Carol

[rosiesheebs]

Heart disease is in my family my cholesterol is 6.5 should I be concerned

[Paul12]

Why not play safe, assume the worst and make every lifestyle change possible? That will reduce your worry and you'll feel fantastic

[Tibblington]

The pharmaceutic industry would like you to be really frightened so that they can sell you their drugs. They have even lowered what is considered the safe level in order to increase their sales. The truth is that you should examin your diet which is a far better way of gaining control. It may be that 6.5 is a naturel level for you, nobody knows not even your doctor. Ignore the advice about reducng saturated fats which has been disproved, stay away from all polyunsatured seed oils and spreads, take a moderate amount of dairy food and plenty of vegetables. Most of all avoid white bread and white flour products and also refined sugar, like the plague. Make real wholemeal bread at home, I use the quick recipe you can find at: healthscams.org.uk/bake-you... I can make two 850g loaves in about 1¼ hours from start to finish. One goes in the freezer for later in the week.

[patdonnelly in reply to Tibblington]

Thanks for your advice. .I am already going down the route you are advocating.

[DakCB-UK]

Concerned, yes. Worried, no. I dissent on the fats aspect and consider that most fats should be moderated, but I agree about consuming plenty of fresh fruit and veg, reducing processed foods and refined sugars and baking one's own bread (most shop breads use the Chorleywood Baking Process which isn't how bread is traditionally made). I'd also try consuming oatbran porridge or brose for breakfast and generally try to keep active.

[jimmy6p]

There is no evidence that high cholesterol causes Heart Disease. Please do NOT accept any suggestions that lowering Cholesterol will result in good Heart health. There's virtually no correlation.

[sandybrown]

How do you support your comment?

[elliebath]

I have a similar situation. In 2015, I addressed my lifestyle and diet to get to a healthy BMI of 22. ( which I have since maintained ) I am now 65.

However I also have family history of heart disease, my dad had first heart attack at 50 and a second one killed him at age 59.

Earlier this year I experienced breathlessness and slight chest pain and investigations, including CT scan, calcium test highlighted slight arterial calcification.

At that time, my overall cholestrol level was 7.5 Consultant recommended a statin 10mg. I was hesitant but decided to give it 3 months. My 3 month blood test then showed overall cholestrol down to 5.6 and most importantly HDL 3.6 , LDL 1.8. Also Glucose 4.1.

There have been lots of statins prescribed to people who have no other risks, but in my case I feel a statin is an extra precaution, at least until I am convinced otherwise.