Im only 19

[SaltyBizkitSalty29]

Hi there.

My blood test results for cholesterol came back about 2-3 months ago and my cholesterol level skyrocketed from 6.4 up to 9.6 and i'm only 19.

Is it common to have heart disease this early? Unfortunately high cholesterol is inherited from my mothers side but for a 19 year old I fear a cholesterol level this high is extremely abnormal.

I currently take 40mg statins but are there any other ways to lower my cholesterol, naturally? having anxiety makes me stress about my heart constantly which doesn't help.

[Sugar_]

Hi,

Sorry that you are feeling anxious about your Cholesterol.

I know how that feels when you are dropped this bombshell, put on statins and left to stew.

Try to look at the positives though at least you have discovered it fairly young you are being treated and can make good lifestyle choices.

If the Statins work for you without side effects I would say stick with them, me and my family have all been on them for years as we have inherited high cholesterol and Triglycerides.

You could talk to your GP about a trial period of a few months with a healthy diet and exercise without statins to see how it effects your numbers.

Don't worry my nan has had it all her life and she's 80 next month (been on statins 40 years).

Good luck. 👍

[Jocelynl06]

Hello! I'm 31 now, been on statins since i was 17 (I was a 9.9 when I was 17). I started at 20mg and gradually increased to 40mg over the years. I have no health problems or side effects being on stations for over a decade, and I'm still taking them. I do recommend for you to live your life, don't stress or worry about your cholesterol, exercise at least 5 hours a week, limit your greasy food intake, and take your daily statins.

[sos007 Ambassador]

Welcome to our forum.

What is your height, weight, and gender?

Do you smoke?

How many alcoholic drinks do you consume per week?

How many soft drinks, including diet drinks to you consume per week?

How many fruit-juice drinks do you consume in a week?

Do you eat something sweet on a daily basis?

Do you add sugar or any other sweetener to your coffee and tea?

How many cups of coffee or tea do you consume daily?

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It is not normal to have elevated cholesterol levels at your age. However, taking statins to lower cholesterol is treating the symptom and not the cause. You must address the cause which is dietary and lifestyle related.

Yes you can lower your cholesterol levels naturally.

Adopt the Mediterranean Diet and walk daily for at least 30 minutes.

Please update your post with the information I and others have requested.

Thanks.

[Rob6868]

Have you been told you have heart disease? Or is it that it's just your cholesterol that is high?

[sandybrown]

You are 19, you can do a lot on Google research!, ask you doctor to do more lipid tests.

If it is a family gene problem then you need to do test to identify it.

Ask a lot of questions to NHS, the system is there to help.

Let us know your finding.