Cholesterol Readings: Just had my... - British Heart Fou...

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Cholesterol Readings

Greatdog profile image
26 Replies

Just had my cholesterol results,I eat healthy and keep active at aged 65 but they are getting high and the Doctor wants me to go on statins?Here are the readings,

Trig 1.6

NDL 4.9

Cholesterol 6.1

NDL 1.25

LDL 4.2

Thanks for any comments.

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Greatdog profile image
Greatdog
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26 Replies
Rooksway profile image
Rooksway

hi Greatdog!

I too was very opposed to taking statins and had cholesterol levels much like yours. However after living through a fairly traumatic heart attack”event” last February I was told that statins were a good preventative for the future so I literally had to shut up and swallow them!

I probably had about a month of slight symptoms - the usual leg ache etc but they have settled down and now I am in the routine of taking them at 8pm each evening I actually feel reassured because my Cholesterol levels plummeted to 2.5!

I personally feel they are not the villains they are sometimes portrayed to be and I have come to terms with the fact that they are doing me good

Anyway hope this helps!

Greatdog profile image
Greatdog in reply toRooksway

Thank you for your reply,I am seeing the doctor for a chat tomorrow!

onadiet profile image
onadiet in reply toRooksway

Same with me.Hard at first but I take at night.Muscle & joint ache is there at times but they do work.

mjames1 profile image
mjames1

Statins are the backbone of most cardiovascular prevention strategies.

Listen to your doctor and the studies and not to cholesterol/statin deniers. Better yet do your own research and pay great attention to the source of what you read. If the source is selling something like a supplement, big red flags!

In addition, it might be time to do a Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) Score Test. If you score 0, maybe you can hold off on the statin for now. In any event, it will give you a good indication of your arterial health. Also an important blood test is the lp(a) which indicates your genetic disposition toward cardiovascular disease.

I'm about 10 years older than you are, and had I taken the appropriate amount of statins at your age and/or had a CAC test, I would most probably not have ended up with severe cardiovascular disease requiring open heart surgery or multiple stents.

Jim

Greatdog profile image
Greatdog in reply tomjames1

Thank you for your reply lots of thinking to do!

Motorman profile image
Motorman

My experience of statins is that they work very well, I have been on them for 20 years and never had any side effects, I expect to be on them for life. There are all sorts of statins, some might suit you better than others, I tried several before I found one that suits me, Simvastatin for me. Others can't take it. We are, as always, all different. MM

Greatdog profile image
Greatdog in reply toMotorman

Thankyou.

SandraLlew profile image
SandraLlew

I'm confused there are 2 different readings for NDL. Found this on the NHS website: nhs.uk/conditions/high-chol...

Greatdog profile image
Greatdog in reply toSandraLlew

Well spotted,that should be the HDL is1.25,its all very confusing at times!

Mollydex profile image
Mollydex

I am almost 65. Fit , active , last marathon aged 60 , but with heart disease. Have been taking statins about 4 years at quite a high dose 60 mg. Never had any problems. All the evidence says they contribute to preventing vascular events. I suppose you need to try them and see if they suit you.

Greatdog profile image
Greatdog in reply toMollydex

Thank you for your reply.

Mollydex profile image
Mollydex in reply toGreatdog

No probs. It’s probably worth a try for you x

Ellie-Ann profile image
Ellie-Ann

hi

I’ve tried three statins and now don’t take them. I take Wiley’s fish oil with plant sterols in them instead. Good luck.

FestivalVibes profile image
FestivalVibes in reply toEllie-Ann

Hi … have you found that the fish oil and plant sterols have brought your HDL levels up and LDL down? I have a plant based diet and eat oily fish, I’ve low cholesterol at 3.9 with a HDL of 1.92 … would rather not take statins if possible

HamishBoxer profile image
HamishBoxer in reply toFestivalVibes

Also, Bergamot helps.

newstent profile image
newstent

I had the opportunity to go in statins about 15 years ago as my cholesterol readings were about 5.7 but decided to try and reduce with more exercise and diet. A couple of years ago I had to have a stent fitted as a result of an 85% blockage in a main artery. After being on statins for a couple of months my cholesterol came down from 6.2 to 2.2 so they are doing a brilliant job. I wish I had gone on them earlier. Only side effects seem to be very realistic dreams at night!

pasigal profile image
pasigal

If you are unsure about statins, I always refer to my brother, who went on statins in his late 30s for stubbornly elevated cholesterol. 20 years later, he has only moderate plaque, whereas I have had a number of heart "events" and have 4 stents. We are very similar physically, in lifestyle and obviously genetically. I can't recommend them enough, despite some side effects.

Calypso76 profile image
Calypso76 in reply topasigal

I was shocked to learn (from one of my kidney doctors) that high cholesterol contributes to kidney disease. Since then I have overcome my resistance to statins and now take them.

Autumn_Leaves profile image
Autumn_Leaves in reply topasigal

That’s quite remarkable. I’m assuming you both had FH if your brother was prescribed statins in his 30s? Wishing you well after all you’ve been through.

MumaLines profile image
MumaLines

If I'm reading it right, your LDL (Bad Cholesterol) reads 4.2 which is good as it's below 5 and I know the GP's and Cardiologists like it a bit lower now. You have to look at Statins as a Life Saver especially if you have any family history of Heart Disease. I have always suffered from High Cholesterol so started taking Statin years ago when my level reached 11, then it went down to 9, 7 and then 6 and didn't go any lower. starting at 11 years ago.

I then suffered a Heart Attack in 2015 and had a Quadruple Bypass after being stabilised. I was diagnosed with Chronic Heart Disease and Fatty Liver which makes way too much Bad Cholesterol so Statin is a Life Saver, literally can help to save your life.

I tried Statins but hurt way too much and could not walk properly so was sent to a Lipid Clinic and the first thing they done was to put me a Rosustatin as it has far less side effects. I was also put on a medication to help control the Liver making too much LDL.

I have lost so many close family members, my Dad at 48, his 2 Sisters, my brother died at 53 and my other 2 brothers suffered heart attacks in their early 50's and one of them had a Bypass but were all put on Statin to help PREVENT.

Recently I have lost 2 Nephews aged 50 and both Coroner Reports showed that their arteries were blocked and if only they would of been put on Statin then it might of saved their lives.

You need to find a Statin that suits you so maybe ask for Rosustatin.

Good Luck xx

Autumn_Leaves profile image
Autumn_Leaves in reply toMumaLines

That’s so sad to have lost your relatives prematurely. We need to be testing people when they’re a lot younger, and absolutely if there’s a family history of premature death from CHD.

picturehook9 profile image
picturehook9

I’ve been on statins for about 4 years now after elevated cholesterol readings (along with hypertension for which I take meds). I would advise taking them, but only you can decide what you feel is right for you and hopefully the chat with your doctor should help in your decision. My levels were brought down to safe norms after taking them and revising my diet. As there is a history of heart health problems in my family,it made sense to me to take the advice of my GP.

Yellow26 profile image
Yellow26

Try statins, it took me three different types before I had no side effects

My cholesterol is well controlled now and GP , diabetic nurse are encouraging me to stay on them, which I will.

Good luck

Qualipop profile image
Qualipop

No problem takingstatins. Side effects are rare and there are plenty to change to if you do get side effects. MY first ones gave me awful stomach pain. Second choice is fine.

Art-99 profile image
Art-99

I have high cholesterol and would like to be able to take statins but unfortunately my liver has other ideas, revealed by raised enzymes etc following spells on two different statins. Whether it has anything to do with me having NAFLD (non alcoholic fatty liver) I'm not sure. I do however take Ezitembi with no apparent problems. I'm not overweight and try to keep active and eat healthily, I've had one stent fitted last December. I do think statins have had a lot of bad press in the past but think on balance they're a life saver.

Specialdog profile image
Specialdog

I’ve been on Rosuvastatin for 2 years now. No problems and greatly reduced my lipid numbers. My brother in law had to try different ones to get one that had no muscle pain for him. My doctor thinks they are really life savers.

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