High cholesterol?

Anyone here been told they have high cholesterol?

I had my delayed 40yr old NHS health check, back in August. A month later, the GP surgery texted me to say that my cholesterol is high. Not to the point of immediate risk or requiring medication, but “read these hints and tips for a healthier lifestyle”.

A bit pissed off, given I’m a light drinking, cycling mad vegetarian.

Went for my 3monthly routine blood test the other week (I take medication for a chronic condition) and they accidentally tested my cholesterol again.

GP surgery calls me the next day: “you came in for your cholesterol checking yesterday. Your numbers are high. Did you fast?”

“Erm, I didn’t” “what about the other things that were supposed to be checked?” “Am I supposed to fast?”

“For a cholesterol check, yes”

“I didn’t want a cholesterol check! And that raises an interesting point that I wasn’t asked to fast back in August”

Anyway I had to go into the surgery the following day, for a series of blood tests. My usuals and also a fasted cholesterol check.

Turns out my cholesterol numbers aren’t as bad as first thought, but “…(Total cholesterol 6.5, LDL 4.5). It's a bit above ideal, but your total risk of heart problems/ stroke in the next 10 years is still well below the treatment threshold”.

So I share this for two reasons. If you go for your health check, make sure you’re fasted for accurate results. I wasn’t told to fast and nor was it checked before they took my blood.

And secondly… anyone in a similar boat? What should I do? I know my GP will say to exercise more and eat healthier. Things that I’m doing more/better than 90% of the population already.

I don’t want to live like a monk.

Porridge for breakfast. Problem solved

your numbers are very similar to mine and i had a very concerned dermatologist tell me i had to go straight to my GP. my gp was pretty unconcerned when i spoke to them since i'm relatively healthy with a decent diet. i also have a decent hdl (1.75) which my have been a factor in my GP's reaction.

my numbers have bounced around at that sort of level for the six years that i have been having occasional tests

if i was you, i'd speak to the GP for peace of mind. i doubt that they will ask you to make any extreme changes to your already healthy lifestyle.

More omega 3, less omega 6 (this worked for me, but I'm not a dr)

Yes similar although I'm not veggie. some people just produce more cholestorol. It used to bother me but not so much any more. I take one of those cholestorol drinks in the morning and that's about it.

Mindfulness and living in the moment helps a lot with this sort of thing, the biggest danger would to be to satrt to stress about it.

Thanks for all of the advice.

@EcuriePeril I’m keen to know more about the cholesterol drink! I totally I agree with the mindfulness advice. I stress way more than is healthy and I know it worries my better half. :(

@Light_EDDed porridge every day, I can happily do!

I need to do some reading around the omegas… but I think I might be doing this already? More fish, fewer nuts/seeds?*

*I’m actually pescatarian, but only a couple times a week.

What’s your alcohol consumption like?

I’m a light drinking...

From the initial post ^

I'm on Rosuvastatin, hereditary high cholesterol. Levels went back to normal straight after I started on it.

And secondly… anyone in a similar boat? What should I do? I know my GP will say to exercise more and eat healthier. Things that I’m doing more/better than 90% of the population already.

Same situation here.

If I figure out what to do I'll let you know.

The Drive podcast has a lot of interesting material related to this kind of thing. Obviously I cannot vouch for its accuracy, I'm not a doctor.

From a personal perspective I would be interested in doing further testing of myself to understand whether my cholesterol actually represents an issue or not. I am aware of some further tests that can be done but again I can't vouch for them and what's actually useful.

In my situation I'm aware of a family tendency to have heart attacks at a certain age, and I understand that the issue is familial hypercholesterolemia, however I don't meet the criteria for diagnosis. What's interesting to me is that neither did my dad, he was only diagnosed after a heart attack.

The 10 year risk thing suggests that there might be preventative treatment available but it isn't prescribed. I don't know if that means it's not economic across a population, or not a good risk/reward ratio for an individual, or both, or something else.

Sozza.

What’s light to you?

I’d consider myself a light drinker. Probably have a beer once a month.

I recently got a cholesterol test that came up slightly high. I'm a pescatarian who is allergic to dairy so diet isn't really a factor. My dad's side all have high cholesterol. I told my GP my numbers and she wasn't too fussed, telling me to come back in 3 years.

I've since done the Zoe thing because of my gut health but my blood fat management result came back poor meaning it takes me longer to clear fat from my blood.

I'm now eating a lot more nuts, seeds, avocados and oily fish. Apparently when you eat them is important, less fat in the evening is better.

+1 for this (but I am quite a bit older than you).

No worries. Fair question.

I have a couple of Guinness a week.

Interesting. Any side effects?

Unpossible!! 👴🪦💀

@Ben689908 I thought there might have been a bit of joint pain that I didn't have before but who knows? 🤷

I’ve got hereditary high cholesterol, started on atorvastatin several months ago after a diagnosis of coronary artery disease and cholesterol levels are right down below where they were 30 years ago. And I am not living like a monk. Mind you, my arteries are presumably still equivalent to those of a 76 year old.

Nothing outrageous there. We all know how beneficial Guinness is.

You say pescatarian, so are we talking fish and chips 5 nights a week?

Also what’s your work like? Stress etc etc?

When I went for the 40yrold check, the nurse said my cholesterol was a bit high but nothing to worry about. When I said i was basically vegetarian, drank about 1 pint a week, exercised regularly, she said just eat less cheese.
She specifically said 'normal people don't eat cheese everyday, maybe twice a week'.

I'd sooner give up booze before cheese. (It's a conclusion I've 'Comte' to)

me too!

Yes the cholestorol drinksw will be in the dairy section they are the small bottles like the pro biotic drinks. I slug one before breakfast. Some taste ok some take a bit of getting used to. I currently use Aldi (taste ok and reasonably priced)

Ta, I’ll have a look!

The cheese revelation is grim news…

fetta late than never....

If I figure out what to do I'll let you know.

I got as far as cutting butter out (for the cholesterol lowering spreads) and taking three staples; cheddar creamcheese & hummus to low fat, where that has got me idk, it seemed a brief your clo. is at 6 (kinda fact sort it out).. however butter is back in the mash and proper cheese is welcome through the door..