Cholesterol Readings

[Greatdog]

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.

[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 in reply to Rooksway]

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

[onadiet in reply to Rooksway]

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

[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 in reply to mjames1]

Thank you for your reply lots of thinking to do!

[sunlovah in reply to mjames1]

What score in a calcium score test would be regarded as to prompt statin prescribing?

[mjames1 in reply to sunlovah]

Ststins should be considered with any score over zero. Over 100 very strongly considered. Beyond that you may want to get a CT Angiogram or even go into the Cath Lab and see what's really going on. My score was 2100 and that translated into severe five vessel CAD. Also keep in mind that a CAC score of let's say 50 is a lot more troublesome someone age 40 versus someone age 80.And of course very importan is the entire cardiac risk picture.

Jim

[sunlovah in reply to mjames1]

I've had 2 CT Angiograms, had a calcium score of 25, described as trace/ minimal plaque of little concern. Cholesterol in normal range, eat healthy, had a fat phobia since a child no red meat for 30+ years. I took high strength garlic and fish oil for years until anticoagulant was prescribed, then i stopped. Was still offered statins, I declined, when enquired why offered given my history.....'it's preventative ' I was told. I'm trying plant sterols first , try to reduce cholesterol levels just a little as I see some have been successful with them. Believe Doctors in UK are paid to prescribe statins.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to sunlovah]

You can have angina or a heart attack with no or minimal plaque. A small area of plaque can break off and block a coronary artery.

Statins help to reduce inflammation in the inner walls of the artery and stabilise even small areas of plaque.

Statins are offered to patients to help prevent future possible cardiac events.

It is your choice whether you take up any offer of treatment.

I am not sure it's correct to say 'doctors are paid in the UK to precribe statins'.

Doctors follow the guidelines of the National Institute of Healthcare Excellence, NICE and the Department of Health & Social Care treatment directives.

theguardian.com/society/202...

[sunlovah in reply to Milkfairy]

Statins do not reduce existing plaque, but prevent it getting worse, hence I will try plant sterols etc to see if this makes a difference as some have found . There are trials underway to develop a 'plaque buster' which is showing positive results dissolving ,as such, plaque. If successful this could be a gamer changer for many.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to sunlovah]

The stabilsation of these areas of plaque are important though.

Making the appropriate lifestyle changes are also a 'game changer'.

Heart UK a charity has lots of useful information.

heartuk.org.uk/cholesterol/...

[mjames1 in reply to sunlovah]

Statins do not reduce existing plaque, but prevent it getting worse...

Yes, plaque from getting worsecan be the difference between nipping plaque in the bud or having a turn into severe CAD sometimes resulting in a heart attack among other things.

You've just made the case for Statins!

An in some instances if you get LDL low enough, there can be reversal of plaque.

Unfortunately, you are not going get the same results from Plant sterols. And the so-called "plaque busters" are optimistically 5 to 10 years away if they ever do get developed. by that time too much for many of us.

Jim

[sunlovah in reply to mjames1]

'You've just made the case for Statins!'.. ....Yes, I realise that. I am not saying that Statins are bad, they suit many who are happy with them, for me I wish to try alternative ways to lower/improve Cholesterol first (even though in normal range), some have definitely had positive results with sterols ?other means and if that doesn't help , I will rethink if needed.

[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 in reply to Motorman]

Thankyou.

[SandraLlew]

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

[Greatdog in reply to SandraLlew]

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

[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 in reply to Mollydex]

Thank you for your reply.

[Mollydex in reply to Greatdog]

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

[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 in reply to Ellie-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 in reply to FestivalVibes]

Also, Bergamot helps.

[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]

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 in reply to pasigal]

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 in reply to pasigal]

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]

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 in reply to MumaLines]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.