Cholesterol testing mid heart attack

[Haylsnewc]

Hi guys,

Wondering if anyone can help me.

I had a heart attack aged 37 after minor surgery. They tested my cholesterol mid heart attack, and found it to be 6.6 which is high. When I saw my Cardiac Nurse after she said that your cholesterol level and reading plummets during a heart attack. Six months on and my brain is finally functioning better and I’m wondering- my blood was taken around four hours after my initial chest pain- would that affect my reading? I keep being told that a genetic issue usually causes a reading over 7, and I’m worried that if it’s missed, they may refuse to test my kids when they get to 18. I have no further appointments with the heart team, only my GP. I don’t really understand why (nor did the heart team).

Would so appreciate any advice, many thanks.

[Gooner045]

I think any boots chemist will do quick cholesterol check for a tenner I think, which if you live in London, is good value considering the rip off hospital parking fees and you get instant result as opposed to waiting for the hospital one. Doing a cholesterol check during a heart attack seems bizarre to me, but I'm not a doctor.

Hope your feeling better now 👍

[Haylsnewc in reply to Gooner045]

Much better thanks! They are trying to establish what’s happening by taking a blood test, high cholesterol is a factor in heart attacks and they also tested for troponin etc. Luckily get my cholesterol tested yearly by the GP now.

[Hidden]

Anyone admitted to emergency/hospital suspected of having a heart event has their blood screened for a range of markers including troponin which if elevated can indicate a heart attack has occurred. I can't imagine cholesterol increasing or dropping during an event - it takes several weeks for a statin to have any impact. In any event, it's the long term cholesterol level that causes plaque to form etc so a spike wouldn't do much. Ive been admitted several times and my cholesterol level as part of the hospital screen has been no different to what it was the week before or the week after.

[Haylsnewc in reply to Hidden]

It’s just what the cardiac nurse said, that they wouldn’t re-test my cholesterol until three months after as it drops during and after the event?! I couldn’t see anything when I tried looking it up, it’s all confusing to me.

Mine was 6.6 which is higher than recommended but I know not massively- but my artery was 75-95% blocked and I needed a stent. Happily now in all the meds and it is 3, and my other arteries were in better condition.

Guess maybe not genetic link. Thanks for the info.

[Hidden in reply to Haylsnewc]

The other things I forgot to mention are that cholesterol (lipid) tests are performed after 8-12 hours fasting as a recent meal can affect the results. Typically, heart patients admitted to emergency haven't been fasting so the cholesterol level could very well look higher and be much lower if tested after fasting a few weeks later. The other thing is that most patients will improve their diet after a heart attack and therefore their cholesterol will be lower after 3 months. The nurse is not wrong in what might be observed but I don't think the cause if the actual heart attack itself. You are doing the right thing by following through on all medical advice to see if there is a problem. I hope you recover well. All the best, Al

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

You have had a heart attack and a really important issue is what is your cholesterol today? Are you on medication like statins, aspirin and BP medication?

As said cholesterol does not suddenly change. People with the hereditary condition, whose name escapes me at the moment, are often in double figures. If you feel concerned discuss it with your GP.

[Rosei in reply to MichaelJH]

Michael, are you thinking Cardiomyopathy?

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Rosei]

No, Familial Hypercholesterolemia as mentioned by Carokai. Levels tend to be higher than mentioned in original post. My issues seem to be caused mainly by an inherited high Lp(a).

[Rosei in reply to MichaelJH]

You have reminded me of a friend who had a cholesterol level of 17.6, she had cholesterol spots on her thighs, the hospital took photos for a medical publication.

[Haylsnewc in reply to MichaelJH]

It’s 3 now I’m on statins. My dad and aunt have over 7 cholesterol despite being fit, eating healthy. But maybe not genetic, thanks for advice.

[Hidden in reply to Rosei]

Hyperlipidemia

[Carokai]

Is the condition you are thinking of Familial hypercholesterolemia

If so there is a lot of information about it on the BHF website including a booklet focussing on it.

I would have thought that your GP would be happy to arrange a blood test for you now.

There is some research going on around this condition at the moment and I have recently been genetically screened to determine whether I actually have the condition or there is some other reason for my very high cholesterol levels.

I was selected for screening and don't think it is widely available, but do hope that the results of the project will improved understanding of the condition and make diagnosis easier in the future.

Hopefully by the time your children get to 18 screening will be easily available.

[Haylsnewc in reply to Carokai]

Thanks for the advice Carokai, really hope you get the information you need, it definitely makes it easier to understand when you know the answers.

[kel55]

I was given the diagnosis in of familial hyperlipademia in 1986 after my father was given 6 months at a level of 13, my uncle has it and l always hovered around 6 to 6.5, mainly via diet.

It was explained to me that l produce too many fat transporting lipids that dont disolve or return to be refilled so they have to go somewhere.

It was also explained that unlike people with just high colesterol build up l control the next 24 hours value now. in other words, if l eat a mars bar or fish and chips my lipids rise but start to fall immeadeately, unlike people with high colestorol who reduce slowly over a long period of time

Now my overal value is just over 3 with an LDL of 3.4 after statins

But heres the funny bit! my arteries are virtually fat free, l do have a bit of atheroma but for a 60yo almost perfect🎉 so where are those fat lipids.....they collect in fat tumours called lipoma's, l've already had a large one removed from my scrotom (size of 3 mars bars) and l have fat lumps in different places, l have a large one on the back of my neck

I supose the thought is to reduce the posibility of them sticking to the atheroma?