Worry can you help!

[Linda19]

Hi there I'm 59 years old and 13st 7lbs my doctor ringing me on Monday to discuss my cholesterol which is 6.2 don't want to start taking statins, as anyone got high cholesterol but not taking statins? Would love to hear anything I'm so worried

[Celtic]

Linda, yes I, too, have cholesterol at 6.2 for which I am not prescribed statins. In fact, my renal consultant has even advised me not to take them because of my intolerance to so many medications. However my cholesterol ratio figure is ok and my HDL figure is in the good range so hopefully I'm not at too much risk. Also, I'm only slightly overweight. Have you tried lifestyle changes such as avoiding high cholesterol foods in your diet and increasing your exercise to see if that would help?

[Linda19 in reply to Celtic]

Thank you for your reply, I'm trying to cut down , Also I've got meneries which I'm always dizzy, I'm going to look at my life style, my husband works nights and trying to eat together is difficult many will keep your informed when I speak to GP on Monday many thanks

[AlexandriaUK]

Hi, I'm sorry your cholesterol levels are obviously higher than is recommended but its not the end of life as we know, you really only have two choices, the first one will be to completely change your life style, diet, not sure on things like your height/weight ratio but I would say you need to lose some and you obviously need to eat a much healthier diet, its not easier and harder still is going to be sustaining it, its OK to get it down from 6.2 but the older we get it does have a tendency to creep back up when we stray from healthy living.

If your determined it can work as I have done it a couple of times but as soon as I slide it goes back up.

I have gone from 7+ and 8+ to 5 but cannot sustain it.

I'm on the second option and now take 10 mg of atorvastatin and eat healthy 80% of the time and it sits at 5.

I had some aches when I first started but changed from simvastatin to atorvastatin and I'm fine now.

Speak to your doctor and see what he advises, I know many on here berate statins but its a tiny % but the choice is yours.

Follow the diet path and see how it goes, depending on your height then losing the excess weight might well be all you need to do.

I hope you find a solution that suits you.

[Linda19 in reply to AlexandriaUK]

Thank you so much , yes I need to lose weight I'm 5ft 8 ins but 13st and 7ibs this is going to help me lose weigh, think I need to be positive 😊 Now and look at my diet, eating late , and going out for meals too much, today starts ! New Linda ,from today eating at a sensible time, waiting until Monday to speak to my GP is making me anxious 😩 thank you

[Penel]

Hi Linda,

Please don't worry, 6.2 is not that high and there are several people on this site who have reduced their levels through their diet.

Modern research suggests that cutting out all sugary foods and drink is the best place to start, in order to lose weight and lower cholesterol. Swap low fibre foods for higher fibre foods, white bread for granary, cereal for porridge etc. Increase your fibre intake slowly, if you are not used to it. Try to eat as many different vegetables as you can.

The cholesterol in food doesn't make much difference to most people's levels, as the body tends to make most of the cholesterol we have.

It's also important to find some exercise you enjoy and can do regularly, even if it's just a daily walk.

Perhaps have a look at the NHS Weight Loss site on HU if you need a plan to follow.

[AlexandriaUK]

Hi I'm pleased your looking at it more positively, like I said its not going to be a walk in the park, actually that would help LOL please don't worry, mine went up to 8.2 and my DR's left me while I improved my mobility to discuss it, its not that high as paenel said and food only has a small bearing on it unless you were eating high sat food, which maybe you were as eating out will always contain more fat than home cooking, I know I was that chef LOL I also chucked all margarines and certain cooking oils out and went back to butter and good oils.

So your new life begins and once its down you can pick a day to have treats on, mines Saturday,

[Linda19]

Yes I do work part time late afternoons so trying to eat at the correct times, lol, yes like you think my treats will be a Saturday 👍😀

[Markl60]

To reduce weight is really a simple task if you are not doing what I am about to suggest. Basically cut down the simple carbs, eliminate bread, pasta,cakes, pastries and so on. Eat more healthy fats and some protein along with complex carbs eg veggies. Do this and the weight will drop off and stay off. Ignore the myth that as we get older we must get fatter, it is a lie. With regard to cholesterol focus on the ratios HDL to total and HDL to Triglycerides and stop worrying about LDL unless you have a large amount of oxidised LDL (the above will deal with that). If you really want to lower your LDL try full flush Niacin (Vit B3), this works at lowering LDL.... all the best

[sos007 Ambassador]

Read my posts titled - Coming Off Statins - there were at least 2. You should also read the rest of my posts.

healthunlocked.com/user/sos007

In short, if you don't want to take statins, there is no other magic pill. Getting healthy involves determination and a willingness to change your behaviour.

You can reduce your risk of a heart attack and stroke as well as other cardiovascular diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimers by incorporating lifestyle change. This means an emphasis on proper nutrition.

There is evidence that a 'plant-based' diet coupled with daily exercise will reduce LDL-P (low-density lipoprotein particle number-also measured by Apo-B) as well as triglycerides (blood glucose). Furthermore, a good diet and daily exercise will enhance the efficiency of your heart muscle by strengthening it, and lower your blood pressure by making your arteries more elastic.

A 'plant-based diet' means focusing on plant-sources for protein and complex carbohydrates (glycogen - fuel for your body). Examples of plant protein are nuts, beans, chick peas and lentils. Do an internet search for Greek or Italian recipes for beans, chick peas and lentils. All food tastes good if seasoned correctly and prepared with fresh ingredients.

You can supplement your plant-diet with 2-3 meals per week of cold-water, oily fish such as salmon, trout and arctic char. Omega 3 fish oil lowers cholesterol particle number in addition to many other benefits.

You can have chicken or turkey (not cold cuts) 3 meals per week and red-meat, once every couple of weeks.

There are 14 lunch and dinner meals per week, so half can be fish or chicken, while the other half should be beans, chick peas, or lentils. Combine these meals with salads containing spinach or arugula (rockets) as well as other vegetables - the more colours the better. Drizzle olive oil on grilled vegetables for example. Salad dressing should be extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar or oil and lemon.

For exercise - start by walking and build up to at least 30 minutes per day of a brisk walk. Try and get two such walks in per day. At some point and if physically possible, you can add resistance training (weights). Alternatively you can use your own body weight for resistance training such as push-ups.

To provide you with motivation, get a fitness tracker such as a Fitbit device as well as getting a blood test every 3 months so you can see the benefits of your lifestyle change. The reward of seeing improvements in your blood work, your weight and hitting daily targets on your fitness tracking device will allow you to remain motivated.

Good luck.

P.S. Stay away from sugar and simple carbohydrates - this includes fruit juices, alcohol (except red wine which is good for you if limited to one small glass daily), white flour products such as white bread, white pasta, white pizza dough. Of course this means no desserts except for once a month as a treat.

youtu.be/aIc6iF5k9v4(Not working as expected?)

[Linda19]

Thank you so much for your comments,I'm learning so much, and thank you for the foodie file, will have a good look at that , and I only drink red wine 🍷 not too much at all, I have meneries so I'm off balance most off the time, so with a good positive attitude I'm sure I will keep going, let you know what my put come is 👍

[Einz]

Hi, i'm in my early 30's and my cholestrol is 6.7. Am not taking statin because it had ruined my body and life. My GP put me on statin when I was in my early 20's my cholestrol was 6.9 back then and statin did lowered my cholestrol to 4.6 after few months but with side effect of very bad muscle pain, lethargicness, gastric, depression and frequent immune problem. Currently, I'm feeling better and recovering. If I can turn back time, I would never taken the statin. I generally eat healthy, doesn't drink alcohol and doesn't smoke. Have very slim figure but I rarely exercise. I do however walk about 3-4km per day on average

[Linda19]

Hi there glad to hear your doing ok, Im hoping that after speaking to my doctor, I'm hoping he's going to suggest life style changes fingers crossed 🤞, I did a cleaning job late afternoon isn't not hard work but does keep me going I walk most places as I can't drive due to my meneries,which took he years to except that, please take care you've all your life to live your only young best wishes go to you , Linda

[Kristicats in reply to Linda19]

I have been off statins for the past 4 months due to terrible joint pain and frozen shoulders. I have replaced them with a plant stenols supplement I found in an online health shop. I will have a cholesterol test on 4/7/17 so I will know if they work ..... or not!

[Linda19]

I will have a look in the health shop thank you for that advice, 👍