HI All, I'm new to the community. I have Total Cholesterol of 6.05, LDL 3.69, HDL 1.68 and Triglycerides 1.47. Should I be on Statins

[Parel400012]

I'm 46 year old male, healthy, active non-smoker. Height 173 cm, weight 69 kgs. Normal blood pressure and no history of heart disease in the family.

[Hidden]

Welcome......just read all you can about statins....the debate..the con....and you will answer your own question. In my opinion....NO.

[MikePollard]

NO!

Look to your diet. Lose fear of saturated fat. Start here:

dietdoctor.com/lchf

[suki65]

no you are fine i would certainly from experience of statins never take a statin ever try diet or herbal or b12 ,b6, opti-omega 3 and vitamind with calcium .do not put your life through agony because statins made my life unbearable for 2 years

[florence5]

Hello

I take it your GP has not suggested you take a statin. If your risk profile is not above 20 the GP is unlikely to prescribe them and from what you say your profile is probably well under 20. All medications have targeted effects but also have other effects which may not be immediately obvious. Although there are many people who can take statins with no obvious adverse effects, others suffer severely, as you will often read on this forum. As with any medication, it is not advisable to take it unless it is essential to your health and wellbeing. If you are concerned speak to your GP, but be aware that doing so might trigger prescription. Read all you can on the subject including previous posts and links on here and have a discussion with your GP and others about it. You will be surprised how many people you know and meet who are on statins and are more than willing to have a chat about their experiences. This will give you the wider picture and all the varying viewpoints on the subject, to help you make a decision.

[sandybrown]

Hi,

What was the reason for your cholesterol check?, What have you found out about statin to ask this question?

You may need a life style change first, have a look at food intake that can reduce cholesterol, if you want to reduce cholesterol!

[Parel400012]

Thanks for the responses. I have a few doctor freinds and their opinion is divided. I was on Statins for 3 months last year. It brought down my total cholesterol from 6 to less than 5 but also dropped my HDL from 1.68 to below 1, though I didn't have any side effects.

[DakCB-UK in reply to Parel400012]

I'm no statin-hater and I get a bit annoyed by the posters here who reject them for everyone dogmatically.

But you've no family history (this site was originally for FH sufferers but it seems like we're a minority here now), your cholesterol doesn't seem that high for 46 years (maybe a bit high), your LDL:HDL ratio isn't that awful and it sounds like statins didn't improve it - so if you're concerned about your numbers, I'd try diet and exercise as much as you can first. Do you know what provoked the prescription of statins last year?

[sandybrown in reply to DakCB-UK]

Hi,

Very well said. If one gives full facts and request for help then it is different, with half of the information it is very difficult to give help! If there are doctors friends involved then what can we say!. GPs and cardiologists are is the NHS system to offer medication if necessary. One cannot go and ask for statin? tests needs to be done and a base line for reference is required. High cholesterol, high blood sugar from blood test, what is the next step, medication or life style change there two steps are fundamental for good health.

Parel 400012 please answer all the basic questions every one has asked to help us all to understand.

[patch14 in reply to DakCB-UK]

I think the main reason that this site has now become a forum for those who query their statin regime is because FH sufferers have become lumped together with ALL those with cholesterol figures of any size attached! Cholesterol in all its forms has become the enemy and those of you who have genuine medical reasons to need help with FH are being seen as the top of a huge iceberg that is on its way to sunk the Titanic health of the nation! Driven by pharmaceutical companies who see this as a cash cow I am trying to avoid the crash!

[florence5 in reply to Parel400012]

Why did you a) start and b) stop taking them??

[Parel400012]

My high cholesterol came in a routine health check up last year. I was advised statins by a cardiologist and I took them for 3 months. It dropped my total cholesterol, LDL and HDL. I was not comfortable with the significant drop in HDL. I'm a very active person with a good eating habits and am averse to taking any medication long term. I've been researching a lot on the subject but haven't found conclusive answers yet.

[DakCB-UK in reply to Parel400012]

This is medicine and an active research topic, so conclusive answers are rare.

Was the drop in HDL (from 28% of your cholesterol to 20% or less - that would make me uncomfortable too, but mine is a stubborn 1.2mmol/l regardless of total) why you stopped or was it something else?

[Aliwally]

All the websites I've looked up say that although statins have a mild effect on raising HDL, the main effect is to lower LDL, so I'm not sure why your HDL was lowered as well.

There are no conclusive answers, your levels are not that bad and statins have to be taken all the time if your doctors or you want a lower LDL. Ultimately, it is your decision. May I ask why a cardiologist prescribed them and not your GP?

[634shy]

Up your HDL by the use of omegas such as flex seed cold compressed oil and some other nuts. The higher the HDL the better it is.

[sandybrown]

Hi,

Total cholesterol is what is important. All other numbers are to do with money making machines. There are people with total cholesterol in double digits are living a healthy life. What is necessary is to understand the total health package.

[HarbansNarayan]

I received this in mail and thought of sharing with you all.

As it originated form London, may be it could be verified

Are You Suffering from Heart Diseases?? For Your Heart Vein Opening

FYI...

(From Mufti Mohammed Kantharvi. London UK)Distributed by AYP (Azaadville) for service to mankind. May Allah accept.

Are You Suffering from Heart Diseases? Or have you been advised to undergo Angiography or Bypass?

Please Wait……………………..Before you undergo Angiography or Bypass treatment, you must try with confidence this remedy. Insha Allah, you will be cured.

On the 18th April last year, I had to go to Sahiwaal(Pakistan) from the UK to attend the annual Khatme-e-Nabuwat conference.

The day before I suffered acute pain at the place of my heart and thereafter, experienced uncomforting which continued for quite some time.

I then met in Pakistan Hazrat Moulana Bashir Ahmed Usmani Sahib and disclosed to him, that when the doctors performed Angiography on me, they advised Bypass as they discovered 3 of my arteries were blocked and given a date to operate after a month.

During this period, a Hakim prescribed the remedy below which I consumed exactly for a month.

A day before my bypass operation, I arrived at the Cardiology Hospital in Lahore (Pakistan) and deposited Pak Rs. 225,000.00 towards expenses for my Bypass surgery.

After taking a close look at these results and my previous results, the Doctors then asked me if I took any medication after the previous tests were carried out.

I told them of Hakim Sahebs prescribed remedy.

The panel of Doctors, surprised by the results, then informed me that according to the latest reports all 3 arteries were open and functioning normally and that surgery was not required.

I was refunded my deposit and told to go home.

Hazrat Moulana Bashir Ahmed Usmani Saheb himself, prepared this medicine for me and also told me of it’s ingredients and how it is prepared which is as follows:

1 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice

1 Cup Fresh Ginger Juice

1 Cup Fresh Garlic Juice

1 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar

3 Cups Honey

Mix all the juices & vinegar and boil very slowly for about half an hour until about 1 cup of contents evaporate and 3 cups remain.

After it cools down, mix properly with the 3 cups of honey.

Fill contents in a clean Jar and take 3 teaspoons on an empty stomach every morning.

Insha Allah you will be cured.

[sandybrown]

Hi,

If the person is from UK then why? was he going for a planned operation in Pakistan?

Am confused?

Do you know why? "stent" was not an option after angiogram, which is angioplasty?

Ginger, garlic, lemon honey and cider vinegar are all good for the body.

Have you considered going on to production?

[DakCB-UK]

Not exactly, but I have had multiple tests where I have tracked my food intake and my HDL level does not appear to vary with fat intake - or mix of sat/monounsat/polyunsat fats. I suspect it would fall if I severely restricted fat intake but I understand that would have other drawbacks.

[patch14]

First of all don't see cholesterol as the enemy - he is a friend - and he is telling you that he needs you to do all you can to get your body healthy so that he can concentrate on keeping it that way. Firstly, look to your diet. Do you eat plenty fruit and vegetables, meat, oily fish, dairy (proper butter not those awful marges) good milk etc? How much carbohydrate do you eat, cut down if you eat more than three portions a day (one slice of bread, especially wholewheat, cereal portion, rice, pasta or potatoes) and sugars especially fruit juices and those sugarloaded smoothies. Next exercise - walking an hour a day is all you need to do. With the nice days at the moment it will be a pleasure to do! Try it for a few months and then go back and have a blood test and see what results occur. I bet you will be pleasantly surprised!