Hello! Are there any medical professionals on the forum who can advise as to an anticipated rate at which cholesterol can be reduced over each 3 month period by changing diet, exercise and lifestyle? I would rather try to reduce cholesterol naturally as opposed to using statins. Thank you!
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The forum is a peer to peer support group so no one is able to give medical advice, even if they are a medical professional.
Perhaps give the BHF helpline a call and speak with one of the cardiac nurses ?
Lifestyle measures can certainly improve your lipid profile and the total. If you only need a small improvement then that might the way to go. However there is no one size that fits all, since different people have different metabolisms, and if you had a poor lifestyle to start with and adopt the measures you should have been doing in the first place, you will inevitably do better than someone who is doing most of the right things and wants to try harder. And lifestyle measures are very much for for life, and if you relax or get distracted, you go straight to go back to where you started, as I found out. So that is why, in conjunction with more modest sensible lifestyle choices, I take statins ,which also have the added benefit of stabilising any arterial plaque which would otherwise come with a risk of breaking off any causing blockages leading to heart attacks and strokes.
Thank you for your response. Interesting...
As above, if your lifestyle could do with a thorough overhaul, then you are in with a good chance of being able to lower your cholesterol sufficiently. But it’s a lifestyle change for life.
However, if you have a family history of heart problems or have high cholesterol despite leading a healthy life -careful diet, good exercise, little alcohol, no smoking -then you would be wise to consider statins . Medication works best if you maintain a healthy lifestyle .
Much depends on your personal circumstances-your age, your genes, your dietary habits. Your doctor should advise you as to your best options. But it won’t harm you to go for regular brisk walks and to cut saturated fats from your diet whatever the medical advice!
Thank you so much for your measured response. And I appreciate the positivity!
To further expand my above comment. I discovered I had high cholesterol at around 40. I tried really (too?) hard to control it through diet and exercise. It reduced a little but not remotely proportionately to my efforts.
Eventually I asked for a lipid clinic appointment which allowed me to have a scan of my neck artery which showed some thickening. I decided that I had tried long and hard enough and I asked for statins. I have had no side effects , the Dr had reassured me that I could stop them easily if needed.
My cholesterol has improved significantly and I only wish I had started earlier before damage was done. The lower doses seem to have less side effects. I am very aware that others have different experiences and there are probably improvements down the line in cholesterol treatment.
Thank you - again!
Hi … I understand your reluctance with taking statins as I’m the same. I did reduce my cholesterol from 4.36 (total) to 3.41 (total) over four months with changes to my diet, however you will need to maintain a strict diet for life or, as others have said, you’ll be back to square one. I’m quite disciplined, but I’ve still lapsed with my diet and my sats are creeping up again. We are all unique and one size does not fit all; life is for living and enjoying, so it comes down to a balance that suits you personally.
My cardiologist respects my views on taking statins at the moment as my cholesterol is still low, but things change and that might not always be the case, so I’m keeping an open mind going forward.
I take Ramipril and Sertraline, as despite my best efforts my blood pressure and mental health need the assistance of medication as well as a healthy lifestyle. Do what’s right for you as you know your body better than anyone else, but don’t rule out medication altogether … take care of you and wishing you all the best x
Thank you for your lovely response- I appreciate the realism - life can indeed get in the way of our very best intentions! Taking all advice on board 👍🤗
I've been told by the lipid clinic to reduce eggs to 1-2 per week to help reduce cholesterol. (Apparently I can eat as much eggwhite as I want, but no advice as what to do with the yolks!)
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