How long do I have?

[hairyfairy]

Iv`e had cholesterol levels of about 6.8 for about 5 years now, & nothing Iv`e tried seems to help. I tried statins for a couple of months, but felt terrible on them so I stopped. If I can`t get my cholesterol down to normal, how long have I got before i have a heart attack? I assume it`s inevitable.

[Hidden]

6.8 isn't that hight. Don't panic. If you're worried about getting a heart attack, don't. We're all built differently, and don't forget, you probably have more chance of being run over by a bus!

[jointpain]

Don't worry, mine is high (above 6.5) and I am still alive. I really think it is your body's reaction to other factors which affect your venous system. My varicose veins and ceoliac problems are constantly requiring a higher cholesterol to repair them.

[OliasOfSunhillow]

It is quite sad to read this message and some of the replies. No one has bothered to tell you that based on those readings you have about as much chance of having a heart attack as someone with lower readings. Basic cholesterol readings like the ones you quote are not the best indicators to use for your future chances of developing heart disease. Until we stop spreading this stuff worried people like yourself will get themselves in a state. The worrying is more likely to give you a heart attack. In fact if you are of an age eg above 45 your levels suggest you are more likely to live longer than people with very low levels

[no33-go33]

My cholesterol level has just gone up from a 6.6 to 8.5 but I am not worried. No way am I going on statins. I read a mag called "What your Doctor won't tell you."They have written an article saying that a research has compared cholesterol levels in different countries with the occurence off heart attacks and found that the countries with the LOWEST cholesterol levels had the HIGHEST rate of heart attacks!!!! Also as I understand it, it is a combination of cholesterol levels, tryglecides and blood pressure levels which "suggests "your risk of a heart attack.

[Jolyn in reply to no33-go33]

What was the article you read in the magazine No33?

[no33-go33 in reply to Jolyn]

It was sometime last year I think. Unfortunately as we are preparing to move, we had a great clear out and I no longer have the article. I think they have a website but I prefer to subscribe to the paper magazine. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

[Jolyn]

Mine was on 9 a few weeks ago...I almost fell off my chair when the doctor told me. I think she was just as shocked. So it's statins for me for the last 3 weeks and I've been REALLY good. No cake, chocolate, biscuits, butter (except for a thin spreading of benecol on my toast). I'm using a low fat honey and mustard dressing on my salads and nibbling on walnuts and dried fruit. Chicken is the only meat I eat anyway and I'm having veg with that and I'm eating plenty of fish. I'm going to be really good until I get my cholesterol down. Lots of nice walks with my sons dog for exercise. I can't do any more than that.

[sandybrown in reply to Jolyn]

If you consider benecol can reduce cholesterol please have a look at product details and quantity. this is because Flora pro active talks about two tea spoons!

[DakCB-UK in reply to Jolyn]

Didn't they try you on diet modifications (including benecol drinks - the spread is poor because you can't measure the dose accurately) before putting you on statins? Leaping to the prescription pad upsets me.

[Jolyn in reply to DakCB-UK]

No they didn't Dak, are the benecol drinks good? Which spread is the best ... benecol or the flora pro-active. My cholesterol level was 4 the last time I had it done, about 6/7 years ago. I understand stress is not good for it either. I only use a scraping of spread, its not much. I'm getting confused about the diet though.

[hairyfairy in reply to Jolyn]

I tried Benecol drinks, but they made no difference, and as for the margarine, £4 for a tub of the stuff! forget it!

[DakCB-UK in reply to Jolyn]

The Benecol (stanol) drinks work for me. They don't for some. The Flora (sterol) drinks played havoc with my stomach. Diet is confusing IMO - there are all sorts of claims and I think the conclusion is that there's lots of variation in how people reach to diet changes. If your cholesterol was 4 (mine has never ever been that low and I'm still standing, no attacks yet), can you figure out what significant changes occurred in the 6 years?

[Jolyn in reply to DakCB-UK]

For me I think it was poor diet dak, too many cakes, biscuits and chocolate. My biggest downfall is butter. I love baked potatoes with lots of melted butter and I mean LOTS. I would spread butter thickly on my sandwiches...bake my fish it it and had melted butter on my veg. I love butter and had way too much. Maybe stress played a small part, I watched my Husband suffer Pulmonary Fibrosis for a few years and finally lost him last year. But I think mainly poor diet, so that's my fault. I've been VERY good these last 5 weeks, I'm really pleased with myself. It will be interesting to see how much difference there is in my next test at the begining of July.

[hairyfairy in reply to DakCB-UK]

Iv`e gone through the change, but i wouldn`t think that would make such a big difference.

[sandybrown]

My GP statin to reduce my cholesterol from 7, I took it and the cholesterol came down to 2.8! I was not a happy person therefore gave up statin.

Went on a life style change and exercise, a fitter person but my numbers are no where near the recommended levels!!

NHS health check calculator says I am obese, only time will tell.

Enjoy life.

Eat fresh food, fresh veg and fruits, nuts and regular exercise, walking can help.

You need to look at all the medical factors, weight, height, waist, BP, blood glucose and blood cholesterol.

May be you can ask your GP for a NHS health check.

[nurselady80]

I tried to take cholesterol about 20-25 years ago. I really do not remember how long ago. It was really bad on my system and made me feel awful and hurt all over. I only took it for about three months, as soon as one starting making me hurt all over, I would try another one. I finally told the doctor, no more. He got really angry at me because my cholesterol at that time was 260 in the USA. I have never been too worried about cholesterol. I more or less seem to think it is a big hoax, that drug companies are making millions from. Since then, my cholesterol has never been below 230. It is now 254.

I am now 80 years old and have never had a heart attack. I have very little arthritis and am very active. I do have HBP and also kidney disease which is well under control. I have refused to take statins over all these years, also many other drugs. One statin that I took, made me hurt so bad all over that I had to have pain medicine. The pain medicine tore my stomach up so bad that I had to take prisolec. I finally said no more. So many people are just loaded down with medication that they could do without. Everyone should review their medication and ask the doctor to look over it and see if there is anything that they could do without.

[Aliwally]

Dear HairyFairy,

I think it's absolutely dreadful that you should feel so scared about having a heart attack because of your cholesterol levels. It is only one factor and there is disagreement over how significant it is anyway. You would probably lower your risk as much by keeping your weight down and getting exercise.

I wonder how many of the general public are equally scared into taking a statin every day because it "lowers risk by 30 %". (My generalisation). As Dr Malcolm Kendrick says 30% of what, 0.01 % probably.

[Healthy2015]

There's a score you can use called a QRisk score which actually calculates your risk of heart attack and stroke in the next 10 years. NHS Doctors use it and you can just fill in the form and it tells you.

6.8 isn't the highest I have heard of. I'm sure you've tried these but oats, plant sterols, avocado, walnuts, exercise all seem to help. Good luck.

[DakCB-UK in reply to Healthy2015]

If you use QRisk, check the assumptions. If you have an inherited high cholesterol condition, it's misleading.

[OliasOfSunhillow]

Courtesy of Newsmax Health

6 Foods That Lower Cholesterol, and Why

Certain foods can help bring down high cholesterol levels naturally, without the potentially dangerous side effects of statin medications.

Sponsor

“By increasing your intake of soluble fiber you can significantly lower your blood cholesterol levels,” Gabe Mirkin, M.D., author of “The Healthy Heart Miracle,” tells Newsmax Health.

In fact, some people are able to reduce or eliminate statins by changing their diet.

Here are six super foods that can drive down blood cholesterol:

1. Oats. Start your day with a bowl of oatmeal or cold oat-based cereal like Cheerios. Look for oat cereals with 1-2 grams of soluble fiber per serving.

Add a sliced banana for even more heart-healthy fiber.

“Soluble fiber passes into your colon where bacteria break it down to form short chain fatty acids that help block the formation of LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, the ‘bad’ cholesterol which can cause arterial damage,” says Dr. Mirkin.

2. Beans. They are also rich in soluble fiber and take long to digest so you feel fuller, longer. So they’re an excellent choice if you’re looking to lose weight.

There are many choices, including navy and garbanzo beans, lentils, black-eyed peas, and more.

3. Nuts. Studies have shown that eating just two ounces of nuts daily can lower LDL. Although 80 percent of the calories in nuts come from fat, it’s unsaturated fat, which helps lower LDL levels, decreases risk of blood clots, and improves the lining of your arteries. Walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts are three excellent choices.

4. Foods fortified with sterols. Sterols and stanols are plant extracts that help prevent the body from absorbing cholesterol from food. Foods commonly supplemented with serols include granola bars and yogurt.

5. Fatty fish. Eating at least two servings of salmon, trout, mackerel, or other cold water fish has many heart-healthy benefits.

Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids that drive LDL down and boost the HDL or high-density lipoprotein often referred to as “good” cholesterol.

Omega-3 fatty acids also help prevent inflammation that can lead to dangerous plaque buildup in arteries.

6. Garlic. UCLA cardiologist Dr. Matthew Budoff has conducted exhaustive research on the heart-boosting benefits of garlic.

“My studies have shown that garlic lowers cholesterol, reduces the risk of blood clotting, reduces the buildup of plaque, and, in some cases, even reverses plaque buildup,” he says.

Budoff recommends taking aged garlic extract supplements.

[Penel in reply to OliasOfSunhillow]

How did Cheerios get included? They are highly processed oats with minimal fibre content.

[OliasOfSunhillow]

Certainly not my choice, porridge for me

[YvonneD]

Not necessarily and worry is one of the worst things you can do for your heart. It fills your body with nasty chemicals.

Best attitude is to eat healthily (HEART UK can help there); make sure you are not overweight; don't smoke and take exercise (in no particular order).

One natural remedy that reduced my total cholesterol levels by 2 whole points in just one year is Kyolic tablets (from my independent health food store). No nasty side effects so might be worth a try.

Remember, everyone's body is different and copes in different ways so you might live to a hundred without getting your levels down to the desired one. Just give it a chance.

[BryanDobson]

First dont over worry. Second thing is do you have a history of heart disease in your family? If so this makes high cholesterol more of a risk. Either way I would get back to the doctor, tell them the issues on the statins and try a different one. Exercise and ensure you are on a healthy diet. Dont smoke. Job done

[marcus911]

Look up Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn on google. He has helped stop and even reverse heart desease. I am on his diet since having a heart attack, not taking the statins the doctor recommended. The diet is tough, but it may well keep you from having any heart problems in future.

[primocat]

Hi there, Olias is right. Personally having studied the data, I am not convinced that high cholesterol levels are really an indicator at all.

High blood pressure

High BMI

Low exercise levels

High sodium intake (e.g. salt - especially if you are male)

Smoking

Drinking (although a small glass of red wine daily is supposed to be good for the heart)

Poor diet (a Mediterranean diet high in leafy veggies, tomatoes, olive oil and fish has been shown to have a good effect)

Poor oral hygiene (flossing actually apparently can increase your lifespan by around 5 years)

are all more likely to have an effect.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White... - Interestingly, job position and the amount of power you have in day to day decisions can make a big difference too.

Also, hypercholesterolemia often runs in families, so it could be entirely normal for you to have higher levels.

If you want to reduce your chances of future heart problems, look to addressing those areas I have mentioned above- and eat more oats - they are fast acting (about a week) and help other areas of the body too

[sandybrown in reply to primocat]

What is best for breakfast? Oats or scrambled eggs?

There are changes taking place on the food intake!

[fenbadger in reply to sandybrown]

Yeas. The answer's still probably oats but eggs aren't as bad as once thought, so maybe once in a while but not daily

[primocat in reply to sandybrown]

Yes I agree with fenbadger, oats are great - I even use them to pad out hamburgers or in crumble topping instead of so much flour. I personally think eggs get a bad rap when they shouldn't do.

If you are concerned about intaking too much cholesterol from food sources, then don't eat too many eggs daily since they do have high cholesterol levels. That said, cholesterol is an essential part of your cell membranes. Without it you would die. Also, bear in mind that your own body produces the majority of your cholesterol, and food sources actually account for maybe 25% only.

I have a pet theory about cholesterol, and I suspect that it is not the baddie it is made out to be. It is probably more likely to be an indicator (the messenger) that there is an underlying problem, rather than the problem itself.

[hairyfairy in reply to primocat]

I hate oats, I think that the only thing theyr`e good for is glueing stuff!