Cholesterol - great podcast

[Melleray]

Thank you to all who replied to my recent question about statins. I cam across this today quite by accident and it clearly explains all about cholesterol and statins. Well worth a listen. bbc.co.uk/programmes/articl...

[Maxbar]

really good clear and informative .👍

[DWizza]

I listened to it a few weeks ago and thought it was lacking some important comments from the experts . I don’t recall any information regarding the levels/stats for cholesterol needed if in secondary assistance (medication/statins). That the the figures to be achieved need to be lower than someone not on medication. Happy to be corrected if I missed it 🤦🏼.

[Melleray in reply to DWizza]

Not quite sure what you mean - I don't think they mentioned any numbers, as I guess everyone is different, but the meaning I took from it was that you could only expect 10% improvement from diet, which is probably not enough if your GP has advised your levels need lowering. , this compared with the 35 -40 % improvement expected if using statins. If taking statins then diet should also be improved even if it is not the main method for lowering levels. I suppose a lot depends on your starting point.

[DWizza in reply to Melleray]

The doctors were talking specifically about statins too but failed to mention the stats required if you are in secondary assistance , they referred to normal readings but didn’t differentiate between what people think are normal readings and what is required if on secondary assistance. So aiming for below 5 for overall cholesterol for instance isn’t the target if you are on a statin following a cardiac event.

I just think that it should have been mentioned.

RECOMMENDED TARGET LEVELS FOR THOSE WHO’VE HAD A CARDIOVASCULAR EVENT

TOTAL CHOLESTEROL Lower than 4.0 mmol/L

NON-HDL CHOLESTEROL Lower than 2.5 mmol/L

LDL CHOLESTEROL Lower than 1.8mmol/L

[Henry20 in reply to DWizza]

DWizza

Thanks for giving these figures, I've wondered for a long time what the levels of LDL/HDL should be. (Perhaps I just didn't look hard enough!). My doctors and consultants have never mentioned them, they've just looked at the grand total.

Henry

[DWizza in reply to Henry20]

I had it confirmed by the online BHF nurses, they also sent the links to the info in the BHF website

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo....

[Melleray in reply to DWizza]

Yes, thank you for explaining the difference in readings and the breakdown of figures.

[DWizza in reply to Melleray]

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo....

Here’s the link to BHF info , I had it confirmed through online chat with BHF nurses and my GP that our levels post cardiac event are lower .

Did the podcast also mr ruin that statins stabilise plaque ?

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to DWizza]

I wonder as the programme was discussing cholesterol levels in the general population rather than those who have had a cardiac event this was the reason this information was not discussed in full.

There is a resistance amongst some people who have not had a cardiac event to take statins.

Even people who have had cardiac events don't wish to take secondary prevention medication especially statins or beta blockers.

[DWizza in reply to Milkfairy]

Yeah I get that but the audience was never going to be solely people without a cardiac event .. hence it’s in this forum 👍🏻

[Melleray in reply to Milkfairy]

Yes - I think you are right. This programme was aimed at those who need to lower their cholesterol, but have not had other events. Perhaps they should have made that clearer at the beginning.

[Smitty1956 in reply to DWizza]

Hi, DWizza,

Your information on recommended target levels for cholesterol was very helpful.

I live in the U.S. and our results are not given in mmol/L. Instead, they are reported in mg/dL. I have tried to convert my data to mmol/L so that I can make meaningful comparisons with the data that you provided.

It looks like the target level of <4.0 mmol/L for Total Cholesterol converts to 154.66 mg/dL. My total cholesterol in March 4, 2024 was 126 mg/dL. My level looks fairly good if my conversion data is correct.

The target level of <2.5 mmol/L for Non-HDL should convert to 96.66 mg/dL. My level in March 2024 was 77 mg/dL.

The target level of <1.8 mmol/L should convert to 69.6 mg/dL. My level in March 2024 was 61 mg/dL.

Overall, I believe that my cholesterol levels have greatly improved since I began taking Atorvastatin in March 2022, following my HA. For me, taking a statin has been a help at least in terms of cholesterol.

In comparison, in March 2022, two weeks prior to my HA, my total cholesterol was 200 mg/dL. In March 2024, it had lowered to 126 mg/dL.

In 2022, my LDL was 119 mg/dL; it was 61 mg/dL in 2024.

I should add that I have also worked on dietary changes over the last two years in addition to taking 40 mg of Atorvastatin daily.

[DWizza in reply to Smitty1956]

Sounds like you are on point Smitty, I thought my readings were exceptional on artovastatin until it was explained that they were normal as expected on secondary assistance 🤦🏼🤣🤣

[Smitty1956 in reply to DWizza]

Well, “normal” can sometimes sound really good to me! 😊👍

Your information was helpful for me. Thanks again! 🙏