Does anyone really understand cholesterol? So confused!

When I was working I had mine checked regularly, it was usually around 4.3. Since I retired it has been creeping up, I assume due to being less active and not eating as well as I used to when I was working. Since being at home, more bread and snacks have tempted me. I last had it checked in one of those in-store pharmacies and I was horrified to be told it was 7. I made an appointment to see my GP and she said 'well, that could be all good cholesterol. You need a proper fasting blood test, not just those pin prick ones that they do in these places'. She gave me a form for a full blood test but then my husband became ill, so I forgot all about it. I must get it re-checked. I have heard from several people that those cholesterol lowering drinks really work. I have been having one a day. We'll see.

There seems to be no consensus about dietry fats and cholesterol levels among the medical professions. It is very confusing and often there are contradictory reports about how these affect the heart.

We each have to take what we can from current thinking and make up our own minds.

very interesting to hear other's views on Statins - I was prescribed them but did not take them as although my cholesterol was 6.3 the ratio of good and bad was OK.
a second Dr was happy for me to not take statins but as I have hypothyroidism and on Thyroxine this could cause raised cholesterol?
the idea originally seemed to be put everyone on Statins and even those who ate badly would be saved from heart problems. - not convinced.
my BMI is 21 and I weigh the same now as I did 20 years ago and I eat a vegetarian diet - so I am not sure I should worry overmuch about cholesterol readings.

Mine is 5.8, but the ratio is very low, so I have been told all is well. I'm happy with that!

How strange we were told absolutely not necessary now. In fact I had mine done last week - not a fasting one - seeing nurse in clinic next week - hypertension check - v important to weigh less than last year and get gold star and a tick.

Fasting blood tests for cholesterol are still done in my area too.

I had one yesterday.

Yes, I have an appointment for a fasting blood test next Monday.

As the nurse at our practice said ' they keep changing the goal posts'.

I see a consultant for an unrelated condition and she is very sceptical of statins and believes the drug companies are marketing them and persuading GPs to prescribe them unnecessarily in some cases.

I would not know what to advise as I am not an expert but the so-called 'experts' do keep changing their minds about diet.

Fasting blood tests are certainly still done in this area for normal cholesterol testing.

Thanks for your responses and so early in the morning! The blood test I had was a fasting blood test and did give me the ratio, but as I said the doctor kept banging on about the high total level. I think they must be a bit behind here in Oz. I see that some have even higher levels. Maybe I am worrying too much although there is a history of hear disease, but I think this was caused smoking.

Funnily enough the doctor in the UK suggested statins, but I resisted. janeainsworth I see you suggested eating butter, which is something I have always avoided in the past but after researching I see that thinking has now changed on this. I wish they would make up their minds! It's all so confusing.

Fasting blood tests are no longer done. MY DH has familial hyperlipidaemia (an inherited condition where all fats are too high diagnosed in his thirties) his cholesterol was about 13 when it was found so used to have the fasting blood done every three months but hasn't had to do this for some time which is good because he hates going out before breakfast. His does of statins has been doubled. the first one he was on gave him a breast lump but other than chilblains and very cold hands and feet he doesn't suffer any side effects. We just do healthy eating (a bit less of it for me as I am trying to lose weight) and I serve up virtually the same for all visitors.

PetraMorphine patches for a side effect caused by another drug??? I'd get a second opinion.

I've tried to do a link to NHS choices but failed - I found their article on this topic very clear. It also makes the point that cholesterol levels on their own should not determine treatment ( apart of course from FH as above which is very fifferent) I think that's were some of the confusion comes from. It's only one risk factor

My late DH was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia aged 32. His level was 17.5 and was told that by rights he should be dead but his body had obviously become accustomed to this. He was put on various medications over the years and was a guinea pig for statins back in the early 80's. Combined with diet and medication, his level dropped to 5. Our children inherited FH and were/are treated accordingly and our grandchildren are all being checked at the Harefield Hospital which has a department specifically for this purpose. Over the years advice has changed considerably. Eating well, does of course help, but in the case of FH only drugs can help. My own 'bad' cholesterol level hovers around 7 but my good cholesterol is good so I don't have to use medication. I have a good diet with the occasional blip. If you are worried, see the GP otherwise just carry on as you are. Eating separately is totally unecessary. We as a family ate the same food and everyone was happy. It's a lifestyle choice.
(DH did develop further problems as he aged and had triple bypass and valve replacement.)

Crossed posts GT

hondagirl
It's the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL(the beneficial cholesterol) that is important.
If you Google cholesterol ratios there are lots of articles.
The trouble is that an ordinary blood test will only give the total. If you want to know your ratio, you have to specifically ask, and do a fasting blood test.
People are often recommended to go on statins on the basis of the total figure, which to me seems wrong.
If I were you, the only thing I would change is that I'd eat butter instead of Flora pro-active, and ditch the rest of the low-fat stuff.
The low-fat diet mantra of the last 40 years is now being blamed by some researchers for the rising levels of obesity, type-2 diabetes etc.
see the other thread about low-carb diets.

OP - my understanding is that you are quite right that it is the ratio that matters and that this can only be measured after a fasting blood test. I also thought that diet doesn't make a huge difference and also I thought that there is no link between weight and cholesterol levels.

Statins!!

Only had mine checked once, several years ago. It was 8 and I got a letter from the doctor saying that as my blood pressure is always so good that I had nothing to worry about.
I wouldn't take stations anyway.

Fortunately I have a Dr who doesn't buy into the Statins thing.
When my check revealed that mine was over 9 I told him I would go on a 6 month low fat diet. It came down to 6.5.
He said " that's the way your body operates"

I have a friend who has taken herself off Statins after getting to the stage where she could hardly walk 100 yds down the road because of the pain in her legs. Now she's fine. Unlike her Husband who is a slave to Statins and has pain so bad in his legs that he is on morphine patches!!!

Maybe you do not think your cholesterol is so bad. High cholesterol has a direct impact on your risk of heart attack and stroke, so you do not want to make a hasty decision. Eat a heart-healthy diet can lower LDL cholesterol by at least 10%.

There is an inherited condition called hypercholesterolemia. I'm not a medic so if you are worried you need to speak to your GP.