A newbie

[Cathych51]

This is my first post here. I am 53, have high cholesterol, history of familial heart problems and degenerative/congenital problems in lower back. Also have ankylosising spondylytis, inflammatory condition. Just started Lipitor yesterday. Scared about possible side effects(pain) because I already have lots of pain. Coming here for support and advice.

[sandybrown]

Life style change is one of the option. watching out for hidden and free sugar in food and drinks with regular exercise can help towards a healthy life providing your general health Is good..

[Cathych51 in reply to sandybrown]

I have really cleaned up my diet, and recently went to naturopath/nutritionist for supplement suggestions. (Was on anxiety med and sleep med, and have managed to get off both.) exercise is lots of stretching, short walks, water arthritis classes. Some days energy is lower than others

[Clericus]

Best advice I can give is to take your statin in the evening to avoid any side affects, achy muscles etc

[sos007 Ambassador]

I'm male age 56, had a triple bypass 3 years ago. I have become a student of heart disease and cholesterol having read several hundred medical studies since my surgery.

I also had lower back problems many years ago when I was overweight.

I'm 5'10" tall and weigh 155 lbs now. Prior to my surgery, I weighed 195 lbs and when I had my serious back problems 15 years ago, I was about 200 lbs.

Understand this - most medical problems are a manifestation of bad dietary and lifestyle habits. If you wish to end your pain and avoid prescription medications, then you must commit to behavioural change in your diet and lifestyle.

Click on this link to a 3 minute video that will teach you how to change habits:

youtu.be/W1eYrhGeffc(Not working as expected?)

You can go to his website if you want to learn more, or you can also order his book online.

Now click on this link and watch this 14 minute video:

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

Elevated cholesterol is a response to internal inflammation in your body - to lower cholesterol, you must lower your inflammation. To lower inflammation you have to stop the consumption of sugar both that easily seen and that hidden in packaged foods.

Secondly, you must avoid simple carbohydrates including all soft drinks, and fruit juices. You can have alcohol moderately and ideally it would be red wine only.

Adopt the Mediterranean Diet healthline.com/nutrition/me...

This diet is plant-based, and whole foods in orientation. That means NO packaged foods. Simple meals made from fresh legumes, vegetables and fruits with grilled or baked fish twice per week, and chicken a couple of time per week. Avoid red meat until you get better. Try and buy only organic, grass-fed dairy products as well as produce.

Begin walking daily. Initially for 20 minutes, then work your way up gradually to 60 minutes per day. You can do this in 3 sessions of 20 minutes each, or 2 of 30 minutes each. Go at your own pace and only increase the duration as you feel comfortable.

I have posted extensively on this forum and you can view all of my posts here:

healthunlocked.com/user/sos007

For the record, once I committed to changing my diet and lifestyle after my surgery, the weight came off easily without counting calories or being hungry. I also stopped all medication and now take only vitamin supplements.

All pharmaceutical drugs and especially statins have side-effects - therefore it should be your mission to improve your health in order to avoid having to take any medication.

Statins are unlikely to stop you from having a heart attack or stroke. These are caused by blood clots. You can avoid blood clots by eating lots of dark green vegetables - spinach, kale, arugula, broccoli and taking vitamins B6, Folate, and B12. You should also get curcumin supplements and take 120 mg per day as well as vitamin E - 400 IU per day. These will reduce inflammation in your body and thin your blood to avoid blood clots.

You can also get a produce called Fruitflow to avoid taking aspirin.

fruitflowplus.com/

Cholesterol can also be reduced naturally through a high fiber diet (legumes, vegetables, fruit, oatmeal, barley), high doses of vitamin C (take 2,000 mg with each of your 3 meals daily), as well as Niacin (vitamin B3).

Read about the flushing effect of Niacin before taking it. I started with 500 mg.

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

Good luck and you can communicate directly with me if you want any more guidance.

[sandybrown]

From your report the risk factor is 3.7 this is computer calculation, in the range of 5, (ie) 5 in 100, very good score!!! Enjoy life with life style change and watching out for hidden sugar and free sugar with regular exercise.

[Marz]

With your other symptoms you mention I am wondering if you have had your thyroid correctly tested ? In years gone by - if anyone had raised cholesterol they treated the thyroid