Cholesterol Level-had my chips...
Discussion
Have it tested yearly and went up from 5.4 to 7.1 in one year! Then this year back down to 5.6, no massive changes in diet or exercise. I'm a healthyish 187cm and 85kg.
The docs have been saying it's mostly hereditary, and not to worry too much. If I was older (I'm 39) they might have put me on statins.
Seems to be a lot of contradictory opinions on whether cholesterol is a symptom or a cause of illness.
The docs have been saying it's mostly hereditary, and not to worry too much. If I was older (I'm 39) they might have put me on statins.
Seems to be a lot of contradictory opinions on whether cholesterol is a symptom or a cause of illness.
Pussys, mine's 12ish, I went on a serious cholesterol reducing diet, it dropped a quater of a point after 3 months I take medication for it now, but its hereditary so I'm on them for life.
Btw my blood pressure is the dictionary definition of perfect, my resting heart rate is sub-60 and I can, and do cycle for 6-8 hours at a time.
Btw my blood pressure is the dictionary definition of perfect, my resting heart rate is sub-60 and I can, and do cycle for 6-8 hours at a time.
Mine was 7.x (IIRC, I must check) then on statins, eye damage, off statins (do google that if you get prescribed them). Never thought the cholesterol scare stories made much sense anyway.
Now no sugar, alcohol, or white flour and TC is 5.3 with TC/HDL 2.0. Due a chat with the doctor but he is sicker than me at the moment.
Now no sugar, alcohol, or white flour and TC is 5.3 with TC/HDL 2.0. Due a chat with the doctor but he is sicker than me at the moment.
Had mine done as part of a health MOT at the gym on Saturday - 6.43. Last August is was 5.92 and in April 2012 it was 5.04. Perversely I eat a diet that's low in cholesterol and work out bloody hard at least three times a week, for at least an hour a time, plus I literally drink one glass of wine a week and no other alcohol, don't smoke, etc. All I can conclude is that it runs in the family and that I don't drink nearly enough water. My fitness is otherwise excellent - I'm 40 but still have a score that would put me with the fittest of the 25-30 age group for aerobic fitness. I'm wondering if the last couple of weeks' festive excesses have caused it to spike? I guess I'll need to get it done at the doc's as the gym just gives you the total level.
Edited by MitchT on Monday 5th January 13:08
I'm fairly convinced the whole thing is rubbish. Mine is perfectly normal and I eat a fairly high fat diet, drink more than is recommended and don't get enough exercise (all to be righted this year...).
Cholesterol is one of the easiest things to measure. There's a load of literature out there as to how and why cholesterol came under the spotlight and why but the lipid hypothesis is not universally accepted, and the business of putting healthy middle aged people on statins for the rest of their lives, and selling them low fat products and cereals are very profitable ones. The film Fathead is a good place to start.
Cholesterol is one of the easiest things to measure. There's a load of literature out there as to how and why cholesterol came under the spotlight and why but the lipid hypothesis is not universally accepted, and the business of putting healthy middle aged people on statins for the rest of their lives, and selling them low fat products and cereals are very profitable ones. The film Fathead is a good place to start.
AJS- said:
I'm fairly convinced the whole thing is rubbish. Mine is perfectly normal and I eat a fairly high fat diet, drink more than is recommended and don't get enough exercise (all to be righted this year...).
Cholesterol is one of the easiest things to measure. There's a load of literature out there as to how and why cholesterol came under the spotlight and why but the lipid hypothesis is not universally accepted, and the business of putting healthy middle aged people on statins for the rest of their lives, and selling them low fat products and cereals are very profitable ones..
/\ this.Cholesterol is one of the easiest things to measure. There's a load of literature out there as to how and why cholesterol came under the spotlight and why but the lipid hypothesis is not universally accepted, and the business of putting healthy middle aged people on statins for the rest of their lives, and selling them low fat products and cereals are very profitable ones..
I have a friend who as a final year medical student in the 70s went out to do his elective at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda to study lipids.
He compared huge numbers of medical records of people with wildly differing diets and lifestyles.
Putting it simplistically he felt that cause and effect were being muddled up.
In the early 80s I put this to my new neighbour who was a registrar at a leading transplant hospital;
he poured cold water on my friend's theories.
We then lost touch, but when I saw my ex neighbour many years later (he was then a consultant cardiologist)
I asked him again and he replied that they had now decided that there was truth in my friend's researches but it was difficult to do a political U turn.
I wouldn't stress about it - I don't think there's any pattern worth worrying about. Mine most of my life has been around 4 (it 3 now), I've always been fit, slim and have ate healthy normal BP. 3 years at age 40 I was diagnosed with early stage atherosclerosis (plaque build up). F**ked if you do, f**ked if you don't..
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