QRISK2

[foxglove]

I am 80 years old and on the report of my annual health check says (Qrisk2) 10 year risk score for cardiovascular disease is 37.5% My cholesterol is high so i think this is the reason, I don't want to take statin - whet else is helpful? I really wonder if it matters much at my age anyway All other results good and I feel well!

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! Lifestyle changes can lead to a reduction in cholesterol levels but obviously there are limits. How high is high?

[foxglove in reply to MichaelJH]

I think this is the one! HDL ratio;- 5.4. Will give you others if you want. None marked as "out of range" but told to arrange telephone follow up, done and was only asked to start on a statin

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to foxglove]

Your ratio indicates a higher risk of heart disease. It would be useful to see the total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and Triglycerides.

I would ask you to bear in mind I am not a medical professional so my views are based on my personal experience and knowledge, and should not override your medical team.

[foxglove in reply to MichaelJH]

Hi Serum Cholesterol :- 5.4mmolL

Serum triglycerides :-1.9 (<2.00mmol/L)

!Serum HDL cholesterol level :-1 (>1.20mmol/L)

Total cholesterol HDL ratio:- 5.4 ratio

Serum LDL cholesterol level :- 3.5 mmol/L

This is as printed, hope you understand. I'm not bothered that you're not med. professional, I'm just interested in your opinion

p.s. my serum lipids much more alarming in the past and for a time statins were the good boys . Then opinion changed and more caution applied to statins ....appears they're back in favour again

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to foxglove]

Sorry for the delay in replying but have been somewhat tied up!

Your total cholesterol is not horrendous but not ideal. For people with no issues the target is 5 or below. For those with heart disease, diabetes and other risk factors it goes to 4 or below.

The Total cholesterol/HDL ratio causes concern though. If the HDL goes up the LDL tends (but not guaranteed) to go down. HDL can be improved somewhat by lifestyle such as exercise (although other factors, such as arthritis, may limit this); maintaining a healthy weight; a healthy diet that includes fish (particularly oily variaties), chicken (not skin) and plenty of vegetables; and not smoking. Strangely alcohol in moderation seems to help although if you don't drink I would not advise taking it up. Red wine appears to one of the best health wise. My cardiolgist recommends not drinking more than the guidelines and enjoying it by going for quality.

You mentioned statins. These have been given a bad name much of which is unfounded. The best ones for lowering cholesterol and improving HDL appear to be Simvastatin and Rosuvastatin. Side effects are less with Rosuvastatin.

[foxglove in reply to MichaelJH]

Thanks for reply, decided NO STATINS till I can get a convincing reason for taking Will TRY eating better and good news about he alcohol. Roll on the red wine.

Cheers

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to foxglove]

Usually I would not recommend plant sterols but if you are not taking statins it could be worth trying Benecol - when I tried they reduced cholesterol by 17%. 1000mg SR Vitamin C daily is also worthwhile as it reduces inflammation often a precursor to plaque formation. If you recall your school days they gave lime juice to sailors to prevent scurvy a disease of the blood vessels. All the best...

[foxglove in reply to MichaelJH]

Thanks I have a friend (older than I - well a bit!) whose an enthusiastic benecol fan .Got to be careful of vit. C (the runs) but perhaps SR not so bad and maybe try 500mg to start. Didn't know scurvy was a disease od blood vessels!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to foxglove]

The SR version is absorbed better and creates less acidity (Vitamin C being ascorbic acid).

[foxglove in reply to MichaelJH]

Thanks Will try!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to foxglove]

I use the Vitabiotics one. For the 500mg version it is about £4.50 for 60.

[foxglove in reply to MichaelJH]

Thanks will order ....and fingers crossed it works

[foxglove in reply to MichaelJH]

i have order Vitabionics iron vit. c and folic acid tabs. I am a bit anaemic and think this will sit me best meantime Vit. C is 80 mg and this will do to see how I tolerate Tabs. sustained release

[Neekey in reply to foxglove]

My advice is go straight onto statin as they advise, just try it for 12 months. I take 80mg with no side effects and with good eating habits, exercise you should see ldl reduce and your hdl increase. Your triglycerides are ok. Keep your weight in check and keep off cheese lol.

[foxglove in reply to Neekey]

Thanks for your opinion, I have taken so many meds. on trial (esp. as I aged!) and honestly was much better without. Meantime def. no statin but will TRY to improve eating habits!!!

[foxglove in reply to MichaelJH]

Forgot to say that I've had heart failure, successfully treated by TAVI procedure

[Bagrat]

I may be missing something but a 10 year risk of 37.5% sounds like a yearly risk of 3.75%. I bet if this was my chance of winning the lottery I wouldn't.

If it is worrying you, by all means if you will feel better for doing it, take the excellent advice already offered.

If it will just make your life miserable or difficult the choice is yours.

[foxglove in reply to Bagrat]

Never thought of yearly risk thought 37.5 was for each year. Taking the less worrying route ...NO STATINS!

[Qualipop]

I don't know why you're reluctant to try statins. They have bad press but honestly are fine as long as you get onethat suits you. My first one , atorvastatin didn't suit me. I was changed to simvastatin and have no effects from it at all. Give it a try for about 6 months. If you get problems, get it swapped. Why you say "at your age" I don't know. You could easily have anotehr 20 years. I just lost a very good friend at 91 and my mother in law at 99. My chollesterol was around the same as yours when i had a heart attack last year. It's now 2.7.

[foxglove in reply to Qualipop]

Thanks for reply and I'm glad you found a statin that suited. Not sure that I want another 20 years!!! For this and worry ...NO STATINS!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Qualipop]

I swapped Simvastatin for Atorvastatin as I got some muscle aches mainly in shoulders. But then we are all different.

[foxglove in reply to MichaelJH]

I think it's the muscle aches thing that is main deterrent...have enough of those already!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Qualipop]

I think the problem is the ongoing social media campaign against statins. There have been reports that there may be up to 50% non-compliance. A trial was reported in the BMJ where the rate of people reporting muscle aches with a placebo was similar to those actually taking a statin. It is a strange world sometimes!

[Qualipop in reply to MichaelJH]

I agree; it's the same with children's vaccinations; these campaigns seem to take off like a rocket. So stupid. What's right for one isn't right for another. If you have heart problems then statins are helpful. If you don't, then it's debatable. There was a piece in the Mail just today saying they do nothing for those who don't have heart problems. Maybe not but I've had a heart attack and if the cardiologists thinks statins are needed then that's fine with me as long as i can tolerate them. At one point vaping was recommended as better than smoking and a way to quit. Now vaping is supposed to cause cancer and lung problems and would appear to have killed one or two people in the USA. Who knows the truth? What you hear against it is driven by the tobacco companies, what you hear for statins could well be driven by the drug companies. You don't know who to believe.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Qualipop]

But the average age of people having a bypass has gone up by a decade since their introduction! I personally do not trust or read the Daily Fail but they did do a good article on MVA recently...

[Qualipop in reply to MichaelJH]

Yes I posted that article. If you pick carefully, the medical information is generally pretty good but not the scandal type reporting. Pinch of salt!

[foxglove in reply to Qualipop]

I think a lot is down to the drug companies and drs. (if they want to stay in employment0 generally take the line of least resistance and comply like copycats! Hopefully there are sill some !who follow own belief...."rebels"?

[foxglove in reply to MichaelJH]

But who then knows which muscle ache is which?

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to foxglove]

Well I am alot younger I am in my 50's

My Cardiology Prof said very clearly I need to take statins.

1. To reduce inflammation

2. Prevent any narrowing of my coronary arteries

3. Reduce my chance of having a stroke

4. Stabilise any plaque that could break off and block a blood vessel and cause a heart attack

I live with a form of angina that is very difficult to treat so I already live with chronic and acute pain episodes.

However I will reassess everything if I actually make it to 80!

[foxglove in reply to Milkfairy]

I am not against statins in obviously needy cases as yours I am sympathetic to your pain (yes really) but believe me it is not necessarily desirable to reach 80, tough if you so wish (be careful....) so be it

p.s there is a power I THINK and I'm not religious which decides when is the time and it will happen in spite of learned profs. Good luck to reach 80 and pass on what pearls of wisdom you have gleaned. Try not to take everything seriously

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to foxglove]

Yes I agree life is to be lived with joy and laughter.

Though I do fancy holding at least one grandchild in my arms before I depart this world 😊

[foxglove in reply to Milkfairy]

If grand child (children ) your wish have a whole bundle to bring Joy and laughter!!!

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi foxglove,

Quality of life is very important. The only person who can make a judgement about your quality of life is of course you.

However there are other risk factors for heart disease other than cholesterol blood levels.

Some we can control such as keeping physically active, not smoking, eating varied a diet rich in fruit and veg, and not drinking too much alcohol.

There is one risk factor which none of us can control, ageing. Greater the age greater the risk of heart and other diseases occurring.

[foxglove in reply to Milkfairy]

Ah yes!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Milkfairy]

Where did the last forty years go? ☹️