I had a blood test the other day to check my cholesterol levels.?

Question

A year ago it was 7, now it's 6.4, my doctor told me I was 30% likely to have a heart attack in the next 10 years.
By taking a Symvastin pill, one every day for the rest of my life, it would reduce it to 10%. I'm 62 and still working.
He said it was my decision??
Is realise my diet has to change (yet again), and take more exercise, I'm prepared to do that.
Any advice is appreciated.

Answer 1

Blood cholesterol levels are made up of two major components, the dangerous low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL - bad cholesterol) and protective high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL - good cholesterol).



A total cholesterol count of 190 is good as it's below 200. However, the indexes of HDL and LDL are the variables to be considered here. If you're on Lipitor and your choesterol count is 190; it means that the drug is effective.


A diet, composed of a variety of cholesterol friendly foods could be as effective as statin drugs in lowering bad cholesterol and triglycerides levels, according to a recent study .These recipes use ingredients that are high in soluble fiber, beta caroteine, potassium, calcium, etc.



Eventually, you might be able to get off this anticholesterol drug ( it causes some liver damage) with diet intervention. once you reached nomal levels of cholesteol.


The main function of HDL is to help soak up excess cholesterol from the walls of blood vessels and carry it to the liver, where it breaks down and is removed from the body in the bile. Normal ranges of HDL is 45-65mgm.


It is critical to know not only one’s total cholesterol (or the blood level of LDL - bad cholesterol), but also the ratio of cholesterol (or LDL) to HDL. If the cholesterol to HDL ratio is 4 or less, that indicates a lessened risk of heart attack. If it is greater than 6, the risk of heart attack is above average. Even if it is 5 or above, you should be paying attention and doing something about it, especially if you have other risk factor for heart attack (high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, obesity, strong family history).

LDL - less than 130 milligrams (mg)
HDL - greater than 35 mg (less than 35 mg puts you at higher risk for heart disease)
Total cholesterol < 200 mgm.

Elevated cholesterol is a risk for many Americans for heart attacks and CAD.(Coronary heart disease) . Consider these statistics:

About 100 million American adults have total cholesterol levels of 200 or higher, which is considered borderline - high risk.
Approximately 34.5 million adults in the US population have blood cholesterol levels greater than 240, which is considered high risk.


Elevated triglyceride levels may be caused by medical conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney disease, or liver disease. Dietary causes of elevated triglyceride levels may include obesity and high intakes of fat, alcohol, and concentrated sweets.

A healthy triglyceride level is less than 150 mg.

Aside from taking simvastatin or Zocor, you can maintain your cholesterol level thru exercise and proper diet. Try to control ypur high blood pressure. Hypertension can make you at risk for strokes. And high cholesterol for heart attacks or M I and CAD, or coronary artery disease.

Hope this helps !!!!!!!!!!! It involved a lot of research.

Answer 2

Didn't your doctor prescribe you something? This is something you should discuss with your doctor about what will be best for your situation. The most important first step to take is to change your diet if you don't already eat well. More whole grains and dietary fiber are good if you have high cholesterol. The next step is to get AT LEAST 30 minutes of exercise a day.

Answer 3

Unfortunately Rosie C's answer gave you the American levels of Cholesterol which are difficult to relate to UK levels but the answer is basically sound but won't help you to relate to your results. You should be lower than 5.2 with a ratio (LDL: HDL less than 4)

Go for the statin. There a number of different types and Symvastatin may not be the right one for you. If you start to get muscle aches, go back to your Dr and ask him/her to give you a different one or supplement it with Ezetimebe.

It is highly probable that your liver is producing too much LDL cholesterol. Supplement your diet with 50mg zinc tablets (one per day), this will reduce aromatase conversion of testosterone to oestrogen. The liver converts excess oestrogen to LDL cholesterol (P450 cytochrome conversion) and the zinc should mean that there will be less oestrogen to be converted and thereby reduce your LDL.

I was in the same boat and have since had a bypass, but with the zinc plus flaxseed oil capsules (better than fish oils - no fishy burps!) for Omega 3 and 6, I now regularly return less than 4.

Answer 4

I had a heart attack 11 years ago and did have high cholestorol. I am and have been on Simvastatin for ages with no ill effects. Like all drugs there couold be side effects, but if you do get any mention them to the doctor and he could change either the dosage or the type of pill. I work out three times a week at the gym. I am 62 and hope and feel I have yewars left yet!! Good luck. Go for it.

Answer 5

Take it. Mine was 7 and a 10mg simavastatin reduced it to 5.2. We have increased it to a 20 mg perday to bring it down even further. it has had the added benefit that my angina symptoms have also reduced. You will also reduce the likelihood of a stroke. Having said that also go on a low fat diet and walk everyday.
I have always been anti medication but these days I am very grateful for drugs like these. The only difference otherwise is that I have had to increase my fruit and veggie intake because of a bit of constipation.

Answer 6

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For example, sometimes early stage thyroid cancer can be cured by surgery to remove the thyroid gland, but you will need to take thyroid hormone medication afterwards for the rest of your life. Goiters can also be surgically removed and do not always recur after surgery. In most cases, thyroid disorders need treatment over a lifetime. However, with treatment most people with thyroid disorders can live normal, healthy lives.

Answer 7

I take statins, beta blockers and aspirin, 60 next year, smoke like a chimney and don't exercise much due to other health problems (can't be bothered).
I enjoy my life and when the time comes for me to go that will be OK.
I might be run over by a bus tomorrow, so I live for today.
Take the statins, it means you can eat chocolate.

Answer 8

1

Answer 9

Your doctor is another poor misguided stooge of the pharmaceutical industry. Ask him to back up his claims and whether these statistics are based on relative risk or absolute risk.
Take the time to read these links and make up your own mind. It's your health!
http://thincs.org/Malcolm3.htm#march24
http://thincs.org/Malcolm3.htm#may%2024
http://general-medicine.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/1994/1115/2
http://atvb.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/17/7/1224
http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/64/10/1689
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/272/17/1335?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=1&author1=Krumholz+HM+&andorexacttitle=and&andorexacttitleabs=and&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&volume=272&resourcetype=HWCIT
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1638188&dopt=Abstract
http://www.ravnskov.nu/myth2.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7114080&dopt=AbstractPlus
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/20/10/1113
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/23/6/847

Answer 10

a wild cat eats no pills