Cholesterol levels

[kipper1958]

Hi to you all, my total cholesterol is 6.2, and because my HDL is 2.5 times better than my LDL my doctors have no concerns and statins have never been mentioned. However, if they were l would change my lifestyle before l would take statins. No one has mentioned the difference in any of the posts l have read, only their total cholesterol reading.

[Lowerfield_no_more]

The current NHS recommended cholesterol levels are here

nhs.uk/conditions/high-chol...

In passing, as far as I am aware, it is unusual for someone with an elevated total cholesterol to have an HDL ('good' cholesterol) significantly more than LDL ('bad' cholesterol) as you have reported, the reverse usually applies.

Anyway at 6.2 you are clearly above the recommended max of 5. If you believe that is important, you could implement lifestyle measures, diet, exercise etc to lower it if you believe there is significant 'room for improvement', although if you do that, as soon as you reduce your efforts or stop, things return to your natural levels.

Otherwise you could trial a low dose statin to see what that does. Provided you can tolerate them, not only will the lipids be better managed , but any arterial plaque will be stabilised. In my view provided you can tolerate them the risks of taking statins are far outweighed by the reduction in heart health risk.

Finally I assume you have some underlying heart health issue or you would not be posting on here, for if you have, as I understand it, the current NHS recommendation is that everyone who has underlying heart health issues should be prescribed statins

[kipper1958 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Hi,thank you for your reply,no l do not have any underlying heart health issues my partner had myocarditis in 2018 and is living with the legacy that it has left behind,that is we look on this siteMy overall health check give me a 7% score,my doctors tell me that anything under 10% does not need attention.

[Happyrosie]

People with slightly elevated cholesterol should, in any case, be advised to tweak their diet to see if it helps. A friend of mine did so and brought his total cholesterol down from 6 to 5 in three months

[L8Again]

As others have said, it is not just your cholesterol level that matters. Last year, my wife had a total cholesterol level of 5.9: nothing was said. This year she has reached the age of 75 and has an incidental finding of occasional paroxysmal AF. Despite the fact that her total cholesterol level has fallen to 5.1, her GP has recommended statins because of her increased QRisk3 heart score.

The latest European and US studies on statin use appear to have recommended high dose statins for patients with heart conditions irrespective of underlying cholesterol levels. The research also suggests that the full preventative benefits may not be realised for some years after starting statins.

NICE Guidance June 2024

[kipper1958 in reply to L8Again]

Hi,thank you for your reply,my NHS health score result was 7% so my doctors see no reason to take any further action.Yes it is unusual for my HDL ratio to my LDL to be what it is,my doctors are not concered.

[Poppy451]

I have heard statins can cause brain fog and increase the likelyhood of getting alzheimers.

[Hidden in reply to Poppy451]

I've heard a man in a red suit comes down your chimney and deliveries presents for being good. Don't believe everything you hear, medication effects us all in different ways. If you are taking something that you feel is effecting you. Talk to a professional. Take care. ❤

[Ewloe]

you keep saying you’re doctors have no concerns. I’m presuming you do? Otherwise why post on a site for heart issues if you don’t have any?

As already said 6.2 is raised. And was it a fasting sample that gave this result. It’s so unusual that if it was me I’d want more than one fasting test to confirm the result. Sometimes doctors should be concerned when they’re not but regardless of that it’s not that doctors life with a cholesterol level of 6.2 and the majority of people on here would at least make dietary and lifestyle changes. I don’t know if you’ll find the answer you seek. Good luck

[honeybubs]

I don’t understand my cholesterol and what is happening but when diagnosed with heart failure end of 2022 was put on Atorvastatin but my cholesterol tests were always good and normal as I eat healthy. When I saw my cardiologist I told him about a muscle pain in my arm which I still have when I move it in certain ways. He said to have a statin holiday for a month which I did and didn’t take them for 2 months as he also said it’s my choice if I carry on with them as my cholesterol readings are all within normal limits. The cholesterol test I had after 2 months and my readings were all over the place and not looking good and the muscle pain is still happening so I chose to go back on them. Haven’t had another test yet. I’m very confused why this has happened as I still eat healthy unless there is something else going on in my body. Sorry I couldn’t be any help to you except for telling you what’s happening to me. Hope you get an explanation.

[elliebath]

The ratio of HDL, LDL and triglycerides is the most relevant thing , not the total cholesterol. And in many cases raised cholesterol is familial and not easily controlled by diet , weight etc.

[RoyMacDonald]

I have very low cholesterol levels naturally (2.3 total) but my consultant recommended a small dose of statins, after giving me an MRI brain scan, to protect my brain function and stop plaque forming in the very fine arteries at the top of the brain. I have no side effects from them. Large scale surveys in the USA and Europe show people live longer who take statins. The NHS wouldn't recommend them if they showed no benefit.

All the best.

Roy

[kipper1958]

Hi,are you mixing my post up with another,as l have not mentioned and l do not have muscle pain in my arm,

[elliebath in reply to kipper1958]

Oops, yes I think I must have done, my apologies. Now edited.

[Lawburd]

First of all, if you’re a woman, it’s quite normal for cholesterol levels to rise after menopause. Despite eating a diet with lots of good fats, complex carbs, many and varied fruit & veg (generally 10 a day), little alcohol, plus daily running, weights etc, my total cholesterol is around 6 but I have also been told by several doctors that I do not need statins as my LDL is low and HDL high. I’ve also had a carotid artery scan to check plaque etc and it’s totally clear.

Having seen my husband suffer with aching legs and tinnitus after being put on first Atorvastatin and then low dose Rosuvastatin, I don’t intend to go down that route unless I have strong medical advice to that effect.

[kipper1958 in reply to Lawburd]

At last someone who understands my position,thank you for your positive reply.

[Davey77]

It's rare to be given a breakdown of your Cholesterol levels. You usually just get the headline figure and are told you need to reduce it.

I recently had a test from "Our Future Health" where I was given the breakdown. Was good timing, because when I was told that a treatment would halve my LDL level, I knew how little effect that would have on the overall total.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Davey77]

I can access the breakdown of my cholesterol levels along with my other blood test results on my hospital's patient portal app.

[JohnWesterdale]

Is there any appreciation for remnant cholesterol, since we are talking about health? Research going back 10+ years shows a correlation with it. Was reading LDL is the sum of remnant and buoyant forms. Former being harmful, latter being benign. To feel good about cholesterol we need lab testing and acceptance criteria from those practicing, and insurance companies to help us track what's really important. ( Oh... And look at wiki page for Trodusquemine. Want to reduce the financial burden of healthcare? We should be looking at that )