My cholesterol level is 8.3 . Am at risk oh having heart attack in next 10 years. What can I do to lower it.

[Ladydi1950]

At risk of having heart attack in next 10years. My cholesterol level is 8.3. What can I do to help lower it. To go back doctor to get it checked next month

[Hidden]

Mine was high doctor scared me to death and told me I could have heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years. He gave me several lots of different cholestrol tablets which made me ill so I cut out biscuits, cakes especially fresh cream,full fat milk,butter and cheese and went on to low fat. It was hard but I did it mine is now 4.3 if I can do it you can. Let me know how you get on. Xx

[Mike262]

I suffered a mild heart attack in Jan 2011 after which I found out my total cholesterol was 7.8 which my Cardiologist said was "industrially high"! So it would be wise to amend your diet, I cut out cheese, crisps, pies & pastries - I was already avoiding butter, marg & salt. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and try oat bran on your high fibre breakfast. Also eat oily fish at least twice a week. Your GP should prescribe statins which can cause side affects, but there are various types so your Dr. can experiment. I suffered reaction from Atorvastatin, but was then prescribed Rusavastatin initially at a low dose 5mg every other day to allow the body to adjust. In my case this has been increased and I now take 10mg every day and my total cholesterol is now down to 4.7 and I working with my GP to get it below 4. Best of luck, listen to the experts not the doubters Mike

[MikePollard in reply to Mike262]

Nicholas Murray Butler:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicho...

- "An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less until he knows absolutely everything about nothing."

[malcolmp in reply to MikePollard]

Well said Mike.

[malcolmp in reply to Mike262]

Mike i look at the facts from all sources and then find the best solutions for my health.I would not look at the opinion of a doctor who wants to put me on a drug that has so many negative side effects without first doing my own research.I think that's what they call blind faith.If you actually watch the video on this stream you would quickly realize that some of these people are actually medical practitioners themselves and have had courage to stand up and tell the truth about statins.

[ElleC in reply to malcolmp]

Rather than investing blind faith and absorbing this video as factual i encourage people to ensure they question peoples motives... As i encourage you to do when you research about drugs. Ask what is the evidence to support and i mean real evidence based on studies, trials, years of research. Or is this merely opinion with little basis?

[malcolmp in reply to ElleC]

I agree with you about looking at the facts.The video presents some pretty compelling facts and studies to draw the conclusions that it does.Did you watch the video to look at both sides of the argument.

I have looked at the testimonies of a lot of different people on different sites and there seems to be a lot of people experiencing the same sorts of negative side effects associated with statin use.

While i do except that different drugs effect people in different ways it concerns me that profit is being put before peoples health and wellbeing.

I would be interested to hear your feedback on some of the issues raised on this video.As i always respect people that have an open minded view when it comes to their health.

[ElleC in reply to malcolmp]

Have you ever thought the people who come on here turn to forums for advice when they are concerned? And that actually there are probably a huge amount of people who are on statins and having massive benefits with no side effects? As such it id a highly skewed population giving an unbalanced overview. There are a huge proportion of people that take meds without problems, there are some that unfortunately do suffer recognised and documented side effects. Again i urge people to question what they are being told... If 50% of people on here complain of side effects that does not mean 50% of the population do.

[sandybrown]

Hi,

We need cholesterol in our body to function properly. What tests are done to check this and how it is measured, (NUMBER) is the big question. The other question is do we need medication ot control it? Is it primary control or secondary control? My strong belief is that we need to control our food intake and exercise to live a better life. Who decide on the numbers, "Is it WHO?" or "Men who wants to be rich?"

[YvonneD]

When it is my life that is at stake, I prefer to listen to the experts - even though with differing opinions - to get as many proven facts as possible - and then with that evidence, decide on best action for me.

[ElleC in reply to YvonneD]

A very sensible approach yvonne.

[frankcooper]

Hi Ladydi1950. We clearly have some different views from our group who are all trying to help you. To help this discussion, can you please provide us with more detail of your situation. Specifically, why do you say you are at risk of a heart attack over the next 10 years. Is it because you have angina, or some underlying cardiovascular problem that has been diagnosed? Or is it an assumption by your doctor because your cholesterol is elevated at 8.3? I think these extra facts will help this discussion enormously. Hope everyone agrees.

[Ladydi1950 in reply to frankcooper]

My son has hemochromatosis (iron overload) so all the family had to be checked. My blood tests all came back clear apart from cholesterol and that's when doc said I was at risk of having heart attack in next 10 years. I was a stone overweight but have lost half a stone now and am being more careful what I eat. Will go back docs next week for fasting blood test and hopefully my cholesterol will be down a bit. Am 5' 1' and now weigh 9and a half stone . Am exercising more now too.

[Hidden]

I agree with your comments I was told by my doctor that I could have a stroke or heart attack in the next 10 years because there was a history of heart trouble in my family. My fater had his first HA at 60 and I take Blood Pressure medication. Xx

[Aliwally]

More information would also answer Bala's query about primary or secondary prevention. Primary prevention is giving statins to people who have no signs of CVD.

[patch14]

The first question is what were your breakdown figures of your C levels. HDL, LDL and Triglicirides. The total figure means nothing unless you know the full picture. These may flummox you but if you search on the WWW it will tell you all about them. (Go on a UK website as the US have a different breakdown and the figures mean nothing over here). The next question is have you taken a really good look at your diet and exercise regime? Do you smoke? Are you overweight? Do you exercise enough? I don't mean, do you go to the gym every day, but do you walk every day. (The figure of 10,000 steps a day is the optimum amount of walking you should be doing) If you are a bit sedentary, get a pedometer and gradually increase the step and time you are out and about. It is really amazing how much you actually do walk when you wear it from getting out of bed to getting back in. Even going up and down the stairs at home or back and forth to the local shop counts!! Although the GP has put the fear of God into you it is a wakeup call that things are not as they should be. It is up to you to put the work in, and hopefully you won't have to stuff yourself with pills to keep going.

All the best to you and get those figures from the GP and study them. Get to know your body, and treat the C levels as your friend. C is a healer in the body and it is an indicator that something else is going on. Are you suffering from arthritis, or have you been under stress recently? Have you had a recent trauma to the body that could indicate a healing process going on? All worth looking at.

[foodblog]

Last year I was upset to discover that my cholesterol was at its highest. My GP gave me three months to reduce it before a retest. I started walking 5 times a week at a brisk pace, and adjusted my diet. After three months it had come down and I had lost nearly a stone. I have written about this experience which you can read if it would help motivate you. On my blog I also have 90 recipes that I used when I was lowering my cholesterol which may help you to continue to eat tasty food while getting your level down. You can read all of this at fromthehealthyheart.com . It is a day by day journey but you will get there. You are investing in your future. Good luck.

[malcolmp]

Maybe you should watch the video above.It might give you a more balanced view about cholesterol and how important it is for our overall wellbeing.As concerns diet you might find something that is quite shocking in that respect too.

Or alternatively you could just carry on as you are until you find out that what you thought was the truth was in fact a big fat lie generated by greed and corruption at the highest levels.

[ElleC in reply to malcolmp]

No one denies cholesterol is important but please remember that many people on here (myself included) suffer from severe cholesterol related issues. Explain if you will why i had a heart attack aged 21 with no tits factors other than s cholesterol level of 15. 12 years later with a balanced considered, regime put together through discussion with professionals and personal research my cholesterol now averages 4 and i am fit ad a fiddle. Some people will improve their levels and general health through lifestyle change only, for many that simply won't be enough.

[ElleC in reply to ElleC]

Risk factor! Ha predictive texting.

[jillgloucester in reply to ElleC]

dont worry i have just read this ........

[ElleC]

Good on you Traci. Can't help but think the cynics on here maybe don't go through the same cholesterol related issues as you and I. I just hope people are sensible enough to read thoroughly around the issues ( and watch enough sensationalist propaganda videos like this) to realise that evidence based medicine is the way forward. I am concerned that on these forums the scaremongerers seem to shout loudest.

[malcolmp in reply to ElleC]

No we put systems in place to avoid it occurring in the first place,by doing research into leading a lifestyle based on good lifestyle choices.Rather than waiting for the wheels to fall off the cart before we decide to take action.

As for not going through the same issues as you.I had to watch my mother being put on more and more drugs and when she complained about not feeling well.She was told that it was the diabetes every time.If doctor looked more at the cause from a nutritional understanding,rather than purely prescribing a pill the world would be a much healthier place.

At the end of day you make your choice and i will make mine.We will both live with the consequences whatever the outcomes.

[ElleC in reply to malcolmp]

I find your assumption and insinuation that i had problems due to poor lifestyle choices quite offensive. I had a heart attack at 21 despite always being size 8 exercising 5 times weekly and always eating a healthy diet. My only risk factor? High cholesterol. I've repeatedly asked for you to explain how and why you think this happened if it wasn't related to my cholesterol problems? I'm sorry to hear about your mum, does makeyour motives and reasons for being anti statin clearer. I do ask that you are careful though as i fear you present your theory as fact and people may be heavily influenced by that. It is a theory after all... Not based on any real evidence or research. Yes i have watched this and many videos like it and to be frank they make me really angry.

[malcolmp in reply to ElleC]

My apologies if i have offended you.Maybe i was a little bit harsh,because of my own experiences.

As for your comment about a healthy diet.That's depends on where your definition of a healthy diet comes from.Lets face it,if you want to talk about confusion about what we should eat and what we shouldn't eat.The advice is constantly changing all the time.

In my opinion the reason you had a heart attack was because your arteries became stiff.Which weakened the lining of the artery and made it more prone to serious rupture.Hence causing your heart attack.There is a product that i use myself that produces more nitric oxide in the body and makes the arteries more pliable, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the artery wall.However because it is a food based formula you cant get it on prescription.

I hope you find better health in whatever direction life takes you.Good luck for future.

[ElleC in reply to malcolmp]

Why did my arteries become stiff?

[jillgloucester in reply to ElleC]

Hi ,, I see you had a heart attack at 21,, can i asked how high your cholestrol was at that time..and what it is now...and how old are you now please ,,...are you in good health now?? Did you have a stent?? God, I sound so noisy, but just so curious really ,, all info. helps to understand it more.....cheers

[ElleC in reply to jillgloucester]

Hi Jill. Curious is good, asking questions gets answers i have homozygous fh. At the time of my heart attack my cholesterol was around 12-13 and was clearly very poorly controlled. I was diagnosed at 15 and started on cholestid and low dose simvastatin.

I had a triple bypass at 21. Since then i have been on various statins, currently rosuvastatin 20mg, plus a whole cocktail if other drugs. I also have apheresis once a fortnight. With this my pre apheresis total is normally about 6 and my post treatment total is normally about 1.5.

Since bypass i have been really well, than a marathon 2 years ago. My most recent angio showed the grafts remained clear. Without meaning to sound dramatic i am certain that without the treatment i have had i would not have survived this long.

I'm still really keen to hear the hypothesis of why my arteries hardened. Genuinely so, hopefully malcomp will see this and offer his insight.

Please feel free to ask further questions

[ElleC]

Well.. Depends on your definition.... I've always tended towards natural foods as i don't believe in massively manufactured stuff i cook all my own meals from fresh ingredients, always eaten lots of fresh veg and fish/ chicken minimal but some red meat and avoided burgers and sausages. More recently started to try and eat more oats and pulses. As a general rule I've always thought if it's natural within reason it's what our body's need if it's manufactured we're probably not programmed to cope with it... Like i say this within reason but it's my basic rule of thumb.

[ElleC in reply to ElleC]

So I'm not sure if you define this as mainstream? I do have definite beliefs about supporting British produced food and making choices about what i support in the food industry so probably not entirely mainstream. I simply believe in cooking from scratch with fresh local produce but I guess yes i am guided by my interpretation of the more mainstream dietary views minus the manufactured spreads and increased carbs loads.

[ElleC]

hmmm some doctors believe this. I'm sure they do. But this is not the much more widely accepted definition of atherosclerosis is it? I agree my heart attack is highly likely to be due to atherosclerosis but I disagree with your version of atherosclerosis and its underlying pathophysiology.

You've not really explained why my blood vessels were inflammed in the first place in your version? Why are they injured? I have never smoked, i've always exercised regularly, i've always been a very healthy weight, my blood sugar levels have always been normal. You've not explained why I had such severe problems at such a young age? You've glossed over the fact my cholesterol level was so high? Why might that be?

Why would I have had elevated insulin levels? You claim to speculate based on what you know about me already but then appear ot have made the assumption that I've eaten a high carb/processed sugar diet. On answering your previous post you'll see I don't stick to the traditional low fat diet and never have done. Through until 18 I was a semi professional gymnast and certainly our nutritionalist devised us diets based on keeping bread, biscuits, crisps and carbs to a minimum. Equally i've always had very strong beliefs about eating natural foods... I stated all this in a previous post.

So I fail to see how and why I would have had such problems so young. Oh hang on, I forget, my cholesterol levels were 15! Maybe thats why I built up atherosclerotic plaques so severe they narrowed my arterial lumen by 95%, maybe the fact that i've always struggled to keep my HDL above 1 would explain why my body struggled to prevent and minimise this build up?

As such you may appreciate why I fail to accept this inflammatory version, it simply doesn't work in my situation.

I will accept that in people with borderline DM and other risk factors that there will be vasular damage and that therefore they are much more likely to get atherosclerotic build ups but I don't accept that cholesterol isn't a risk factor. I certainly don't accept your hypothesis as a cause of my heart attack. It simply doesn't add up i'm afraid.