Should I push my GP for Statins?

[Deedee37]

I’m 40, recent blood test showed cholesterol 6.2 overall and the LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol is at 3.8. I’m pretty sure it’s genetic, my dad is on statins for 20+ years because nothing else would help.
My GP advised a lifestyle change but I feel I’m already doing most of what’s suggested - I don’t smoke, I have up alcohol 4 months ago, I exercise about 1.5 hours for 5-6 days per week and I don’t eat fried food. My only ‘sin’ is that I eat sweets. I’m slightly overweight but not by much. I’m on medication for an under active thyroid which contributes to the high cholesterol and overweight.

I’d be ok with giving up sweets if it helps and to lose a few kg, but not sure if it would make a significant difference…other than that, I don’t think that there’s anything I can do better. What also concerns me is that my levels rose significantly during the past 12 months (were in range back then) and if anything, I’m more healthy now than I was because I gave up alcohol since then.

Not sure if I should push GP for statins or keep trying to lower cholesterol without medication?

Mostly because at the time I wasn't probably taking it as seriously as I should have but have made good changes now to keep my levels down.

Really not that simple.

The only thing with bad fats that I eat regularly is cheese and I have reduced my intake of yellow cheeses. It's difficult for me to give it up completely as a lacto-ovo vegetarian who has basically based my life around cheese.

I also find it very difficult to give up chocolate and don't much like bananas.

When I used to use MyFitnessPal it often showed me not getting enough sodium, despite not being a healthy eater so I'm not sure I really need to cut down.

I love cheese too and cheesy things. I've often thought I could live on cheese and tomatoes! I eat it nearly every day with no problem and it is very nutritious. You can't give up everything and shouldn't need to.

Chocolate and the like needs to be seriously cut down. I used to eat it fairly often years ago but have found in recent years that I've gone off it, I suppose that's a good thing. I don't have a sweet tooth but if I fancied something sweet occasionally, I would have it. My mother used to say, "A little of what you fancy does you good". and I agree with that.

Bananas are not the only things full of potassium so don't worry about them if you don't like them. I wouldn't eat something I didn't like. This from a reputable site gives a list of potassium-filled food and there must be some things on it that you like:
https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-rich-in-potassium

Good luck and I hope you continue well.

Put your information into here - statins advised if you get a number over 10%. From what you've said, I doubt you'll be over 10%.

https://qrisk.org/

Gwen, I may have mentioned this before but natural plant sterols and milk thistle are good supplements to take for helping to keep cholesterol at the right levels.

I wouldn't make health decisions base on a contrarian carnivore YouTuber .
Listen to your doctor, and make those lifestyle changes.
In addition to sweets, try the diet that had same results as statins when put to the test in a clinical trial. The Portfolio diet.
You can read a short version here https://ccs.ca/app/uploads/2020/11/Portfolio_Diet_Scroll_editable_eng.pdf

That looks good, Payakan, thanks for posting it.

Only read the OP, sorry.

I don’t know how long your GP has been practising but the really important thing has been worked out to be the good/bad cholesterol ratio. I also have very high cholesterol but this is familial, also I have anorexia, also my ratio is excellent. You don’t really want to be starting on statins without a very detailed talk about it. I’m not saying just don’t but really get into the weeds with the GP because statins themselves have side effects and cholesterol is more of an indicator of the possibility of disease than a bad thing per se.