JoJoDimm

Hi, I have been diagnosed borderline high cholesterol. My diet and lifestyle is extremely healthy and I had no idea there was a problem. My doctor has prescribed a low dose statin, I don’t know how I feel about them. Any advice.

[Happyrosie]

statins have been in the news lately since research has found, statistically , that taking statins very much reduces the likelihood of heart attack/stroke.

Continuing with a healthy diet and lifestyle will help, and there’s much information on the website of Heart UK.

[dogtrainer1971 in reply to Happyrosie]

It’s likely that, despite your lifestyle, genetics are a factor in your high cholesterol.

Good to be proactive and take the statins. Most are well tolerated by most people. If it’s not for you, you can ask the doctor to switch to an alternate. However it’s highly likely you will be absolutely fine and this is a positive step for you.

Do you frequently do any high intensity exercise?

Whilst I eat healthy, am active I have high cholesterol. I’ve started swimming and cut out most of the saturated fat from my diet.

I don’t like having to take a tablet but genetics are highly significant for me with my father and his both suffering major cardiac arrests in their forties.

[Hidden in reply to dogtrainer1971]

Dear dogtrainer1971, than you for your reassuring reply, it’s good to get answers from people that are in a similar situation to myself. I do not do do any high impact training, my joints will not function to that any longer, I just do weight training and Pilates. Like you I do not eat saturated fats and I am now conscious of what I am eating.

[Hidden in reply to Happyrosie]

Dear Happyroise

I did Google search Heart UK and I read information that the doctor sent to me. After speaking to yourself and another subscriber, my feelings about taking statins have changed and I will try them. It’s good to share a concern with other people who are in similar situations.

[Aopl]

Did you by any chance have your test as part of the big NHS Our Future Health survey? I signed up, went for the medical which included a cholesterol check on that little machine and it came back at 9.65. Went to see my GP and I have just had a fasting test. I’ve never been above 5.5. The GP receptionist had also had a similar reading (in the same place I went to) and a further proper test gave her 5.3. If mine comes back with a lower result I shall go to the mobile clinic and tell them their machine(s) need checking.

[Hidden in reply to Aopl]

Hi Aopl, I have an under active thyroid gland and I was having a routine blood test to check my thyroxine level, whilst doing this test, they obviously thought I was due, serum lipid, full blood count and liver function, this is how I knew there was an abnormal serum lipid. My doctor called to say that this had been increasing for a little while and it needed to be addressed.

[Aopl]

Ah, quite different to myself then. I wish you all the very best 😘

[EMBoy]

Hi,

Is your thyroxine level OK? I too am hypothyroid and know from my own experience that low thyroxine levels can increase blood lipids and cholesterol. Have a word with your GP and you may find that a slight increase in your levothyroxine sorts out your cholesterol.

Several years ago, when my hypothyroidism was first diagnosed, my cholesterol was high, so my GP wanted to give me statins. I refused, and after several weeks of levothyroxine treatment, my cholesterol started to come down, and was normal again within 3 months.

[Hidden in reply to EMBoy]

Hi EMBoy, yes my thyroxine level was normal. I did actually wonder if it was anything to do with that.

[boldold]

I am also in my 70's, always been very healthy, yoga, walk loads etc. But also always had over 6 cholesterol, (genetics!) and high lipids. Sothis year had to have scan and echostress test. Got put on atorvastatin 40mg, but suffered night sweats, so was reduced to 20, (I've never needed meds all my life!) I do hate meds, but now I am also on a beta-blocker! and also now just diagnosed pre-diabetic! Funny how things can change in a year, but I am just grateful that the meds are around to help me not worry about my heart, and keep on going.

[Hidden in reply to boldold]

Thank you for your post, the posts that I have received have been very encouraging and helpful. It’s always good to hear of other people’s experiences and worries and what they are going through. It took a while to decide whether or not I wanted to take them, but I don’t think I could have got my cholesterol down any further doing it in my own. So it really was a no-brainier for me.