Cholesterol

[mike9009]

Mezger said:

I am currently looking into this, bit of a minefield, seems the conventional wisdom, high cholesterol = high risk may not be entirely accurate, with many other factors contributing (inflammation).

I'm relatively fit, work out 4-5times a week at Crossfit (body fat around 15% max).. I also (thought) I ate pretty clean, little processed foods, focus on protein and not too many refined carbs. I drink very little, average 2 units every couple of weeks, don't smoke etc.

Yet my cholesterol is relatively high, sitting around 7. I also went for a calcium test and my Agatson score was 118, in 95th percentile for men my age (early 40's)...

I'm seeing a cardiologist next week for a review, to discuss.


Date LDL HDL Triglycerides Total Cholesterol
05/03/21 4.9 1.4 0.8 6.7
06/04/23 4.69 1.32 0.88 6.41
26/04/23 5.26 1.53 0.57 7.05

Two options, you can take my advice, a random on the Internet who bases all my research on personal experience and Internet research. Personally, my advice would not to bother doing anything.

Or you can take the advice of your qualified doctor and his view based on huge research bodies/ evidence.

I know which I would trust more......

[grumbledoak]

Mezger said:

I am currently looking into this, bit of a minefield, seems the conventional wisdom, high cholesterol = high risk may not be entirely accurate, with many other factors contributing (inflammation).

I'm relatively fit, work out 4-5times a week at Crossfit (body fat around 15% max).. I also (thought) I ate pretty clean, little processed foods, focus on protein and not too many refined carbs. I drink very little, average 2 units every couple of weeks, don't smoke etc.

Yet my cholesterol is relatively high, sitting around 7. I also went for a calcium test and my Agatson score was 118, in 95th percentile for men my age (early 40's)...

I'm seeing a cardiologist next week for a review, to discuss.


Date LDL HDL Triglycerides Total Cholesterol
05/03/21 4.9 1.4 0.8 6.7
06/04/23 4.69 1.32 0.88 6.41
26/04/23 5.26 1.53 0.57 7.05

What are you hoping for? From the cardiologist or the internet?

As far as I can tell you are correct that high cholesterol alone is not very predictive, except of a statin prescription. HDL:TG is more predictive and yours is in the right ballpark. Agatson could be lower, ideally 0, but it isn't high...

[Mezger]

grumbledoak said:

What are you hoping for? From the cardiologist or the internet?

As far as I can tell you are correct that high cholesterol alone is not very predictive, except of a statin prescription. HDL:TG is more predictive and yours is in the right ballpark. Agatson could be lower, ideally 0, but it isn't high...

some clarity on the magnitude (or not) of these data points, then some practical advice on how to improve/optimize it going forward.

[grumbledoak]

Mezger said:

some clarity on the magnitude (or not) of these data points, then some practical advice on how to improve/optimize it going forward.

The doctors vary greatly. Some just statinate by reflex, others are more aware that this is big business first and patient health a long way down the list.

If you haven't already had a heart attack the statins are years of pills in return for a few extra days and the fairly large risk of quite nasty side effects. That I can assure you are not coincidence or purely due to age.

Personally, with HDL:TG looking good I would be ignoring the TC and trying to get my CAC scan to 0 with lifestyle and diet. I won't take statins again.

Good luck.

[Mezger]

grumbledoak said:

The doctors vary greatly. Some just statinate by reflex, others are more aware that this is big business first and patient health a long way down the list.

If you haven't already had a heart attack the statins are years of pills in return for a few extra days and the fairly large risk of quite nasty side effects. That I can assure you are not coincidence or purely due to age.

Personally, with HDL:TG looking good I would be ignoring the TC and trying to get my CAC scan to 0 with lifestyle and diet. I won't take statins again.

Good luck.

Thanks for the input, lifestyle is reasonably good, fit (ish) for 42, crossfit 4-5x per week, bodyfat around 15%, eat pretty clean, drink very little 2 units every 2 weeks max, don't smoke etc.

From everything I've read, you can't reverse CAC scores, just stop it advancing further...

[Rosscow]

Just had my cholesterol checked for the first time ever (will be 42 in a couple of months).

4.8 total
2.2 HDL
2.4 LDL

Blood pressure was 120/70, resting heart rate of 53. BMI is 24.1.

Nurse said that was very good? I have no idea

[Langweilig]

mikiec said:

PeteinSQ said:

thanks - so you're not worried about cholesterol then?

I was 86kg, waist circumference was slightly too big so I could probably do with losing a few KG. Blood pressure was just slightly above where you'd like it ideally but not excessive. Triglycerides were spot on.

Should I be consulting the GP with a view to getting on atorvastatin?

“Serious atorvastatin side effects are rare but possible. They include liver, kidney, and severe muscle damage. Atorvastatin can also cause blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise, increasing the risk of diabetes in certain people. But for most people prescribed atorvastatin, its benefits outweigh this risk.”

So you could take atorvastatin, or you could look at what you eat and drink and how you sleep. The pill is easy but has consequences. Changing lifestyle is a lot harder but no health downside.

There are three types of statins that I know of. Simvastatin, atorvastatin and pravastatin. I was prescribed simvastatin more than ten years ago. Thankfully, I'm not one them now. One of the worst side-effects is that you can wake up in the morning with muscle pain and stiffness in your legs and feet. It felt as if somebody had whacked me on the legs with a stick during the night.

[Wilmslowboy]

52 years old, modestly active, very slight occasional chest tightness, so went for a 3 hour private health check.
Now booked in to see a cardiologist, possibly hypercholesterolaemia (genetic condition for high cholesterol)

Cholesterol total 8.07 (very bad)
Triglycerides 1.1 (good)
LDL 6.18 (very bad)
Diabetes risk 8% (good)
Blood pressure 115/70 (good)


Fixed diet about a month ago, largely fruit and veg, little or no sugar, meat meals cooked from scratch.
Non smoker (for 20 years) and almost zero alcohol consumed.

To get my to 23 BMI (top end of good weight), I'd need to drop to 11 stones (lose 16% of my body weight) currently 26% body fat.
(176.5 cm tall)

[Chuggy]

Whatever you do, don't ignore it. I had slightly raised chloresterol and BP but neither sufficiently bad for treatment. I was a runner and hill walker and thought myself pretty fit and invulnerable. Then, 4 years ago I suffered a stroke whilst asleep in bed. The description ' life changing ' hardly does it justice. I'm only now getting some of my life back. STROKE affects an extraordinary 20% of people and it can be avoided. Try to make sure you're not next.

[WyrleyD]

Might be worth checking out the other Cholesterol thread here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Wilmslowboy]

WyrleyD said:

Might be worth checking out the other Cholesterol thread here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Thanks