatin. It also includes other monacolins, sterols, isoflavones, and monounsaturated fatty acids. Some products may contain a harmful byproduct called citrinin, a toxin that can cause kidney failure.

I’m basically you- high LDL likely genetic as I’m normal BMI, healthy lifestyle etc.

I was conflicted on taking a statin because a) didn’t like the idea of being on long term medication with possible side effect at age 42 b) no family history of heart disease and from what I read my type of high cholesterol in the absence of a family history may not be that high risk c) DH giving me lots of random (largely social media based) info on how high LDL cholesterol is actually linked with longevity and statins are big pharma shite etc etc

in the end I did start a statin along with upping my fibre intake. My rationale- high LDL is an independent risk factor for heart disease so why even have that risk on the table? Also I’m not aiming for my LDL to be on the floor low, just normal limits will be fine and presumably still allow me whatever function LDL fulfils. Finally, having been on the statin for several months now I’ve had zero side effects.

Good luck with the decision- it is tricky and social media seems dead set against statins so not easy to go against this but do your own research and ask the doctor plenty of questions if needed.

The knee jerk reaction to not wanting to take statins is unreasonable.

Your cholesterol is high and it increases the risk of you having a stroke or heart attack. Statins reduce the risk considerably. If it is familial high cholesterol then lifestyle changes won't reduce the risk.

There are lots of different statins, and if one doesn't suit you then you go back to the GP and they change it.

DH was put on statins after a silent stroke and will be on them for the rest of his life. He has also had open heart surgery. He is thin, eats very healthily and walks a lot, but still needs statins. He doesn't get any side effects.

If you have a stroke or heart attack then you will be given statins anyway.

What is your reading ?

They don’t like you being over 5. I was 4.9 and managed to reduce it to 3.9 in 8 weeks. I almost totally cut out red meat and cheese and eat porridge 6 days out of 7. I also upped my fibre loads and my intake was already quite good. Some people could have a perfect cholestral lowering diet and because it’s genetic it still wouldn’t work but you can try it. I have just had another blood test so hoping it’s stayed down.

My understanding is that if they think it’s genetic then statins are considered quicker.

My doctor was more than happy for me to wait and make some diet changes as my high cholesterol was likely caused by a medication I was on for six months. My cholesterol has gone from 7.8 to 5.7 and will hopefully keep dropping. However they checked my family history and implied if they thought a genetic cause they would go straight to recommending statins. I beleive it’s about having your risk of a cardiac incident within 10 years under 10%. My score was 2.2 which was why they were happy to wait.

You haven’t given your numbers. They will impact what doctor believes is right for you.

@LiverpoolSnoopy my risk factor is under 10% now, I will be monitored.

Thanks you everyone's comments and advice. My initial result was 7.5 I think then it was 8.1 at the last test. I'd reduced cheese/chocolate but had some pork belly 4 days before so not sure if that's affected anything. Now taking cholesterol lowering drinks, porridge etc. Got psyllium husks to try. And checking saturates on labels before buying things so I'm hopefully not ingesting too much.

You could try introducing plant sterols as a supplement.

I can’t find it on the Boots site. Could you please provide a link?

Exercise will also help lower cholesterol, in your 40s you should really be doing more than just walking for many reasons anyway (easier said than done I know!)

The doctors may not recommend statins if your Q risk is not high. I have high cholesterol (hovers between 5 and 7) and yet my Q risk is low for various reasons - I have high HDL but not LDL; I’m not overweight; have low blood pressure; no family cardio history; I don’t smoke. I have not been told to take statins.

Be especially careful if you have any increased risk of diabetes as there is some evidence that statins can increase the chance of developing type 2 diabetes. I have PCOS and had GD in pregnancy so am more at risk of diabetes, this worries me a lot more than my cholesterol. I won’t be taking statins for this reason.

I’m not anti statins per se but it needs to be case by case.

I could definitely use more exercise I did yoga before but that probably doesn't have much impact on this kind of thing. I've never enjoyed the gym or classes, I get out of breath quickly and hate being all sweaty. But yes need to do something.

I did that Q risk? thing online, had to guesstimate my weight as scales broken but was 3.something. Have never smoked and rarely drink alcohol. Thanks for the advice I will do some reading so I can discuss things with the dr.