Lowering cholesterol

Tfp

Tfp

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Hi all,

I've been given a chance to do it myself by diet and exercise, otherwise it'll be statins for me.

So I've been googling, got some ideas.

But it's always good to get advice from people who've been there and done it.

It'll be hard to give up cheese, chocolate, pastries, cakes etc...

Been told today porridge in the mornings is a good start.

Any advice welcome.

Tim
 
My family, mothers side, have naturally high cholesterol levels and I've been on statins for last 20 years. Just try and be sensible, don't have too many fry ups or fish and chips. As you've already stated, get a bit of exercise, but to be honest I eat whatever I want.

I've recently had a bit of a health scare when I returned from the Middle East with Pneumonia and suspected MERS and I have been subjected to more blood tests than you can shake a stick at. I asked about my cholesterol levels and was told I was perfectly normal, so 20 years on statins haven't harmed me. I do have 6 monthly blood checks for liver and kidney analysis so I do keep an eye on things.

Big plus is that there's no fat in beer
 
After 12 months trying to get my cholesterol down by Diet, exercise cutting out fat and drinking Benecol reducing drink. My cholesterol has lowered absolutely zero. Had appointment at Doctors Monday. Sunday i was shocked to find a long term friend of mine had died suddenly at the age of 56 after a massive Heart Attack. Dr gave no guarantees just quoted statistics but after the shock death of a friend at a similar age to me gave me a nudge so "Statins it is"
 
My cholesterol level was 9.6.
they put me on statins which reduced it to 5.2, and then said come off them for 6 months
It then went to 10.4
So I am now on statins forever,

I don't eat too unhealthily,
I am now on those cholesterol reducing probiotic yoghurts as well,
They're lovely poured over my kebab and chips.... :whistle:


at the end of the day who wants to live to 90 being miserable.
You won't guarantee living longer, it will just feel longer.... =))
 
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Paul Rice said:
After 12 months trying to get my cholesterol down by Diet, exercise cutting out fat and drinking Benecol reducing drink. My cholesterol has lowered absolutely zero.
Click to expand...

This is my worry, my level was the same two years ago and I did cut down a bit on the naughty stuff.

So going to try a bit harder this time.
 
My cholesterol levels were normal for years then they moved the goalposts , result levels now classed as high and prescribed statins for last six years , levels were about 5.6 to 6.2
 
Bampz said:
My cholesterol levels were normal for years then they moved the goalposts , result levels now classed as high and prescribed statins for last six years , levels were about 5.6 to 6.2
Click to expand...

I was 6.6 two years ago, now 7.0 so I guess I've some work to do.

What was it like starting on statins?
 
Mine are/were recently 5.2 and Doc says I'm ok. Body shape is no indication either, my missus has a figure like a duck, fat arse, short legs and runs around like a nutter and hers is around 3. Mind you, she doesn't eat much fried food but she takes Guinness intravenously
 
Take one before going to bed each night , no issues with any side effects , do not take with grapefruit juice .
Just remembering to take one every night , taken in the evening as that's when the body produces cholesterol when your asleep (or so I'm told)
 
I keep mine on or under my pillow. I take 20mg Simvastatin tabs, and haven't changed the dosage or the type since I started taking them 20yrs ago.
 
This was my bread and butter for my working life. I was a biomedical scientist, the people who analyse your blood. Right some facts about cholesterol.
1. The majority (around 80%) of the cholesterol in your blood has been made by your liver and intestines. This is why it so hard, if not impossible, to significantly lower your level through diet alone.
2. Statins block the metabolic pathway that leads to the formation of cholesterol. That's why they are so successful. I have taken them for 6 years so far.
3. You must not completely stop cholesterol production because cholesterol is vital for good health. It is the precursor to many necessary hormones, bile acids and for cell membrane synthesis.
4. Total cholesterol is not a particularly useful measurement on its own. In the UK we used to say it was alright to have a level below 6.5 mmol/l, but we are tending to lower this to the US level of 5.5. Before my TIA mine was about 7.0, but with statins is now around 4.0.
5. Much more useful is to measure the HDL or LDL cholesterol levels. If you measure one, then the other is calculated by subtracting that from the total cholesterol.
6. Most labs measure the HDL or High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol. This sometimes known as "good" cholesterol and the more of the total that is HDL the better, although there is still debate over that theory.
7. The problem with cholesterol is that it doesn't dissolve in water, and blood plasma is principally water. The body gets around this by sticking the cholesterol to huge water soluble molecules called lipoproteins. The High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) stick the cholesterol very firmly and take it off to where it is needed. The Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) have a weaker affinity for cholesterol and so as it pumps around your blood vessels the cholesterol can become unstuck from the carrier. Since it won't dissolve in the plasma, it ends up sticking to the walls of the vessels. That's the problem. Not only can that vessel become blocked, but also loose bits (plaque) can break off and block finer vessels down stream. In my case it blocked the fine capillary at the back of my left eye.
8. High cholesterol is very often a heriditary condition and is passed on through the generations.

I hope that is of interest to readers! I find it fascinating.
Mike
 
I've been on statins for a few years now and like the advice above I take my 10mg tablet at night. Luckily - he says touching wood - I've not had any side effects that I know about that other people will tell you get. No muscle cramps at all.

As Mike says mine is hereditary as is my high blood pressure. As my Dr. said 'you've been dealt some bad genes' as I am active and not overweight. Bit of bad luck. I have regular blood tests as well.

Tfp said:
...What was it like starting on statins?...
Click to expand...
The big problem at the start was remembering to take them. Like Gary I have them by my bed now. As I said above no side effects at all.
 
Others have said it but I’m not sure how much you will influence things yourself.

The first statin I was prescribed made me tired and achy. The second has been no problem.

Honestly no big deal from my own experience.
 
Twice yearly routine service at the Docs. Cholesterol is fine, blood pressure controlled by two drugs and now Beta blockers too. Type 2 Diabetes diet controlled. Weight creeping up a bit.

Tony.

ps. I like to keep active playing with the kids out in the garage.;)
 
Hi
Not sure if it helps, but I found that polishing and cleaning the zed by hand to a showroom shine inside and out worked up a sweat... So must have been "exercise" of some kind and therefore beneficial .. :D
Cheers Rob
 
Bumpa said:
.....
4. Total cholesterol is not a particularly useful measurement on its own. In the UK we used to say it was alright to have a level below 6.5 mmol/l, but we are tending to lower this to the US level of 5.5. Before my TIA mine was about 7.0, but with statins is now around 4.0.
5. Much more useful is to measure the HDL or LDL cholesterol levels. If you measure one, then the other is calculated by subtracting that from the total cholesterol.
6. Most labs measure the HDL or High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol. This sometimes known as "good" cholesterol and the more of the total that is HDL the better, although there is still debate over that theory.
Click to expand...

Interesting information Mike thank you. My last measured levels were upper 6's but ratio was well in - so doc says no problem. You do hit a brick wall on travel insurance questionnaire - i.e Do you have high cholesterol ? Yes it is slightly above limit - but ratio is fine. So you do have high cholesterol - yes but ratio is fine - recurring question/answer.
 
Tfp said:
Hi all,

I've been given a chance to do it myself by diet and exercise, otherwise it'll be statins for me.

So I've been googling, got some ideas.

But it's always good to get advice from people who've been there and done it.

It'll be hard to give up cheese, chocolate, pastries, cakes etc...

Been told today porridge in the mornings is a good start.

Any advice welcome.

Tim
Click to expand...
Sorry I can't help. My problem's the sugar. Good luck with the program.....................Frankie
 
Really interesting information there Mike, good explanation of the ins and outs of cholesterol/statins details I found easy to understand as a layman.
I been on 10mg statins for about 5years since I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, cut out sugar totally, reduced intake of sweet stuff (chocolate, biscuits, cakes), loads of fresh veg, salad & fruit, some walking exercise. Lost about 1.5stone and cholesterol reduced from 6.1 to 3.8 in last 18 months. No side effects from the statins. So works for me.
 
Bumpa said:
loose bits (plaque) can break off and block finer vessels down stream. In my case it blocked the fine capillary at the back of my left eye.
Click to expand...

What happened with your eye?
I had a ruptured blood vessel in my eye and all I could see, was a large red dot in front of one eye one morning when i woke up. It took eight weeks to clear fully.
The hyperlipidemia that I have first showed up in an eye test, when they noticed white semi circles in the bottom of my pupils, That is now a full circle, Apparently it is due to fatty cholesterol deposits.
 
gookah said:
My cholesterol level was 9.6.
they put me on statins which reduced it to 5.2, and then said come off them for 6 months
It then went to 10.4
Click to expand...

So mines hereditary then?!

They put me on 20mg simvastatin just over 12 months ago, my cholesterol was 5.3 but the doctor said it was more to reduce the risk of a stroke/heart attack and my cholesterol apparently can't be diet controlled. I only have 25% of my pancreas, which left my type 2 diabetic after I had pancreatitis. I don't really watch what I eat, even though I should apart from reducing the sugar intake and take metformin for the diabetes. Since I've been on them it's reduced to 3.2, I do drink them cholesterol things once a day so something is working. I read somewhere that once your on them, your on them for life? I don't get any side effects from them either.

I didn't realise just how many people take statins, it's very common.
 
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