High chlorestol

I take statins as I have a familial problem with bothe cholesterol & blood pressure, BP is controlled but my cholesterol remains high, there has been a lot of debate recently as to whether the "est well plate " and low fat diets are actually that healthy as some people's cholesterol actually falls on a high fat diet. I'm now on 4th tier statins, the ones they only prescribe when all others fail, no side effects at all from this one - have bood test in October to test efficiay

petra- I have a GP who takes statins, because he also has BP issues and a family history of heart disease. And I have a DH who also takes statins, for the same reasons, because of his family history and other health issues, despite his cholesterol being below 5. They both dispair at the refusal of so many patients refusing statins- because of bad press- when they know it could be a life saver, and prevent a stroke or heart attack. I can assure you neither makes any money out of it.

A friend of mine lost her DH to a sudden heart attack in his early 60s - vegetarian diet, not an ounce overweight- but with high cholesterol. They refused again and again for him to take statins as advised repeatedly. She wanted to sue the GP for not being more forceful and convincing

A slightly raised bad cholesterol is not always an issue is well balance with good cholesterol - but just depends on other health issues and family history.

If parent/s have suffered strokes or heart attacks, and siblings too- and your BP is raised, you have diabetes, etc, etc- then statins could really be life savers. More importantly for me- prevent debilitating and crippling, life-changing, stroke (I do NOT take statins btw- low and well balanced cholesterol, not heart/BP issues and excellent family history- despite having Type 2 diabetes and being overweight).

I'm the same nonna, I have many blood tests but cholesterol is never mentioned. I don't go looking for trouble. .

Am I unusual then in having no idea what my be or cholesterol levels are? I recently had a blood test which included cholesterol and when I phoned the surgery for the results was just told 'no action required', so I can only assume it's ok.

My phobia is so bad I can't even take my own Bp that's why I had to have a 24 hour monitor - turned out to be normal.

Our DD1 has white coat phobia too-she takes her own BP at home too

Yes I think they are Falconbird As high as mine was, the GP sent me home to 'relax' for a week. I couldn't relax as I thought I was about to have a stroke!

KatyK - I have this phobia as well. My BP was 190 over 90 and the nurse said I couldn't leave until I'd seen a doctor.

After the 24 hour BP monitor it was an average of 132 over 70. I had to have an ecg as well but it all turned out OK.

I think docs are taking this phobia into account these days.

Yes Rowantree white coat syndrome is what I have. The medics always look aghast when they take it but I take it regularly at home and keep a record and take it in to the docs so they are happy. I am on medication but just a low dose. I don't know which figure is which but they seem to be more concerned if the bottom figure is high for a long time. When I was first put on medication(in my 40s) my BP was 210/108 !!!
I lived to tell the tale. I think I was fortunate that I had booked a well woman check and they found it.

Newquay how very dare you be human??
Your lunch sounds delicious, though.

KatyK white-coat syndrome is well recognised, isn't it? I take my own when I remember, which is sporadically.

I can't remember which of the figures is the one to take more notice of - the higher or lower? And I also keep forgetting which is systolic and which is diatolic(diastolic?) and what they mean. Anyone? :-)

Had a share lunch with fellow sopranos today. Amongst MANY things talked about chloresterol came up and they were all shocked when I said my7.6 level.
It did make me realise though that I don't know the figures for my good/bad chloresterol.
Some said don't take the statins and have a strict diet. I said I'm going to take this lower dose and have another blood test after 3 months as suggested and make a decision then meanwhile have as healthy and low fat diet as is reasonable.
Porridge for breakfast and bowl of fruit.
At shared lunch I had salmon, lean ham, small slice of quiche (left pastry). Salad.
Pud was fruit salad and small slice lemon polenta cake.
Just had mackerel on toast followed by two slices fruit loaf.
And ? Small slice coffee and walnut cake with double cream on top-I am only human!

My blood pressure is usually about 137/74 which I think is OK. It shoots up when a medical person takes it!

I'm fortunate that I have a doctor who thinks the same as me: it's a money making machine. He knows that everyone is different and operates on a different level.
Mine never drops below 9 even when I went on a savage low fat diet for 6 months.
A while ago i went with my friend to see her cardiologist ( she had had 2 heart attacks.
After those they put her on statins. She could hardly walk down the road with the pain in her legs.
She took herself off them. When she told the cardiologist what she had done, he said: good and stay off them.
Did anyone read in the paper that the ex public health officer of England had taken himself off statins.

Sorry 132 over 70 32 would have been worrying.

I had a blood pressure monitor for 24 hours and it came out as an average of 32 over 70 which is acceptable. I'm 70 at the end of the year.

My cholesterol a few years ago was 7 which shocked me, but I was and am very overweight - in the obese category :-(. I've been trying harder to eat sensibly and always eat plenty of wholefoods, fruit, veg and fish but it's the other stuff too I can't resist! After trying a lot harder and getting more exercise it went down to 6, but the GP isn't worried because my good cholesterol is high. I'm still keen to get it down, but the exercise has lapsed in recent weeks because I'm so tired (extra grandchildren commitments) and my weight's risen again on holiday and with my father's 90th birthday break.
What I'd like to know is: what is a good blood pressure for someone in their 60s? I'm nearly 63 and I'm confused!

My cholesterol is always high 7.1 and the lowest reading 6.5. However two docs have both said it is very good cholesterol and statins aren't needed. I'm a vegetarian but not convinced that this has much effect and the doctor won't comment.

One doctor said good cholestrol was hereditary and that some of mine was bad but not very much.

I saw a clinical pharmacist and she advised cutting down on cheese and chocolate and to eat low fat cheese which is really not very nice. Has anyone tried low fat cheese? It goes hard in the fridge and seems to go mouldy quickly.

I'm trying to lose a stone in weight. I'm 11 stone and 5` 3" but it's slow progress.

How strange Maggie, my pain after previous statins was in my shoulder.
It soon stopped when I stopped previous statin.
I do some exercise although not 10,000 steps a day.
Would love to do Aqua fit but can't find a suitable class.
I do have oats every morning.

Lona, 8 is very high and double the acceptable level- so I ma surprised about your doctor's comment.

If your doctor told you that the choice was between taking statins and an early devastating stroke or debilitating heart attack- what would be your rationale for refusing statins- out of interest. Thanks.

I've had high cholesterol for a few years now and tried to get it down by diet and found that hard,so last year when it was 7.4 I reluctantly went on a low dose statin.

But for the last 6 months I've had constant pain in my left shoulder and upper arm,eventually went to the doctor and frozen shoulder was diagnosed,

The Doctor gave me a steroid injection and it worked a treat,I now have to regularly exercise my arm and am almost pain free

I do wonder if the pain was caused by the statins.

I am reluctantly on statins due to heart problems, I can live with a small dose but not the higher one, so try them.

I had mine checked recently because I was worried about my thyroid. My cholesterol had been 8.2 in the previous round of tests but the HDL was 2. Our new doctor said I did not need statins as HDL was fine. I was put on them when I lived in London but couldn't tolerate them. I tried several brands and just decided to die with the cholesterol and stop worrying about it. I was tested to see if it was the hereditary kind but it wasn't, so down to diet and exercise. As I had to check my BP over a fortnight I decided to stop all alcohol and exercise more. Lo and behold my cholesterol went from 8.2 to 6.9 and BP lowered. So water is the new Cab Sav for me. I try to average between 6000-10000 steps a day. If you have the hereditary kind you are probably wise to take statins but if not try natural ways first. I hate taking any form of pills.

Oh and I now eat porridge every day which I believe has also helped.

Last year mine was 7. I eat very healthily but am less active since I retired. GP told me to try to get it down myself and I have been trying to exercise more and drinking a Benecol drink every day. It has come down to 6.6, which isn't brilliant but GP has said to keep doing what I'm doing and come back in 6 months. When I was working it was always around 4.

I would agree with granjura, your cholesterol levels could well be more related to your genes than your lifestyle. My levels were too high, so I started exercising more ( encouraged (nagged) by DD)and lost two stone in weight, went back to the doctor and discovered that my cholesterol level had risen! I have been on statins for two years, luckily without side effects, as well as the blood pressure tablets I have taken for over ten years. I would recommend at least trying the statin.