cholesterol

[Lumps]

just been told that my husband’s cholesterol levels are high any suggestions on how to reduce the cholesterol level

[ParrotLover22]

Hi. If your Husband hasn't been prescribed a Statin to take, he could try to cut down fatty foods, eat plenty of fruit and veg, cut down Alchohol if he drinks and No Smoking. I think if you do everything in moderation it doesn't get so boring

[Lumps in reply to ParrotLover22]

thanks for your advice much appreciated

[devonian186 in reply to Lumps]

I think a good question to ask is whether there are any obvious reasons cholesterol might be high? Does you husband have an obviously bad diet? Is he overweight? Does he get exercise? Does he enjoy a drink or two? What is his BMI and more crucially his REAL waist size (not trouser waist size) as it is there that visceral fat will be stored

This information might give you the basis of what to do next.

[Hidden]

There are plenty of ideas for adopting a 'healthy' lifestyle on the BHF webpages. The main points are diet, exercise, reducing alcohol consumption and, if applicable, stopping smoking which also has other benefits. Life style changes will help reduce cholesterol but probably not enough if the readings are really high. And 'cholesterol' has several components not all of which are bad. I suggest your husband seeks a review of the test results with the GP to see if life style changes alone are the solution or whether in addition a statin may be needed.

[Lumps in reply to Hidden]

thanks for sharing this information we will look at changing our lifestyle

[Mentdent]

lifestyle and diet changes have minimal effect. The only way of achieving a significant reduction is statins.

[Lumps in reply to Mentdent]

thanks for your advice much appreciated

[Hidden in reply to Mentdent]

What's 'minimal'? For some people with moderate cholesterol levels adjustments to life style may be all that is needed to achieve a more desirable cholesterol level. If that were not the case statins would be prescribed even more widely than they are at the present time. In my case when I was told I had a cholesterol level in excess of 9 I embarked on a rigorous lifestyle adjustment programme and managed to reduce the level down to 6.5, which is far from a 'minimal' impact, but over the next few months that crept back up as life and my reducing enthusiasm got in the way, and I ended up nearer 8. So I started taking statins and that achieved a reduction to a more acceptable level of about 5 which demonstrates the impact of taking statins as significant as you say. The real problem with life style changes is that it is a 'for life' project and as time passes old habits creep back in as the focus diminishes, and so cholesterol levels creep back up again.

[AlfredV in reply to Mentdent]

I moved my total cholesterol score by 50% with just lifestyle and diet changes, despite being told only a 10-15% move was possible. But then again, this was the same "expert" that told me if I eat less, my stomach would shrink and I'd get less hungry. Utter nonsense, of course!

[TheBoys]

I just cut alcohol out and it went right down within 3 weeks. I still managed loads of chocolate and decent food. Now it’s classed as “good”

My partner has done same and is off statins now.

[Blackknight57]

limiting yourselves to saturated fat per day. Mine also went from

Normal to high very quickly.

[Coxtribe]

Ditto the other comments really regarding diet (notably in relation to saturated fat), exercise, alcohol and smoking. I made some minor adjustments to my diet because it was reasonably heart healthy already but it was the statins that had the most significant impact: my LDL cholesterol halved in less than 4 months, which was something of a surprise!

[JeremiahObadiah]

It is certainly, in my opinion, worth trying to lower Cholesterol by improving the diet and by increasing general fitness and exercise. Eating a plant based wholefood diet , cutting out or down on animal products, choosing less sugary options, reducing alcohol -these things are going to be beneficial to general health and well being. This may reduce his cholesterol sufficiently alone if dietary choices and a sedentary life have been the underlying issues.

It may be that he has a genetic condition that predisposes him to high cholesterol(I do) and he will eventually need statins. But by making lifestyle improvements he may need a lower dose or may not need statins for some years.

In short, I believe it is worth making every effort to eat carefully and be healthy. If, however , statins are needed then the efforts to improve health will still be beneficial in all other aspects of your lives.

[Qualipop]

Statins. There really is no other guaranteed way. Changing diet can help slightly but will never get it right down. Don't listen to adverse comments about statins. If one gives problems there are plenty of others to try.

[Mac-beats]

Statins, low fat diet, particularly saturated fat, lots of fruit and vegetables and whole grain fibre should see a large reduction. Also cutting out/down on booze and cigarettes should help, as should moderate exercise. It takes effort and discipline, good luck!

[Harefieldfan]

Statins are the drug everyone takes to reduce cholesterol. But of course they bring side-effects. Plus the usual -- exercise, eat sensibly (cut out fatty foods, sugar, cake..., lose weight.

[winnabago]

I use Praluent 150mg once a month. It is a shot, quite expensive, but as I can't take statins this really has lowed my cholesterol. I am in the USA.

[Flimflab]

Hi I don't know what advice your GP has given your husband?

For me there is no downside to first trying lifestyle changes to get the cholesterol down, increasing exercise and a better diet. For me this wasn't sufficient, and the levels were still high when I was tested again. My GP then recommended statins.

Personally, it was probably hard on my wife. though. Exercise was fine, but getting me to follow a good diet was, and still is tough. It helped that it was the GP that had told me what I needed to do, my wife had been trying unsuccessfully for 30 years or so to get me to have a better diet.

Best wishes getting your husband to sign up to the program.