I went to have my eyes tested and the optician told me to see the doctor and have my cholesterol checked. I was really surprised that you could tell from an eye sight check. Anyway, it’s come back at 6.1 up from 5.3 last year. I’m not really that surprised it’s gone up as I’ve not been particularly careful with my diet during lockdown. I’ve certainly put on 6lbs.
I don’t eat any meat and haven’t done so for about 8 years now. I never eat cakes , biscuits , sweets etc. The thing that’s changed during lockdown is that I tend to have a banana or tuna sandwich at lunchtime everyday. Before I’d prob have soup or fruit. I hardly drink , maybe 2 or 3 glasses of wine a week.
Generally I think I have a good healthy diet so I’m surprised my cholesterol is high. I’d rather attempt to sort this myself rather than automatically start taking tablets. Going to have another test in Oct. but the doctor then started talking about a chart they use to assess risk. I’m apparently now at 10 and it increases every year automatically with age. So I’m going to have to cut my cholesterol significantly to keep below 10 as I get older. I’m now 67 . Any advice would be so appreciated
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Churchcottage
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It’s a bit of a shock isn’t it? When your level of risk is in front of you?I resisted going on the BP pills when my risk score rose. I thought I had a good veggie diet, exercised and didn’t smoke or drink, but I was a stone overweight, and had a bad family history. The GP recommend BP pills.
I resisted, thinking I could do what was required, by myself. I was quite successful, but still ended up having three heart attacks a few months later.
How much exercise do you get? My cholesterol rose over the winter, when I was not exercising getting out much. It seems to have gone down a bit now the weather is better, and I can walk more. Next test this Thursday, anyway, so fingers crossed. I really don't want to take statins.
I have an ad for a BHF cholesterol reduction scheme on this page - I don't know how useful it is if you already have a good diet. Perhaps someone has tried it?
I don’t get as much exercise as usual. I play golf and of course they’ve been closed a lot due to COVID. I also used to do Pilates but of course that’s not happening now either. I’m not very good at doing it at home or indeed motivating myself to just go for a walk. But this has been a big wake up call for me ..so I’m going to get myself moving now.
There are lots of good exercise sites on utube. I think it’s just as important as a healthy diet. If you can get out for a mile or two of fairly fast walking per day is so good
Hi I used to work for a cardiologist and he told me the best thing to lower cholesterol was to move as he put it - together with a decent diet. I took his advice and it worked for me - good luck
Just wonder why you would not consider a low dose statin os 10 or 20mg. I started taking when I was 70 (now 77) and my Chol has stayed below optimal level since then.
Read Dr Carolyn Deans book The Magnesium Miracle she talks about magnesium and how it helps dissolve the calcium in your arteries and about cholesterol. It could be helpful and give you some insight . Just a thought as I’m not a Dr just a well read patient 😊
Always worth adjusting diet and exercise as a first go round. However statins work with a huge amount of evidence as to their efficacy and safety. The retina is a brilliant early warning device for a range of illnesses. A huge proportion of the population get regular tests and now Moorfields are using AI as a diagnostic tool.
Unfortunately high cholesterol is not all about diet. My sisters cholesterol was always over 7 , her GP was telling she was eating the wrong things. Over 2years and becoming manic about any kind of fat. Went down to 7 stone ! and still her Gp was blaming her diet. Eventually another GP started her on a statin, within 4weeks her level was below 5. There is only so much you can do by changing your diet. There are some people who inherit hyperlipidemia , diet will make no difference, it needs medication.
Hi, You certainly seem to be doing all the rights things and perhaps a little more exercise and weight management is what is needed rather than automatically reaching for the statins, which may have potential side effects. In my opinion the doctors are sometimes too eager to prescribe statins! I managed to get my cholesterol down to 4.2 but recently has crept up to 5.6 after I believe too little exercise over the winter! I will be resisting going on the statins and will be upping my exercise.
I would like to investigate more what diet is good for lowering cholesterol ?
I agree about docs being keen on prescribing statins and I am averse to taking them. My cholesterol level was 6 in November on being diagnosed with stable angina. It is now 2.9 after cutting out alcohol and incorporating more fruit and veg in my diet, substituting dried apricots, dates, prunes or nuts instead of crisps or biscuits. I allow myself one meal with home made chips per week. I usually walk between 2 and 4 miles a day or if the weather is bad use my exercise bike for half an hour.
I agree...its not necessarily how much you eat,it's more a case of what it is you're eating and how often....there are so many foods that are good for you but some are usually only good for you in moderation.theres also a good long list of food that will help to reduce cholesterol levels.
That is really impressive. I hope I’m successful. I’m sure that statins are fantastic if all else fails. But like you I worry over the over prescribing. I feel I need to take ownership of the problem and do my best to correct it. I will obviously go on statins if it doesn’t work. But it won’t be for lack of trying. I’m pretty determined
I too wish I had been advised to take statins to lower cholesterol. I was such a health freak, gym 4 times a week, swimming, cycling, walking dogs every day 3 miles! I am 73, not overweight, no history of heart problems. I had a healthy diet, no smoking, couple of drinks a week.
This didn't prevent me having a HA last August + 2 Stents EF <35%. Having ICD fitted tomorrow.
Hi I had a similar reading to you but I have had every statin in the book and can not tolerate them due to sever muscle cramps. Doc said to try benecol shots. Just like yoghurt taste but has plant stenols , which have helped bring it down slowly, maybe not as fast as drugs but going on right direction. Worth a try.
I use the Lidl version of cholesterol lowering drink - it’s much cheaper. I have also cut down on meat portions and although I make my own beef burgers I now substitute butter beans for some of the mince I used previously. Also works with chick peas. Using lots more legumes and these really bulk out food.Once a week chicken and fish. Home made soups and healthy carrot cake, flapjacks and rice pudding. Once a month home baked cakes made with olive spread and reduced sugar. I also started drinking pomegranate juice once a day and take an Omega 3 capsule once a day with an apple cider vinegar tablet and Viramin D as I can’t get my usual winter sun due to lockdown.
My wife and I have a list of menus - about 100 and we plan the following weeks menu at the weekend. A treat is 3 pieces of dark chocolate or handful of pitted apricots or fruit and nuts.
6 weeks ago I was active ,had a healthy diet and thought my bp and cholesterol was ok . On going to A &E following pains in chest and arms I discovered high bp and cholesterol of 7.8 ,I was shocked and now under investigation for unstable angina . I was reluctant to take medication but realise statins and other medication is important to prevent a heart attack or stroke as my risk has increased . Dr told me hereditary factors feature hugely despite exercising and healthy diet ,so follow advice from GP and I would say if you need statins it will help to keep you healthy
I’m going to adjust my diet and eat more of the cholesterol reducing foods. I need to do a lot of research on this I think. Also I’m committed to walking 5 times a week at a fast pace as I’ve read this will help. I know that although I’ve only put on 6lbs over lockdown it wouldn’t do me any harm to lose a stone. So I’m going to put my all into this . I will give it the six months the doctor suggested but I will certainly go on statins if my cholesterol hasn’t reduced significantly by then.
Just wondering if any body has used any supplements to help. I’ve read about plant sterols? You buy as a supplement rather than in things like Benecol etc
That sounds like a good plan. I am going to do the same after my latest cholesterol blood test which have yet to be discussed with the doctor. Not looking forward to the discussion as my doctors are hard over on prescribing statins. I too will be doing a lot more research as I have cut down drastically on high saturated fat food, including no crisps, minimal chocolate and cakes, no ice-cream etc. However perhaps I now need to watch my sugar intake (particularly jam in no fat yogurt) and my copious oranges (too much sugar perhaps?). Will need to do the research. Please keep in touch with how you get on.
I've used benecol for years, exercised, lost weight. I'm a vegetarian also. It's never made much difference to my cholesterol levels. On finding out my CHADs risk is nearly 30% I have now taken my GPs advice and started statins.
Sorry to hear that Churchcottage. Has anyone checked your liver? My mother is a vegetarian and had a massive heart attack, lucky to be alive. We were told that her liver was producing too much cholesterol. She now takes lipitor about 2 or 3 times a week and is much better.
Your eye doctor can tell if you have high blood pressure and cholesterol. Sometimes people with high cholesterol have a blue or yellow ring around their cornea. They can also tell if you're about to have a stroke, diabetes, blood-skin & tissue cancer, MS, thyroid disease, Lupus, RA, Lyme disease, STD'S and brain tumors. It's really amazing and so important to routinely see an opthalmologist.
I hope you get to the bottom of this soon so you can move on with life. Good luck and stay safe. 😊
Please google Professor Tim Spector and the word tuna. The article in The New Scientist will explain what was happening to him when he ate tuna sandwich and banana for lunch as he thought it was healthy. He was actually having huge sugar and fat surges. His book the diet myth is very interesting and he is involved in nutrition research.
Sometimes diet and exercise isn't enough. My family has a history of high cholesterol and heart attacks. I thought I was doing enough to protect myself with diet and exercise but had a silent heart attack 18 months ago. Statins not only reduce your cholesterol they stabilise what is already in your arteries making it less likely to crack and lead to a heart attack. They get too much bad press making people reluctant to take them when they can help save your life.
Like you i was stunned by my high cholesterol level last December but was determined not to take any tablets & give myself 3 months to lower the levels. I'm pleased to say i got my results back today & i'm thrilled that making changes to my diet ( which i didn't think was bad before) has done the trick. My exercise didn't need any tweaking as i run or walk everyday as well as swimming when i can & strength training. If i were you i would increase your exercise. Is your tuna in oil? If so try natural & eat more fruit & vegetables. Good luck!
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Scared and in shock!
Feeling a bit frightened
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I’m back with this heart fear crap… I hate it
