Can you live to a good old age with high cholesterol..?

[jillgloucester]

I wonder if there are people out there who have lived a healthy life up to 90 or so and have had high cholesterol readings all their life??? It would be nice to know..........Im sure someone will say yes you can live that long but more risky to heart attack....

[betabalance]

Well this is a historical/reflective quesion and medical practise has changed. My answer...

Probably. And perhaps many of whom never realised so. By nature, the new health MOT permitting, we tend to test cholesterol in light of health problems. Begs the questions is raised cholesterol itself dangerous or is it the combination of disease/conditions.

We've also here over simplifies cholesterol. Are we talking total, LDL what about ratio and HDL.

BetaBalance

[Aliwally]

Yes! My mother in law! She is nearly 86. About 25 years ago she was prescribed statins for a TC of around 7.5 (will check that). She had side effects stopped taking them. Since then she has survived breast cancer, Guillame Barre Syndrome, numerous stomach complaints and has aortic stenosis which was diagnosed when she was pregnant with my husband (now 59).

Now on the waiting list for a second hip replacement and going strong!

[jillgloucester]

Thank you for your replies.............Thats quite a story about you mum in law too,,,,makes me wonder on........................!

[Aliwally]

Hi Jill,

Just looked up the figures, her TC was 7.4 with an LDL of 5.3.

I have to say that she also takes thyroxine for an underactive thyroid which could explain the high cholesterol at some point.

I remember being there when her surgery phoned to say her cholesterol was high and she ignored them!

[patch14]

C rises with age because it has more work to do! C is a healer not a villain, and with old age comes the health problems associated with it. C tries to help heal the body and that is when you try to help it with diet, exercise and a healthy lifestyle. You can live to a ripe old age popping pills but if you can continue to live life to the full as long as you can what more can any of us ask for!