Help - cholesterol panic

[SunnyC41]

Hi guys, can anyone offer some input?

45 year old female. Don't drink or smoke. I'm around a stone overweight and my chocolate addiction means that my diet really isn't great.
Just found out my cholesterol is 6.9
HDL is 1.4
LDL is 4.9
(Not sure about triglycerides yet)

History of heart disease on both my parents' sides.

What do I do? Less fat? Less sugar? Fewer eggs?

I'm panicking and filled with more than a little self-loathing (regretting all that chocolate now).

Thanks in advance.

Because it’s NOT the level of your total cholesterol that is the problem. It’s the inflammation and sugar intake. This is what makes your arteries damaged. It’s not the amount of cholesterol swimming in them. There’s nothing wrong with high cholesterol per se. Statins rot the brain.

Well it’s what my GP said. And cutting down on SF fixed my cholesterol.

Op mine was 8 its down under 6 now. Im on statins. Ive bad sweet tooth. The saturated fats the worst she said. Im trying make better changes its hard. I cut back the crisps also

There is definitely a genetic element for some people
I recently was diagnosed as having high cholesterol which I was shocked about
I don’t drink or smoke, eat healthily , i am not overweight ( size 10) I exercise daily and lift weights four times a week.
Gp said it was genetic

Had my appointment, guys. Because my cholesterol is under 8, they won't test me for the family history gene. Worryingly, my cholesterol was last tested in 2013 and it was 6.6 then (I had no idea). It's bad enough thst it's 6.9 now, but to think it was 6.6 when I was only 32! Triglycerides are 1.3. Ratio is 4.9. I know they're busy but I felt rushed and as though she couldn't wait to get off the phone. They'll test again in six months. If it's still high, she said they'll recommend statins. I could cry 😞

@SunnyC41 join the high cholesterol uk group on Facebook if you can. You'll see a lot of advice and inspiring stories on there. Plus you'll see how many others are in the same situation and have decreased their levels with or without statins. Don't be despondent, you can sort this.

Please get a referral or speak to a cardiologist about this. You’ve had a LOT of recommendations for books and YouTube “ specialists”. One person even claimed that GPs are paid to prescribe statins which is simply not true. All yiu will find on YT are grifters, liars and conspiracy nuts.

What medical training have you?

None!

It is ridiculously irresponsible to post lies which some might believe and act upon.

This 💯

SO much dangerous nonsense being written here. I can’t believe that someone would ask u qualified people for medical advice and, even worse, possible act on it. Truly awful!

@Specialneedsnightmare Thanks for the recommendation. Will join. And thanks for the encouragement, too.

Diagnosed with FH in my 20's and was told they would keep an eye on things. Never had another test for 25 years until I had a blood test for something else. Tried a couple of statins which didn't agree with me. Found one that did and agreed to take half their recommended dose. Been on them for 12 years now and always test at 3.3. No brain rot, muscle wastage, liver problems and am nowhere near pre-diabetic.

Thanks @Fgfgfg Shocking that you had to wait that long for a test. Glad you found one thst works for you. And good to know that a lower dose can work well too.

Bollocks.

Peddling medical misinformation is DANGEROUS and stupid. Where did you get your medical degree?

There is information here: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/ask-the-expert/fat-or-sugar which isn't really revolutionary, basically says that eating too much sugar is not good for you for all sorts of health reasons, not just cholesterol. But we know that - the news that sugar adds loads of calories and rots your teeth is nothing new. Or that it's a healthier choice to go for the wholemeal bread than the refined white stuff.

But the idea that you can pack your diet with lard, red meat and cheese and you'll be fine and dandy as long as you don't eat sugar or carbs is just dangerous nonsense.

This is a good site for medically backed, scientific information. https://www.heartuk.org.uk/cholesterol/overview.

On the Benecol things - I take one a day (usually mixed with oats for breakfast) and the GP said that it is probably minimally beneficial. Again, you can't carry on eating all sorts and the Benecol will sort it is not true. Also agree that the own brand ones are just as good as branded (I like the Tesco peach ones).

Why are you so scared of statins, @SunnyC41 ? They are safe and effective, one a day, and a recent study showed that they have far fewer side effects than previously thought. https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/behind-the-headlines/statin-side-effects

Thanks, will check out the website you suggest. I just don't want to be on any medication, ideally - but I realise I might have to be. I'll do my very best for six months and see what the numbers say. I'm annoyed at myself for not being more careful, but also unsure why they didn't mention 13 years ago that my cholesterol was so high. Anyway, can only do my best. Bought some supermarket own-brand Benecol - can't hurt to try.

What is the DASH diet please?!

@SunnyC41 what exercise are you doing?

Lots of interesting and helpful posts on this thread. I’ve had crazy high cholesterol levels since my 20s. I’ve always been told by doctors that in my case it’s genetic and there’s nothing I can really do about it. Lots of heart attacks and heart problems in the family, notwithstanding slim frames and healthy active lifestyles.

@Onionsalad I was a keen runner for a long time and ran a half marathon but have fallen away from it and now do very little. I was thinking of getting back into running via couch to 5k because I know I need to do regular exercise.
@SnackQueen sorry to hear that. Have they offered you statins, or regular testing? Agreed- so much good advice here.

Any exercise is better than non. I do weights and walk.

Don't get sucked in by the anti-statin mob @SunnyC41 . Your health is important. Read this book of you want to, but bear in mind that the online anti-statin world is full of misinformation

Maybe statins win be right for you, maybe a change of diet will be enough. But please get your information from reliable sources, and talk with your doctor about the options.

I was similarly annoyed. At every health check I mentioned that both my mother and maternal grandfather had massive disabling strokes. My concerns were batted away.

But it turns out that my doctors had known about my high cholesterol levels for a very long time, but had never told me. I remain really angry, and worried sick about the damage that might already have been done.

I can't remember how I discovered this, which will probably not go down that well, but I'm sure I heard someone tell me most doctors choose to take statins themselves, at the least reason.

Lose the weight and eat more plants. Move more.
Eggs are fine.

It is always a good idea to follow a healthy diet and take more exercise and it makes sense to test again after you have had a period trying that and can see if it has made a difference. If not then please don't be against trying statins if your GP recommends them. I know so many people on them and no, we don't have brain rot as suggested by a previous poster.

I eat cheese and have skimmed cows milk, its still possible to have those things without high cholestoral. I have porridge two times a week and rest of that time I have shreddies cereal. I also use olive oil when doing a stir fry because that is a good fat. I had an excellent reading on my cholestrol results this year; HDL 4.8 and LDL 2.3