Borderline high cholesterol. Put on statin. Is it necessary?

I don't like cholestrol meds either. I was on them for 15 years. I think they've caused irreversible damage to parts of my body. But they did keep my cholestrol low. However , there's no cure for the side effects in many cases. And many of the side effects are debilitating. I've been off them for 6 months and have maintained a healthy level with LDL below 100. But I think it was to little to late for me. I exercise and eat very healthy , like you. Some people are genetically predisposed to have high cholestrol though , I think. But there's really no proof that the cholestrol is what causes problems. It all comes down to inflamation in the arteries that causes the LDL to stick to artery walls. Even if you take meds , your liver will still make cholestrol. Our bodies need it to function . It has to be a personal choice , albeit a very difficult choice. I know this probably really isn't much help in making a decision , but we are all faced with it. So best of luck with which ever decision you make.

Hi Tina.. could be you have familial hyercholsterolemia (I think thats how it's spelt).  In a nutshell as Portacrean says .. it's in your genes. Which means no amount of 'lifestyle changes' will improve your readings. I have it too, but I didn't find out until I was well into my 60's. Sometimes, I take the statins religiously, and sometimes I  come off them altogether because I get so fed up of the side effects (with me its, aching joints, and muscles, which can often hinder exercise .. which is a damn nuisance because I have copd as well, and I HAVE to exercise). I figure I'd rather live a full life and die happy tomorrow than live with the misery of side effects for the next 20 years.   Then .. a few months down the line, I'll panic, and start taking them again. Doctor tells me that it's all 'roundabouts and swings', and whether I take them or not has to be a personal choice. 

(And aching joints and muscles might just be 'age' and nothing to do with the statins at all. But I just don't know!)

Of course, it would help if the medical boffs would come to some sort of consensus on 'cholesterol'. When you consider that around 12 million Brits are now prescribed statins, you'd think they'd have figured it out, wouldn't you?

But successive research is so contradictory.

Talk to your doctor and ask him to explain the both pro's AND the cons.

Good luck!

Jo

 

I was always told my cholesterol levels were border line until recently. Now it seems I'm in the high bracket as the"goal posts" have been changed! I've never been told what my numbers were and have declined Statins until someone gives me more info. They, (my GP's) never tell me anything like that including blood glucose levels which they also say are borderline! According to my own blood glucose monitor they are 'normal' I also have osteo arthritis in spine and multi joints so exercise is very difficult due to pain and stiffness. I eat a healthy, home cooked diet, no junk foods or fry ups of any sort. I'm thinking that I probably have genetically high cholesterol too. Until I get some reliable  information which has not been put out by the pharmacuetical companies who persuade our doctors to prescribe their products. We need a simple reliable home test to compare cholesterol levels ourselves and not rely on BIG BUSINESS companies who are just relying on gullible people, to increase their profits even more. I do NOT believe what the tell us these days.  I'm 73 and prefer a good quality of life rather than quantity so GP's take note!  Rant over!

I was put on statins in my 20's because of my family history an finally got off them after around 18 years. They always gave me stomach issues but I have developed depression and lack of feeling from them I believe after taking them so long. Cholesterol is not the evil it was made out to be and are needed, please do your research on statins as they can have some very bad side effects. I think a healthy diet and eating the right type of fats is an option to think about.

I had my cholesterol tested today and the "bad" one is at 5.9:  this is down from 7.8 five years back after a heart attack, after which I was prescribed and tried every brand & strength of statins, with such disastrous side effects I decided more than 3 years ago that I'd rather risk a second heart attack than live in misery.

Somewhere on the internet I found info about Psyllium Husks and now take 4 teaspoons every morning in my porridge:  I haven't changed my diet in any other way.   I definitely reckon they're worth a try:  WARNING never take the powder dry as it expands on contact with any liquid, including saliva.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do and apologies for late response. I was sort of blocked out of these forums for a while, with no explanation, but am now back.

I'm a lot older than you, my " cholesterol is the same as your 248 I think was the total. 

My heart Dr. Told me diet and excersize won't usually bring it down, if this high cholesterol runs in your family. It does in mine. I also go to the gym regularly and eat pretty clean. I only weigh 110 lbs at 5'2 and a half. I'm 62 years old. He has me taking 5 mg. Only. 

I noticed nobody mentioned thyroid. My cholesterol used to be in the 220 to 230 range and then the TSH was lowered to less than 3, and the the total fell ito the 170 to 180 range. Currently my TSH is between 1 and 2 and my total cholesterol is between 160 and 170. A certain number of people have this relationship between the two, I recall about 25%.

 

I took a statin and ezetroll ,only meds that really brought my cholesterol down under the required level.

For my statin leg pain I eat peanut butter everyday and zero pain result.

Reading over the years I've seen just as much benefits for statins as harm.

For me personally it's done well.I do believe it prevented a heart attack by restricting swelling.

Look after your arteries