PaulSB
Squire
- Location
- Chorley, Lancashire
"Getting old"? How old are you? Ignoring any such symptoms is, in my view, rather foolish. There is no reason why age should influence such things.
Colesterol and statins
- Thread starter bobinski
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
"Getting old"? How old are you? Ignoring any such symptoms is, in my view, rather foolish. There is no reason why age should influence such things.
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
"This boost in LDL receptors also happens when you take statins." Does it? I think statins inhibited cholesterol production. It's the newer PCSK9 inhibitor drugs (Repatha, Praluent, ...) that boost harvesting receptors.
I would be cautious about trusting that article. Check everything!
edit to add: “The exclusion is those who have got familial hypercholesterolemia, where the body is making too much cholesterol, and part of their guidelines are to have lower intake of those sorts of foods.” errr, no, they dropped that guideline about 20 years ago. Current thinking is that even our bodies respond to cholesterol intake by reducing production.
Last edited:
I hear you and in an ideal world scenario (one of limitless resource, expediant and targeted testing, fuller and broader knowledge, etc etc etc) I would agree. Fast forward to Star Trek's Dr McCoy and his handheld scanner gizmo. Sadly, we're not there.
I could write pages on this, I won't. Suffice it to say that I have come to the conclusion that whatever it is that lurks within me, I shall have to wait for it to reveal itself more fully. If that means I cark it roadside, heart having blown on a tough climb, then so be it. It'd be a fitting way to go and preferable to many other. We don't, as a rule, get to choose.
Yep, that's the article I read (plus links) that brought me back to this thread. I was taken, as much by anything, by the sometimes quite fierce camps set up around the differing opinions. I have no iron in either fire. I read the differing opinions and advice with equal interest.
A somewhat related piece of information. I have a medical condition that results in me being chronically anaemic. My condition is one of the " Cinderella " ones that don't attract the big research money. I attended an online meeting last Tuesday where they were discussing the proposed start of clinical trials into boosting haemoglobin levels by means of very large doses of Vitamin B5 ( Pantothenic acid ). The lead doctor for the proposed trial went into some detail about B5, and one thing she mentioned was it being effective in treating eczema and also in lowering cholesterol.
That's something that I wasn't aware of and hadn't seen any reference to before.
That's something that I wasn't aware of and hadn't seen any reference to before.
My chloresterol is a bit high, can't remember numbers but the "bad" stuff 3.1 I think(?).
Anyway the Qrisk factor came out at 14% so Dr mentioned statins and I was all set to get prescription.
However when I asked her should I take them and the response was "entirely up to you". Which I thought was a bit crap! I wanted an informed medical opinion but ultimately it was left to me.
My lifestyle is good lot of exercise, bike and weights, very good diet although I do have a weakness for cheese which could explain chloresterol.
I do like a beer or two and a few glasses of vino but not excessive.
Anyway, my plan is get tested again end of year and see what numbers show.
Anyway the Qrisk factor came out at 14% so Dr mentioned statins and I was all set to get prescription.
However when I asked her should I take them and the response was "entirely up to you". Which I thought was a bit crap! I wanted an informed medical opinion but ultimately it was left to me.
My lifestyle is good lot of exercise, bike and weights, very good diet although I do have a weakness for cheese which could explain chloresterol.
I do like a beer or two and a few glasses of vino but not excessive.
Anyway, my plan is get tested again end of year and see what numbers show.
Its a whole can of worms, cholesterol levels.
The overall cholesterol number is not the important figure, its the HDL to LDL ratio that more important. Below 3.5 is excellent, below 5 is ok.
Also the triglycerides figure is important, it indicates how much free lipids(fats) are circulating around your blood stream, less than mmol/L < 2.3 is fine.
Bear in mind for some people there are side effects, cramps (legs) and reduced mental sharpness.
If you have a medical condition that requires them, so be it. But you can significantly alter the HDL/ LDL ratio with the types of food you eat and the level of triglycerides. Its not what you might think either in the way of certain food types.
Bear in mind the increase in life expectancy from taking lifelong drug!
Good luck in making a decision
The overall cholesterol number is not the important figure, its the HDL to LDL ratio that more important. Below 3.5 is excellent, below 5 is ok.
Also the triglycerides figure is important, it indicates how much free lipids(fats) are circulating around your blood stream, less than mmol/L < 2.3 is fine.
Bear in mind for some people there are side effects, cramps (legs) and reduced mental sharpness.
If you have a medical condition that requires them, so be it. But you can significantly alter the HDL/ LDL ratio with the types of food you eat and the level of triglycerides. Its not what you might think either in the way of certain food types.
Bear in mind the increase in life expectancy from taking lifelong drug!
Good luck in making a decision
I feel you, as they say. I guess it's where we are (with apologies to @gavroche) It is an honest response though, reflecting both the 'patient choice' ethos and the difference in opinions. There is no certainty, just choice.
It has to up to you. The doctor can advise and give you information to help you come to a decision, but can't dictate your treatment.
Issue I had was not enough information given other than generic leaflet I was handed on way out. I was literally all set to get prescription but if anything doctor confused matters.
PaulSB
Squire
- Location
- Chorley, Lancashire
I've recovered from a couple of major health issues. A well remember a friend asking me if I should consider backing off a bit. My response was "David, if I've got to go and I'd like to fall off my bike with a smile on my face."
I'm with you all the way on this one.
ebikeerwidnes
Guru
- Location
- Z’ha’dum
Just noticed this thread
Just after I took my morning pills - which includes atorvastatin (or whatever it is called)
I have been avoiding them for years but a few months ago "my head went weird"
I basically forgot names - including my wife's (for a few seconds) and the grandkids - one of them for quite a while
turned out I had had a mini stroke (TIA)
they did all sort of tests but decided that by the time the tests were run the problem had stopped
but my blood pressure was very high
I did comment that they had taken it just after telling me I had had a stroke - which was pretty much guarenteed to worry/scare me which would etc etc
anyway - the general A&E doctor got a "head" doctor and he had a good look and then gave me some pills
including statins
no sign or mention of a heart anything - my Dad had a heart attack many years ago but he was in his 80s at the time
so no tests that suggested heart anything
so I am unsure if I "need" them or if it was just a "oh - he is over xx age and not on statin so he needs to go on them"
or if there was a good (ish) reason
and since them - plus the Coeliac Disease diagnosis a few months before that - I am not sure what is going on
anyway - nice to see a discussion thread on a sensible (!) forum
although I will not believe anything without checking
Just after I took my morning pills - which includes atorvastatin (or whatever it is called)
I have been avoiding them for years but a few months ago "my head went weird"
I basically forgot names - including my wife's (for a few seconds) and the grandkids - one of them for quite a while
turned out I had had a mini stroke (TIA)
they did all sort of tests but decided that by the time the tests were run the problem had stopped
but my blood pressure was very high
I did comment that they had taken it just after telling me I had had a stroke - which was pretty much guarenteed to worry/scare me which would etc etc
anyway - the general A&E doctor got a "head" doctor and he had a good look and then gave me some pills
including statins
no sign or mention of a heart anything - my Dad had a heart attack many years ago but he was in his 80s at the time
so no tests that suggested heart anything
so I am unsure if I "need" them or if it was just a "oh - he is over xx age and not on statin so he needs to go on them"
or if there was a good (ish) reason
and since them - plus the Coeliac Disease diagnosis a few months before that - I am not sure what is going on
anyway - nice to see a discussion thread on a sensible (!) forum
although I will not believe anything without checking
vickster
Legendary Member
Stroke / mini stroke TIA is a much a risk of high cholesterol as heart attack. You don't want furred up blood vessels or clots in or firing out from your heart either any more than in your brain.
If you're unsure, ask your GP
I think they sometimes fall into the 'can't hurt' category. You present with a list of symptoms, an age and a history. It ticks the boxes.
I'm not being critical, it all makes sense. The evidence and the studies suggest etc etc etc. It's the best anyone can do.
ebikeerwidnes
Guru
- Location
- Z’ha’dum
This makes sense - to a point
but if there is something inside me that will cause me to have to stop - everything
such as something that will reduce breathing to a struggle
or something that will making thinking a struggle
or something that - etc etc
and it can be prevented - or put off - for a long time by taking a few tests a year and maybe a few pills
then that is worth it
BUT - if preventing it means constantly worrying about it and avoiding everything that makes life worth living
that that is not worth the effect of trying to stop the effect
