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.

Mine was up to 8.1 at one point - now down to 4.7 and a ratio of 2.6 . I do take statins ( am 64) but only take 2 a week - this for me along with a diet change( more porridge , Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, berries and less pasta, bread , anything sweet) has been enough to change it- I also lost 2 and a half stone and whilst still overweight it’s the difference between 15 and a half stone and 12 stone 12. taking statins every day gave me weak feeling legs but 2 sometimes 3 a week has helped keep my levels low without that side effect - doctor says it’s fine and clearly is what works for me.

Hi Crikey,

Did you decide to reduce dose or did GP? I have similar levels to you and I’ve been prescribed 40mg once a day. I’m wondering why my prescription is so much higher.

@SeaGlassDreamer after 3 months taking it every day ( and getting weak legs) I checked various reputable sources online that stated for some people intermittent dosing worked almost aswell and lessened side effects as unlike something like say beta blockers you don’t have to wean off gradually - I then mentioned it to my GP and she said it was fine to do this and booked me in for a test at 3 months - my levels were right down to now ok and have remained so at every test.

Cheaper still: buy sterol supplements . This is similar
to the active ingredient in Benecol.

https://deliveroo.co.uk/item/f5825a37-d472-4b7c-8135-ed7d4eb3155b?merchant_id=263031&utm_term=&utm_campaign=%2A%2A%5EAcquisition%5EShopping%5EGifting%5EUK%5E%5E%5E%5E%5EEN%5ELifecycle%5E%C2%A323337681838&utm_loc=9044981&utm_device=m&utm_adposition=&utm_network=x&utm_targetid=&gclsrc=aw.ds&=&region_id=gfsgeylegnqwiljxha2wiljugy3dkljzgftdiljxga3teyrvg42gmmzvgn2tcmdigyzgento&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_term=&utm_campaign=%2A%2A%5EAcquisition%5EShopping%5EGifting%5EUK%5E%5E%5E%5E%5EEN%5ELifecycle%5E%C2%A323337681838&utm_loc=9044981&utm_device=m&utm_adposition=&utm_network=x&utm_targetid=&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23932560650&gbraid=0AAAAADgqrWUD_PMZgbSvyRagkNtTpyINW&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrs7RBhDuARIsAIVfBD0pUdeq3mF273bgZXr6-yvkK5RVaNH5AuuPHB1Bs2D2gvNNjpgByGkaAmJJEALw_wcB

What is the DASH diet?

Thanks guys. Really appreciate the advice. Any tips about tasty meals? I'm thinking of making vegetable chilli with a baked potato tonight. I take my mum out for lunch every weekend and am now thinking 'What'll I actually be able to eat??'

I have heard this too. It’s certainly true of the cardiologists I know. Statins are safe and highly effective in preventing strokes and heart attacks: there’s robust scientific evidence. Proper, scientific, peer assessed studies also show that starting them earlier has an even better long term protective effect. I never understand why people panic about relatively safe and life-saving medications, whilst carrying on with proven life-endangering habits like sunbathing, drinking alcohol, eating processed food etc etc.

I eat a lot of chicken (remove the skin before eating) and fish. Salmon is particularly good. You can do whatever you like to those main protein sources to make them tasty, as long as it doesn't involve adding butter/pastry etc.

I’m on statins and they have reduced my cholesterol back to a healthy range. No side effects.

I eat relatively healthy anyway - veg, no read meat etc but do not avoid eggs and dairy, I’m a little fatter due to menopause and an injury meaning I couldn’t do much exercise for a while.

grandfather was a very fit man who had a double bypass and a massive heart attack that killed him at 74, my dad had a quad bypass at 70, my healthy mum had a silent heart attack in her 60’s - not a lot I can do without medication to stop the inherited stuff and I’m glad it’s an option!

Have you considered plant stenols/sterols? They can help lower cholesterol and you can take them in capsule form and also i think some products (yoghurt?) Have them. My GO recently recommended to me to lower my cholesterol which wasn't super high but was trending up.
Worth a shot. I bought my capsules on Amazon, don't know the results yet as has only been a month

There are a range of different statins so 40mg of one might have the same effect as 20mg of another one. I found one that worked for me and agreed to take half the dose. GP recently suggested I try a newer one but couldn't really tell me why so I said I'd stick with the one I'm on and he was ok with that. I've found it can be a bit of a negotiation with doctors as to what you take and how much.

It's really, really hard to make a difference with diet.
DH tried for a year, very low fat diet (and was miserable), it made zero difference.
He's had no problems with statins and his cholesterol is fine now.

I was advised to take them because although my cholesterol levels were fine my qrisk was high.
Again no problems. I take 10mg which was enough to half an already low cholesterol level.
I take a lot of drugs because of multiple health conditions, I can honestly say the statins are the least troublesome.

Yes, I have, and it was a big surprise to me that it was genetic. There is no history of heart disease on my side of the family. In contrast, my DH has a lot on his side. All of our sons have it, which is why I was tested I haven't spoken to the doc yet, but have been told it isn't urgent, so they have given me a July appointment.

It can be difficult to reduce sugar consumption. One way is to change your tastes. Gradually eat more bitter and sour foods while slowly reducing sugar including darker chocolate. Read Jessie Inchaupe the Glucose Goddess.

Agree about dark chocolate. Lindt is a nice brand if you're a chocoholic. I'm having a square of it each day and it helps curb cravings.

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all the info/advice/tips. I started this thread unsure if anyone would reply and I've learned so much and been so encouraged. Day 5 of eating well and am slowly getting a little used to it. I'm maybe being a little extreme- I'm being REALLY healthy and it probably isn't sustainable but I just want to do my best.

Mine was over 9, and is now 4. I’m now on statins. I’m slim, vegan and very fit.

I would check your ApoB levels which indicate your risk better than a crude LDL check. It’s the level of APoB increase plaque formation. Read the official government information from the USA-we are far behind. It’s not routinely offered on the NHS but it’s not crazy expensive. But statins have a lot of history that they are safe and help prevent premature deaths so not sure about the reluctance to take them.

@SunnyC41 it might also be worth asking your GP to test your lipoprotein (A) level too, particularly if you have a family history of coronary heart disease before the age of 60, as your level is entirely determined by your genetics. It’s basically similar to LDL cholesterol but is ‘stickier’ which means high levels of lipoprotein increases your risk of plaque build up in your arteries which could lead to a blood clot, developing cardiovascular disease (heart attack or stroke) or a heart condition called calcific aortic valve stenosis.

Mine was checked by my Lipid Consultant as part of my initial panel of bloods in 2023 and was 78, which falls in the range of a slightly increased risk (32 to 90nmol/L). Probably a minor factor in me being put on statins, but when considered alongside my higher cholesterol levels at the time and the diagnosis of FH, will have been a consideration.

And well done on the new healthy diet!

My cardiologist told me if it is that high then you can’t manage it by diet alone and you will make yourself miserable trying. I went on 20mg Statins and it came down a lot but not enough so I’m now on 40mg and due for blood tests to see the effect of that.
I hate medication with a passion but I would hate being incapacitated by heart disease even more so I made the decision to go on the statins. I had an cardio CT scan beforehand which showed mild furring on the arteries and that was why the cardiologist said it was sensible to go on the statins to prevent further damage.

@Wasthatwrong sounds like a really sensible decision. I'll do the same in six months if I can't lower it enough. Good idea re: the CT scan.

This doesn't sound too bad!

FWIW, I take atorvastatin. I had nearly all the side effects on the leaflet for the first month - headaches, nose bleeds, blurred vision, feeling wobbly - but noticed a definite reduction in severity after the first fortnight. They'd all tailed off by the second month.

My GP isn't keen on continuous use, but my cholesterol goes up again after stopping the meds. I dislike having to slog past the side effects after re-starting, so I'm staying on it now.

That’s interesting. Did your GP say why they are not keen on continuous use?

Didn't discuss, @Wasthatwrong. I'm on a lengthening list of regular medications; neither of us are keen on adding to it because it all puts a strain on the liver. Statins are very widely used, though, and appear to be keeping an ageing population healthy.