Higher than recommended LDL cholesterol

Posted by Mantzy81@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 176 comments

I'm only 43. Feels too young to start taking statins, even if a low dose. Or is this pretty common here at our age? Feels like something older people need and I'm still young (I think) and reasonably healthy. 86kg, 175cm - down from 104kg 2 years ago so still "moderately overweight" but heading the right direction at least. LDL at 5.0 and HDL at 1.1

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LGZ7981@reddit

My husband (also 43) exercises 5-6 days a week, is at a healthy weight and has a pretty healthy diet. His cholesterol was through the roof and I suspect it was genetic. He went on a statin a few months ago and it’s helped tremendously.

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ptherbst@reddit

I had chronic elevated cholesterol and the only natural thing that helped me was to eat 80% veggies in my diet. Low meat, low bread.. I actually tried this because I got into longevity, but my cholesterol dropped from 240 to 130 within 2 months. My mom had the same issue for decades but adopted the same diet and it finally dropped to a healthy range. So before you try statins, give diet a try, it doesn't work always but it did for us.

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Curiousone_78@reddit

Cholesterol is also genetic. I have been on statins for it since age 33. Don't feel bad. I am 47 now and it's been hovering around 100 forever now, not 300 like before.

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bluemitersaw@reddit

I'm in the same boat. I started taking a statin around 35. Only so much you can do when genetics is stacked against you. A more extreme example. My uncle is a Dr and a bit anal in general. Given our family history of heart disease around late 30s he went all in on diet and exercise. He was on a borderline vegetarian diet (meat only 2-3 times a week always lean stuff) and biked or ran miles everyday. He was never fat to begin with but lost a lot of weight to the point were he was on the edge of being under weight. Had a heart attack at 65. Luckily it was minor, full recovery and all that but still got a stent put in. Even when you do all you can, sometimes you need medical assistance.

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Icy-Teach@reddit

Yeah there's just no way no. Obviously, you can't let your life be dictated by it one way or the other. Really. Your story reminded me of our kids first pediatrician. Truly wonderful man, who was all about health, and was in fantastic shape, and was a big cycler, did things in the community with his daughters and then one day we learned he just killed over. Over I think at home exercising, some kind of heart attack. Given how healthy he seemed and the lifestyle that he lived and assuredly died as well.

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ka-olelo@reddit

Meat 2-3 times a week is nowhere approaching vegetarian.

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ka-olelo@reddit

That was judgy. And a dumb comment. I eat more meat than that but I know it’s not a good thing. I’ve done diets from meat every meal to pescatarian. Most of us eat far too much meat. Got my HDL higher than my LDL with a pescatarian diet and joining a competitive sports team. My relationship with being home had to change. Staying active is key.

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melanthius@reddit

Yeah I eat pretty healthy and at least get some exercise and my cholesterol was genetically high. Doc said "can't move the needle much, just take statins"

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gibson85@reddit

Do you feel any different after taking a statin?

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Curiousone_78@reddit

Not at all. Feel the same. My blood work has been great as well since taking them. I only take one 40 mg Atorvastatin pill a night before bed every night. That's it. Very simple. No side effects for me.

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joshhupp@reddit

I used to work in a pharmacy and there was some literature I remember reading that Lipitor can, in some cases, cause Alzheimer's or dementia in old age, so be cautious of that

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beachguy82@reddit

You’ll need to share that study to be taken seriously. I have never once heard of that as a possibility.

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xrelaht@reddit

Studies exist which came to that conclusion, but there are also ones which suggest the opposite. If there's any effect in either direction, it's small.

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joshhupp@reddit

Thanks. Now if i could only get those upvotes back

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Swamp_Donkey_7@reddit

Nope. It’s like taking a vitamin. No symptoms at all and I have the doc run my bloodwork annually to make sure liver function and everything is ok. Just take it easy on drinking as it intensifies your hangover…or maybe that’s just getting old. I’m 44 and have been on them for a year. Nothing I did would lower my LDL. Made huge diet changes and cut back on dairy and alcohol and such and started running. Didn’t budge. Even had the genetic testing done and I was negative. Statin knocked it waaaay down.

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beachguy82@reddit

Not OP, but I’ve been taking a statin for a few years with absolutely O side effects. Just a dramatic drop in LDL from 160 to 70.

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melanthius@reddit

I feel like alcohol takes a bigger toll on the body otherwise it's zero effect

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wazacraft@reddit

I don't, but apparently my father did and stopped taking them as a result of his mood change. Two decades later, he and my mom are making sure I take mine as he gets his second stent. He's like 160lbs soaking wet and doesn't eat much, but that genetic cholesterol will get you.

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Cheston1977@reddit

I had high cholesterol, completely changed my diet, lost weight, etc.. and the numbers didn't change. Started taking a statin and it went right back to normal. Genetics play a huge role.

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Conscious-Intern8594@reddit

I don't understand. If the numbers didn't change then how did statins return them to normal?

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Cheston1977@reddit

TLDR: They didn't change with diet and exercise alone. Once I started taking a statin everyday, the numbers fell back into the "healthy" range at my next blood test. I hadn't had a physical in years. Went in, got blood work done My cholesterol was too high. My doctor suggested I watch what I eat and they'd check again in 3 months. I was really good for those 3 months. And lost about 10 lbs. When they checked again, my cholesterol numbers were pretty much exactly the same. She suggested a statin. I took it everyday and continued to watch what I ate. Three months later, they did another blood test and the numbers were back in the healthy range.

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sleepy_unicorn40@reddit

My husband has familial hypercholesterolemia and he has been taking Repatha. His numbers are better than mine and I don't have any issues.

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MailInteresting9923@reddit

Its worth noting that revpatha works very well but is not actually a statin.

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Curiousone_78@reddit

Statins definitely work. Anti-statin conspiracy theorists will say all sorts of things. Science is facts not conspiracy theories.

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aravarth@reddit

*80% of cholesterol is genetic. I had an acute myocardial infarction this year due to two occluded coronary arteries. I'm 44.

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nochumplovesucka__@reddit

I had a stroke 3 years ago at 44, literally 2 weeks before my 45th birthday. Mine was an occlusion in my carotid artery. This getting older shit can suck it.

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mgcat17@reddit

Same here. I’m 5’2 and 110 lbs, barely drink, eat right, and I’m on a statin for cholesterol and I also take low-dose aspirin each day.

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chumbawumba_got_up@reddit

Same

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majortomandjerry@reddit

I had an MI at 43. It is not too young to be taking statins.

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Stop_Already@reddit

I’ve got a terrible family history of heart disease/high cholesterol and have a history of being super morbidly obese I used to weigh over 600 lbs but lost over 370 lbs (had WLS in ‘08). I am super-super aware of my cholesterol because of my family history. If you wanna try lowering through diet first, you can cut your saturated fat to less than 20g a day or less, limit red meat, increase antioxidants, (basically, eat a lot of veg. They have vitamins and plant stuff that’s good for you), and consider drinking green tea. Taking COQ10 couldn’t hurt, either. My weight had crept up a bit and I was getting alarmed. I cleaned up my diet and *holy crap* my cholesterol dropped. My doctor was so happy. Think of ways you can ADD stuff rather than take things out. Add colorful veggies. Add whole grains. Add lean meats. Eat at least three *actual meals* a day so you don’t get hungry and binge on easy to grab garbage. (That last line may be me projecting …) Ok. I’ll stop now. Sorry. I’ve been excited to blather on about this.

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Mantzy81@reddit (OP)

username checks out! 😀 Nah, thank you for your insight and congratulations on the weight loss. That's fantastic. I always think of the Skittles slogan "taste the rainbow" and laugh at how it's changed in my 40s to "eat the rainbow".

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Stop_Already@reddit

Yeah. They’ve flooded the zone with so much garbage trying to trick us into buying their wellness bullshit, no one can tell what is good info and what is pseudoscience anymore. I prefer to keep it simple and cut out the corporate pseudo-food. The amount of weird “protein/fiber-like substances” available now is just weird. Do we need to add it to everything?? Protein cereal, protein bread, fiber tortilla, protein water, Can we just eat meat or beans or nuts and be good?? It’s not that hard. Meanwhile, profits go up and people getting sick from their garbage “food.” It’s gross.

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hopewhatsthat@reddit

My brother-in-law doctor thinks almost everyone should be on a statin. So I wouldn't feel too bad about it.

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WhyTeaNotCoffee@reddit

How are your triglycerides?

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Mantzy81@reddit (OP)

1.1, so within good range. Down from 2.2 last year.

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michellepazicni@reddit

Are you female? Perimenopause and lowered estrogen can cause this too

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Mantzy81@reddit (OP)

I'm a guy, but my wife is a Xennial too and going through PM so might be worth her having her bloods checked.

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xrelaht@reddit

>LDL at 5.0 and HDL at 1.1 What scale is this? You'd have to be dead if it's the one I'm familiar with. 43 isn't too young at all. I've been on a statin since I was 24. Neither weight nor diet nor exercise makes any appreciable difference for my labs: it's just how my body is. Over the years, more and more friends have been put on them. By 40, it was the majority.

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Mantzy81@reddit (OP)

tl;dr LDL = 90, HDL ≈ 20 in Freedom Units It's the scale the majority of the world uses for cholestrol and many other chemical concentration levels based on the SI units - mmol/L (millimoles/litre). The US uses mg/dL (milligrams per decilitre) which, whilst also metric, isn't as accurate or informative as it's a "weight per volume" measurement rather than a "molecules per volume". For cholestrol, I'm don't think it'd matter that much but in other concentrations, especially those where you're combining and need repeatable results, it is. Eitherway, here's a quick and dirty conversion table: [https://danii.org.au/conversion-table-for-blood-glucose-monitoring/](https://danii.org.au/conversion-table-for-blood-glucose-monitoring/)

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clo4k4ndd4gger@reddit

I'm pretty sure statins fucked me up. My doctor put me on them and my cholesterol wasn't even that bad. Shortly after I started getting cramps, muscle spasms, tremors and involuntary movements. I thought I had ALS for sure and went for several unpleasant tests and it ruled out all serious neurodegenerative diseases. Now doc thinks it was the statins because apparently those types of things are a fairly common side effect. I stopped taking them a few months ago but so far it hasn't subsided. Just read up on it and weigh your options and don't just blindly take it like I did.

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MailInteresting9923@reddit

Cramps, spasms and muscle pain are all side effects associated with statins, did your doctor ever measure your creatine kinase levels? If that is very high (like 5-10 times the normal limit) than you may not be tolerating them well. It can also take a few months for these symptoms to go away

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clo4k4ndd4gger@reddit

Yeah my general practitioner checked my blood for that before he referred me to neurology. It was in the normal range, but I had been off the statins for a couple of months at that point.

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MailInteresting9923@reddit

Well at least now you have a baseline

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Whites11783@reddit

Muscle aches with statins are fairly commonly reported. However, muscle cramps are also very common in the general population for a large number of reasons, not all of them well understood. They’ve actually done some studies where they gave people placebo pills but told them it was a statin, and many of those people reported an increase in their muscle cramps. So it’s a question how much they really do “cause“ muscle cramping

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SaccharineHuxley@reddit

Plenty of my patients have needed statins at a younger age - genetics has such a huge role in our individual cholesterol profiles. It’s great to get good exercise and eat as well as possible, and even still plenty of us need a statin to push our risk factors down. For some of us it’s LDL, others it’s the triglycerides. No shame in needing statins. And for what it’s worth they are typically very well tolerated, but if you have side effects there are oodles of suitable alternatives! No shame - you are still young. Just optimize your risk factors so it’s one less thing to worry about. You’ve got this!!!

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kittensbabette@reddit

I tried a statin this year but had a weird side effect- my calf muscles started twitching like crazy pretty much for a full 24 hours...so I didn't take it again. I'm trying red yeast extract now (and of course watching my diet but already don't eat any meat) anything else you would suggest?

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MailInteresting9923@reddit

Red yeast is actually a statin, what's potentially worse is it's coming from the less regulated for purity suplament industry

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kittensbabette@reddit

Luckily I didn't have a reaction to it the way I did from pravastatin

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JudgeJuryEx78@reddit

Also a vegetarian with high cholesterol (but not high enough to warrant meds yet). Turns out there are a lot of things that can elevate cholesterol, including stress and lack of sleep. I definitely upped my cheese ans egg intake during the pandemic, and that's on me. I'm doubling down on the whole grains and veggies as well as sleep and stress management. I'm going to be mad if my levels aren't drastically improved at my next physical.

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kittensbabette@reddit

Yeah my main weakness is definitely dairy, I was eating a lot of cheese and ice cream!

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SaccharineHuxley@reddit

Ezetimibe is my usual recommendation if statins aren’t tolerable. But your primary care doc likely has an algorithm they use based on the latest evidence basis. I’m a psychiatrist now so I havent stayed as up on the algorithms!

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kittensbabette@reddit

Ok good to know, thank you!

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ButitsaDryCold@reddit

What are the negatives of taking a statin. I have been avoiding it and working hard to try to lower it, but also to increase my HDL. Maybe I should have just taken it.

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Rare_Background8891@reddit

Mood disorders. I was fucking nuts for a couple months until someone put two and two together.

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Aysche@reddit

If you have liver issues, the statin can elevate the enzyme levels like AST, so in my husband's case he was taken off the statin.

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SaccharineHuxley@reddit

The average patient I meet has no real drawbacks to taking a statin. However, there are exceptions to the rule. The most common side effect that leads to people switching to a different drug/class of drugs is muscle pain. Typically blood tests can confirm elevated CK when this occurs. My FIL was in that boat and switched to Ezetimibe and has been much happier and still with good control of his LDL and TG parameters.

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ButitsaDryCold@reddit

Thanks for that.

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SaccharineHuxley@reddit

Happy to help!

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OkBiscotti1140@reddit

I know don’t take medical advice from reddit but my triglycerides are ridiculously low, hdl higher than triglycerides but my ldl is about 150 despite no red meat, maintaining a healthy weight and exercise. My primary seems unconcerned, my oncologist seems super concerned. Idk who to go with and was interested in an outside take

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SaccharineHuxley@reddit

I’m a psychiatrist and I’m fairly conservative leaning on managing cardiovascular risk factors as a number of the medications I prescribe can increase cholesterol. I favour the use of an agent early on to reduce the cumulative risk. As for your PCP vs oncologist, typically oncologists do many more rotations if not years within internal medicine during residency than most family doctors/general practitioners do. Personally I would defer to the internist specialist’s take. On a personal note, my husband is your age and started a statin this past year, and he feels a lot better since watching his “red” lab numbers go back to normal! So have I! Best of luck in deciding what to do. Here for ya if you need anything else

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OkBiscotti1140@reddit

Thanks! I may just book a cardiology appointment for the final word. I had to take a pretty rough chemo and my oncologist is very cautious.

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SaccharineHuxley@reddit

Oh I’m glad you can see a cardiologist, then. Especially with everything you have been through/are going through. All the best to you!

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OkBiscotti1140@reddit

Thank you. I beat cancer twice, don’t want to drop dead of a heart attack. Thankfully I have decent insurance as far as insurance goes nowadays and I have access to plenty of doctors in my area. Might as well just go.

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MailInteresting9923@reddit

Im suprised no one has mentioned getting a calcium scan of their heart. This can be a great indicator of how aggressive you need to be with cholesterol management.

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Ineedavodka2019@reddit

I just started a low dose statin and it did what couldn’t to get my cholesterol down. I have no side effects and actually feel pretty good about taking it. Also, I would rather take a preventative statin than have to start taking one after a heart attack or stroke.

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5ubatomix@reddit

My doctor is having me change my diet as much as possible to lower cholesterol and avoid pills, but I think it might be inevitable pretty soon. I’m already on two heart pills. But!!! I keep losing fat mass, I’m able to lift more and more, I have increased my cardio exertion and endurance, I recover breath faster during exercise, and overall I recuperate quicker the next day. So pills or no pills, I AM getting healthier!

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KittyFurEverywhere6@reddit

Started crestor at 44, should have started at 34. Happens to many of us, no shame in it... A few bucks a month to help prevent big problems is a safe trade off IMO. For most it's well tolerated and there's no stigma. I just went through a barrage of tests at the cardiologist too... Echocardiogram, calcium scan, stress teat. As a lifelong chubby guy, not fun times, but I feel better after going.

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VisibleSea4533@reddit

Just picked up my first prescription for it today…I’m 44. It had been in the high side but my doctor wasn’t overly worried until this year 😔.

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mcman12@reddit

It was a surprise to me when this came up a few years ago for me (44m). Been really focused on diet this past six months and saw some improvement (thanks r/cholesterol!) but prepared for needing medication. From what I’ve read it’s not a big deal and can really help.

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Prestigious-Yak-4620@reddit

If you take any other prescription medication take a look at the side effects. Oddly enough my Blood pressure medicine has a side effect of increasing cholesterol. The statin i started taking has a side effect of increasing my blood sugar. After taking metformin and watching nothing happen we are taking. A different route with my Primary Dr. I stopped taking everything without telling him. Went for my standard blood tests. And lo and behold everything went back to normal. I dont even have High Blood Pressure. In fact i have low blood pressure. I just ate better and exercise regularly. If your doctor wont or doesn’t understand how to treat some of this stuff without trying or suggesting nutrition as a solution first, they are not a doctor. They are a drug dealer. That said everyone is different and if you have a family history ask your family when they started having issues. Also what I just said was basically the same thing a 65 year old man told me when i was in my teens. I thought he was crazy.

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doktorhladnjak@reddit

Read up on the science of statins, not conspiracy theories on the internet. The actual science. There is very clear evidence it reduces heart disease in the long run. You can also adopt a better diet. In my experience, it helps somewhat but depends on how much you change your diet and genetics. Some people can go fully vegan and avoid statins. Other cannot.

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Clevergirlphysicist@reddit

Taking a statin beats developing heart disease. I just started the lowest dose of crestor (5mg) and my LDL dropped 40% in two months. I’ve had zero side effects. And it’s generic so it’s extremely cheap.

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Urabrask_the_AFK@reddit

If you decide to take statins, note it takes 2-3 months to adjust to them and symptoms to subside. Liver produced cholesterol is only one of the 4 pathway products it inhibits. Another key one is ubiquinone (CoQ10) your mitochondria use for energy production and ATP generation used by all cells but especially muscle. May want to speak with your body physician about possible 100mg Ubiquinol supplements. I’ve found it has greatly helped with the mild muscle pain and muscle fatigue (this is not rhabdomyolysis - which is a reason to discontinue the particular statin)

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snow-haywire@reddit

My cholesterol is considered high but has been stable my entire life. Statins make me feel like shit so I won’t take them. My doctor keeps an eye on it. High cholesterol runs in one side of my family. Thanks mom.

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fuuture_mike@reddit

Started on statins at age 42. I’m 84kg and 183cm. Only started on them after trying to reduce my #s with diet and exercise—but I couldn’t get them to move much. Seems genetic so I’m happy to stay on them.

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Gullible_Rich_7156@reddit

I’m in the same boat, active (gym, running, etc), not obese, all other indicators positive but my cholesterol is elevated. I’m hoping that mine is purely dietary. I got into the habit consuming very little carbs and lots of protein but a lot of protein was coming from red/processed meats and cheese. I’ve cut those out and will recheck in about 2 months. I’ll try everything diet-wise and do everything short of going full vegan before I commit to being dependent on daily medication.

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C_est_la_vie9707@reddit

Are type 1 diabetics dependent on insulin? Dietary changes are necessary but often not sufficient if you are predisposed to high LDL.

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NorskKiwi@reddit

Yes 100%. 100 years ago all type 1 diabetics died of the disease. They have an auto immune disease. It attacks the beta cells in the pancreas and stops/limits insulin production.

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C_est_la_vie9707@reddit

Or course. And it isn't a personal failure. It's part of the disease process. So is needing statins for some people.

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Gullible_Rich_7156@reddit

Who said anything about personal failure? I said that IF I can control my cholesterol through diet that I will. r/xennials : “OMG-look at all of these pills I have to take!!! I’m falling apart and life is terrible!!!” Also r/xennials : “What do you mean you don’t want to take a medication every day? Do you think you’re special or something?”

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C_est_la_vie9707@reddit

It was just general. Sorry.

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NorskKiwi@reddit

Omg I'm a donkey... I get what you were saying to them now. It wasn't an actual question 🤣

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C_est_la_vie9707@reddit

🫏 😆😉

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NorskKiwi@reddit

Good job dude. My tip is always deop all seed oils and transfats. Stop eating sugar. Cut out bread/pasta unless it's good quality/homemade. Eat meat, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and drink plenty of water.

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MeatAndBourbon@reddit

My doctor freaked out about my LDL. It was 16 mg/dl, or 0.18 mmol. It was half as much as the previous lowest she'd seen. Like, concerningly low.

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Glittering_Tea5502@reddit

I’ve been on statins since I was 32. I’m 44 now. Sadly, high cholesterol runs in my family.

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pogulup@reddit

If I had to lower my cholesterol, I would take a closer look at my sugar intake. As Americans we have a ton of sneaky added sugar in everything. Get off sugar for a month and retest. Fructose is converted to cholesterol by your liver. Sucrose is half fructose, half glucose.

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JDRL320@reddit

If you need it, please take it!!!!! My husband started Lipitor at 30, there’s a history of heart disease in his family with his dad and his older brother. At 38 my husband lost 50lbs and was in the best shape ever. He continued on the Lipitor because of the family history. His doctor said he was the perfect patient, wished all his patients ate as well as he did and worked out regularly. At 45 he was feeling a little off, long story short went into Torsades de pointes during his exercise stress test and needed heart cath where they found out he had 95% blockage in his widow maker, 80%, 70% & 40%- blockage in the others, he was in surgery the next day for quadruple bypass.

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LunaZelda0714@reddit

Gosh this story sounds like my boss. He always seemed to have high cholesterol but ate well and exercised a ton, went to doctor appointments regularly and never really seemed to partake in sugary or things with trans fat, etc. At about 50 (and as a running enthusiast) keeled over on the track at the local high school from a huge blockage and died. I know it's anecdotal but it's just wild to me that some people "do all the 'right' things" and deprive themselves to be "healthy" but that sh*t can still getcha! 😥

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melanthius@reddit

So he took Lipitor for 15 years and was healthy and still had critically dangerous plaques? wtf? I'm taking Lipitor but I'm not sure I'm clear on what your point is - like he'd have been dead without it?

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JDRL320@reddit

That would be the sequence of events. The day of the test the one doctor questioned why he needed a stress test to begin even though the EKG in the office was slightly off, he was healthy & was in amazing shape but just not feeling right. The nurse practitioner he saw insisted he get stress test done given his family history. She saved his life. Unfortunately 2 years after his bypass he started having issues again and every year (always in the summer) since 2021 he’s needed a stent placed. He builds up excessively large amounts of scar tissue in one area. He goes for a stress test at the end of this month because he’s feeling off again so I’m sure another stent is in his future.

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No-Hospital559@reddit

I am going for my stress test tomorrow morning.

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brkeju58@reddit

Psyllium husk. I saw huge benefits from adding this fiber into daily diet and my numbers are now fantastic

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phreum@reddit

This is the time that you would benefit as opposed to addressing it after you already have your heart attack.

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phoenix0r@reddit

A lot of cholesterol profile is genetic. I have a few friends starting on meds for it. My doc is watching me closely because my LDL came in at 180 and 190 is when they recommend meds. Also if you’re a woman, perimenopause can mess with your levels.

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Tiny-Reading5982@reddit

This explains why mine was high when I've never had high cholesterol ever.

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anonomoniusmaximus@reddit

How can peri mess with a woman's cholesterol level?

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C_est_la_vie9707@reddit

Estrogen lowers LDL. Lack of estrogen, increased LDL.

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mrsjetset@reddit

I had a stroke at 40, so yes, take the statin.

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No-Hospital559@reddit

Why are you worried about everyone else? A lot of cholesterol issues are genetic. It runs in my family and I have been on a low dosage statin since my mid 30s. The amount of people who decided to "tough it out" and skip getting cholesterol, blood pressure and sugar under control, then drop dead is mind boggling to me.

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Queen_Of_InnisLear@reddit

So much is genetics. I am a legit fat person and both my cholesterol numbers are great. As you can see from the comments, others are thin and fit and have high cholesterol. People often like to link health to morality or some shit but that's so silly. There are often factors out of your control, and if you need help then go for it. It's not a personal failing.

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pncoecomm@reddit

Look up at fluffy vs dense LDL particle types. Small , dense LDL are more associated with health risks than the large, fluffier type of LDL. Simply having a "high" LDL is not enough to be put in statins and more tests such as signs of plaque buildup, inflammation, should be performed. I have what doctors call "high" LDL but my LDL is predominantly the fluffier type. I have very low triglycerides (optimum ratio to total cholesterol). Have done different tests for inflammation, carotid scan, etc. Everything is perfect. I'll keep monitoring everything and if needed I take statins but I'd rather not.

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BabyGoesToEleven@reddit

This is the information I was looking for.

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MainBug2233@reddit

Repatha or nexlizet work differently than stations. Pricey and inurance can push back.

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ThrillingHeroics85@reddit

Dude im 40, healthy all my life, average weight , medium level or cardio, reasonable diet, the last three years iv had heart arythmias, shingles twice, a varicocele that caught up with me, trapped nerves in my neck and back that prevented full movement for 6 months... At a certain point i think we have to start to come to the realisation that we will have a stream of minor ailments for the next 40 or so years ( and I'm starting to realise i hope for the minor)

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vs-1680@reddit

Prescribed at 42 and it helped. I'm an athletic fella, but there's nothing you can do about family history and genetic predisposition. I want to live forever.

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JamesMattDillon@reddit

Just a couple weeks ago, I found I had high cholesterol. I am overweight, but I am trying to eat healthier and walking more.

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suspiciousyeti@reddit

I was on my 3rd pregnancy when I noticed I had arcus in my upper eyes. Someone made the not great call to test my cholesterol in my 3rd trimester and it was through the roof (turns out that is what happens when you are making a whole human) so 3 kids caused my cholesterol to be high enough during pregnancy to get them. Had it tested after pregnancy and it was fine. Had it tested during pandemic and it was slightly elevated b/c I was eating too much damn peanut butter and non dairy ice cream and even though I was dairy free and breastfeeding, saturated fat is saturated fat. Last year's it wasn't super high but it wasn't great because of I substituted out non dairy ice cream with gummie bears and sugar is also bad for cholesterol. My doctor suggested waiting another year to test because I've already cut back sugar a LOT and I'm training for 2 more ultras so it's not like I can work out more and I've been putting on muscle and losing weight again in this training block. Mine's not high high though so nobody has said the S word to me yet. My diet is a lot of beans now and I rarely reach for sweet stuff so I'm optimistic.

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NorskKiwi@reddit

My understanding is saturated fat isn't bad for you, there's no science backing that claim. We were lied to by people citing studies that tested saturated fats mixed with other nonsense. Ie processed meatballs full.of additives, sugars, and transfats, not clean mean/steak.

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Whites11783@reddit

This is not correct. Study after study has shown specifically that saturated fats increase LDL cholesterol. General dietary cholesterol does not have such a specific effect (that was the more recent recommendation changes), but saturated fats do.

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NorskKiwi@reddit

LDL isn't just one type of cholesterol. There are different LDL subtypes: small dense LDL is harmful, raising heart disease risk. Large buoyant LDL is generally benign or protective. I've read multiple studies and spoken with hundreds of people who have dropped sugar, processed foods, and seed oils out of their diet whilst continuing to consume large amounts of saturated fat. Their cholesterol went from terrible to good. There's a plethora of poor research out there, be careful. Most all studies on Saturated fat don't control for transfats, processed foods, seed oils, and sugar.

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Whites11783@reddit

Almost all of your posts on this thread are a mix of some actual science mixed with pseudoscience and nonsense. I’m not even going to try to dig into or refute this because it’s just not worth the time. Just an FYI to others reading this guys’ posts.

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Lcky22@reddit

Taking flaxseed oil supplements helps keep mine in balance

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Goose80@reddit

It’s kind of up to you. There are a lot of correlations between heart health and cholesterol. But I have also read that high cholesterol alone has no correlation to anything bad, but high cholesterol combined with anything else is bad. I’m fit, exercise, and eat a decent diet… I still have high cholesterol. Doctor told me that some livers just make more bad cholesterol than others… you might be in the same boat. I take statins to keep my risks low.

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Whites11783@reddit

High LDL cholesterol specifically has a mountain of data that demonstrates it is linked to negative heart outcomes.

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Goose80@reddit

It might have a mountain of data, but show me where Cholesterol killed someone specifically. Not someone who had high blood pressure and high cholesterol… because we know that’s a really bad combo. Side note, I’m interested in the studies being done that show microplastics impact on arteries getting clogged…

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Whites11783@reddit

I’m not going to engage in this much further because you seem to have a significant knowledge deficit in this area, but also a chip on your shoulder about it, which often doesn’t make for good conversation. But if you are actually curious, look into the data on young patients with familial hyperlipidemia. They develop extremely high LDL levels at young ages due to genetics, and if those cholesterol levels are not treated, they have early heart attacks in their 20s and 30s. And because most of them are young, they don’t have any high blood pressure or other issues, it’s purely a cholesterol issue. It’s a perfect physiologic demonstration of the dangers of elevated cholesterol.

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NorskKiwi@reddit

Do you consume processed oils? Ie oil made with chemical refinement? Try cutting that and sugar out, it does wonders.

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super_spill@reddit

I started statins when I turned 30. High cholesterol at 29, no one cared, high cholesterol at 30...statins! It's genetic for me and I never thought twice about taking them

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Legitimate-Special36@reddit

I'm 42. My LDL is stupid high and I have a calcium score of 78. I'm otherwise healthy at 6'0", 200 lb, with 4 days of weight training and 2 days of high-intensity cardio per week. EKG, ultrasound, and stress test all are healthy. Doc put me on a statin because my dad had 2 heart attacks before 70. It's no big deal. I just consider it another supplement like my multi-vitamin or fish oil.

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no1jam@reddit

A lot of this is genetic. I always looked healthy, body weight ok, bmi in check, but when it comes to blood work my total cholesterol was 2x what is recommended is consider “high”, (mine unchecked and proper diet was always near 400), and it was all LDL. A statin helps reduce it, and strength training g helped more. Now im still “high” hovering around 200 which is fantastic for me. When it comes to statins, i recommend starting at the lowest dose, see how good it does, and just move up one level at a time until you find what works for you. I tried lipitor in mu early 30’s and that was a terrible experience. I basically always felt like i had the flu coming on, doc didnt believe me. I take generic crestor (i think?), rosuvastatin, which hasnt presented bothersome side effects that ive noticed…so far.

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Whites11783@reddit

If you have an LDL of 400 or higher, you could have what’s termed familial hypercholesterolemia. It’s usually managed more aggressively with LDL goals much lower than 200 as people with FH have a much higher risk of early heart disease. Just an FYI.

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no1jam@reddit

Total cholesterol is just under 400, when not medicated and not resistance training. HDL and Triglycerides are in normal range, LDL makes up the difference

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colcardaki@reddit

Your weight doesn’t always matter. Cholesterol is complicated. Get yourself a cardio workup, calcium score, and speak to the doctor. There are so many people that just drop dead in their 40s because they had no idea their arteries were nearly blocked. Don’t be a statistic.

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CrazyTimes1356@reddit

I would say what you think is a healthy diet is not always a cholesterol healthy diet. I moved from red meat to a bunch more chicken. Not realizing the skin added to it. Moved to turkey cold cuts with cheese. When I plugged it all into a calculator it told me I was eating g a higher choletsteol diet. Try online calculator, be honest with all you eat and see how it added up. I’m going g to retest in another month

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gravely_serious@reddit

My doctor told me to cut carbs from bread and do more cardio. My LDL came down like a rock.

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NorskKiwi@reddit

Yup, too much sugar/carbs and processed stuff is letal.

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gravely_serious@reddit

After looking at all the stuff that goes into making the flour on grocery store shelves, I don't even want to eat it anymore. It wasn't hard cutting it out.

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NorskKiwi@reddit

Amen, nice job.

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Last-Doughnut5705@reddit

Mine is barely over. Everything else is fine and some adjustments in my meals brought me like 2 points from normal (was like 102), and the total calculation was pretty much on the line. So I inquired about Statins as I was worried. Doctor indicated "Well, the odds of you dying of a heart disease that isn't genetic is less than one percent. You can have it, but I prescribe it generally for people with much higher test scores". We talked more about it, and he informed me that, unless I started incorporating high sat fats, sugars, and the other bad things back into my eating routine, I shouldn't worry about it. I don't plan on going back to an unhealthy routine and I am "moderately overweight" as well. I might take it later on in life when I'm 60 or something (when I feel like incorporating more sat fats back in that is). Man I miss ice cream. Fortunately my daily sat fat intake is like 5 and total fat is like 30-45.

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ElectricPenguin6712@reddit

I have been for about 4 years now. Pops has high cholesterol so I know why I do. Is what it is. Just another pill to take.

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ButitsaDryCold@reddit

It’s not just about losing weight, but ensuring you are working out. Simply lowering calories to a certain point may not be sufficient if you also have genetic components. You need to workout and increase your good cholesterol and lower the ratio.

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laziestmarxist@reddit

Our parents generation was different, obviously, but my dad believed that too when I was young. They kept telling him to stop eating red meat and quit smoking and start working out or he wouldn't make it to my high school graduation. He did the pills and cut back a little on the cigs and red meat and made it that far, but he had a devastating stroke before I made it out of college. He wasn't even 60 yet. You are not too young to have a heart attack or a stroke. You are not too young for statins.

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No-Championship-8677@reddit

I got tested about three weeks ago and also have high cholesterol. I run 25 miles per week and do yoga every day, don’t eat red meat — so I was really surprised. And dismayed. Currently switching up my diet and will be retested in 3-6 months. I’m really upset but hopeful I can bring it down by going mostly plant-based, switching to whole grains, and curbing my candy habit. It’s hard but I don’t want to die. My dad died from a heart attack when he was 51 so this is basically my worst nightmare. I will do whatever it takes to get mine down. If that’s statins, so be it. I encourage you to take it seriously — I know other people my age (I’m 43 also) who are taking them!

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TrueMajor3651@reddit

The best results I've gotten from diet is when Im very mindful of my fiber intake. I try to get at least 30 g a day but ideally closer to 50g with at least 10g of that being soluble. It takes work though, its so easy to go a day without hardly any fiber and not even realize it

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No-Championship-8677@reddit

Thank you! Looking at my diet (that I’ve changed up since my bloodwork) and I feel like I’m doing well with that. I’m eating a lot of beans/legumes, oatmeal, fresh berries, whole grains, etc. I had been hitting the cheese, bread, and candy pretty hard for a few months so I’m hopeful that not eating that stuff will help a lot 😂

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itadapeezas@reddit

I'm a strict vegan, 46, and I can't get mine down for anything. I don't even know what else to do. I eat good and exercise regularly but it's so high. :/ I was really shocked. My Dad had a heart attack and stints put in so I'm guessing it's the genes but still....

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No-Championship-8677@reddit

Yeah it sucks how much cholesterol is tied to genes. I’m hoping mine isn’t that, but we’ll see…

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Sometimespropermom@reddit

Unpopular Opinion: Well, let me first off, start with a question. How many times have you tested with a high LDL? If it's the first time 1. Get retested in 1 week. Then 3 more times. So, 1 month's worth of readings. Sometimes these tests can vary. I tested with a bit high LDL once (I'm average weight, 44 years old). I went back in 2 weeks, I had changed nothing, and it was normal. Retested 2 more times. It stayed normal The other thing. My doctor told me that if I did continue on with high readings, to try lifestyle changes first. IMHO (and my doctor's) a lifestyle/diet change before meds....if possible. You did say you've lost weight, but you have a high LDL. I'd recommend retesting after a diet change. I'm not saying eat less (obviously you've done that), but look at what you're eating that could give you a high LDL reading or perhaps, add some activity to your day. Doctors are so quick to write an RX. Unless, something is acutely life threatening, painful or cannot be changed via diet or lifestyle, I'd look into a change. But good on you for the progress you've made so far! That's wonderful 👍 And if you want to take a cholesterol lowering med, that's your choice too 👍

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Whites11783@reddit

What others have said, etc. But also, to simplify - one of the ways statins have an effect is by lowering circulating LDL cholesterol, which works on preventing future plaque buildup/size increase. Waiting until you are older and the plaques are already built to start taking a statin doesn’t make a ton of sense. Keeping them lower if they appear to start rising is a better “prevention” strategy.

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Bashira42@reddit

Yes, this is why they started me. Hopeful can stop them again, but had to do chemo, had some weird side effects that seemed like heart problems, and they decided to get me started as my cholesterol levels are above recommended. Will see if can come off them sometime soonish

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C_est_la_vie9707@reddit

This. It's like avoiding getting your sewer line snaked and just saying you'll stop using toilet paper and hope it resolves on it's own. It might, but it will take awhile and you'll be doing more laundry. Or it might not and you'll have wasted precious time and Tide and now the plumber will charge twice as much.

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Round_Skill8057@reddit

Lol I've been o blood pressure meds and a statin since I was like 26 and was still relatively fit.

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Bushwazi@reddit

yes this is common. I was able to make changes with my diet & exercise (when I stick to it) and have been just on this side of the line of needing statins, but some day I will cross the line and have no choice. Def experiment and see if its within your control.

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prettyminotaur@reddit

If it makes you feel any better, I am in the exact same boat. 45. Been a pescatarian since age 15, v. low blood pressure. So they think it's genetic. I've been able to lower my numbers by working out 30 minutes 4x a week.

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anitabelle@reddit

I’m 45 and just got my bloodwork back. I was going to say I must be doing something right because my levels are perfect. I forgot that I’ve been on statins for a couple years so around your age when my doctor first noticed an issue. Look at it this way, you’re taking care of yourself and going to the doctor thus preventing further damage later.

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Expert-Housing-8488@reddit

You're not too young at all. I would listen to the majority of the advice provided. Get on it and don't look back. There are no awards for staying off cholesterol meds, but there is an awful lot to lose.

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intherorrim@reddit

Stop eating animal fat for two months and recheck colesterol. If it’s still high it’s genetics. But it probably won’t be.

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NorskKiwi@reddit

You're referenceling outdated/inaccurate information. Saturated fat is ok, unsaturated fat is great. Transfats/seed oils are straight up bad.

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space_wiener@reddit

Says OP is referencing outdated/inaccurate info then goes on to say seed oils are straight up bad. Seed oils are fine in moderation (just like most things).

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againandagain22@reddit

Hey. Research and look into taking noni fruit. If you can’t get the actual fruit then maybe there’s a powdered version available online. I’m not saying it’ll work for you but I knew a guy in his 60s who took a heaping tablespoon every morning and it got him off of statins. The Hawaiians see it as a super fruit.

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NorskKiwi@reddit

The amount of people who don't understand or know there are multiple types of LDL is astounding. One is fine, the other is not. A high LDL number doesn't mean you have an issue, so long as your LDL is mostly the good one.

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SaveusJebus@reddit

I'm 45 and surprised I haven't been put on them. I'm not active and I'm fat and yo-yo dieting currently... in the fat phase right now lol

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Pretty_waves904@reddit

Alot of it is genetics and it is very annoying. I've had high BP since 25. I've never been overweight and work out regularly. At my skinniest my BP almost went into uncontrolled territory. It was weird

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Flaky-Wallaby5382@reddit

I was 26 and it was generic

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twobootsranch@reddit

I’ve been on blood pressure meds for like 6 years so ya know welcome to middle age.

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_gonesurfing_@reddit

I was able to drop mine significantly with eating/drinking habits and exercise. Lost 15% off my body weight but it’s still on the high end of normal. Either way, I feel way freaking better physically with this current lifestyle. I’ll probably still eventually end up on meds since it runs in my family.

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fairlyaveragetrader@reddit

A lot of times it's genetic, I'm not sure what those numbers translate to in American but if it's on the higher side of your reference range or especially above it. You have to experiment with what foods create the LDL in your body For example I have a really good cholesterol, don't take statins, on a daily basis I eat about four eggs, some ground beef, some salmon, a couple chicken thighs, rice, veggies, so on and so forth. Great cholesterol Years ago when I was snacking on crackers and going out to eat a couple times a week, more sugar, cholesterol was higher even though a lot of what I was eating was supposed to be cholesterol free food. It doesn't necessarily translate to such in the body as cholesterol is also linked to general inflammation in the body. The other thing is, you have to absolutely make sure you're keeping up on your weekly workout routine. A sedentary lifestyle, no one is healthy with one of those

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RestAndVest@reddit

I started statins at 43 last year. I take it every night and literally no side effects and now my numbers are good. Did the whole super diet thing for a few months but it runs in the family so might as well take statins and change my diet and proceed

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Loocha@reddit

A few years ago mine were high in blood work. I went vegan, lost 30 lbs, exercised, did everything they recommended. Went back 6 months later and they were higher. Genetics. I’ve been taking statins for several years now and everything is reading normal. I gave up on veganism and it made no change to the number once on the statins. My grandmother and grandfather literally eat the same things every day. Grandmother has high cholesterol and my grandfather does not. Genetics are really the answer.

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Themoosemingled@reddit

Exercise is the best natural way to work to bring it down.

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Thatdewd57@reddit

My doc put me on one despite my LDL being fine and said there were studies that showed putting people on it in their 40’s is beneficial long term. He’s one of us age wise and has taken care of me over the years fine.

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80cartoonyall@reddit

You can also try red yeast rice supplement, just ask your doctor how much you should take before retesting. Works very well for those with slightly elevated levels of LDL and also can increase your HDL.

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C_est_la_vie9707@reddit

This is a statin. It's a weak statin but it is a statin.

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OpiumPhrogg@reddit

Dr Peter Attia has a whole bunch of info on Cholesterol - he is one of the leading doctors on researching longevity. For anyone concerned about what their doctor is saying about their cholesterol , digging into his work may be helpful :) [https://peterattiamd.com/category/risks/cholesterol/](https://peterattiamd.com/category/risks/cholesterol/) He has done a bunch of podcasts and his own youtube series about this as well.

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C_est_la_vie9707@reddit

I think some of his stuff is a bit off the wall but his info on cholesterol is top notch.

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forgetfulsue@reddit

It’s not uncommon, and a lot of the time it has to do with genetics. My mom and dad aren’t particularly out of shape and they’ve been on statins for a while. I know I need to lose a ton of weight so I expect when I get my blood work done in a couple of weeks I’ll likely be adding them to my daily regimen of medications.

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killer_sheltie@reddit

My cholesterol is perfect now despite being 20kg overweight still. However, I eat a plant-based diet. It’s something to look into if you’re leery of meds. Here’s a presentation by Dr. Greger about health benefits of a plant-based diet. https://nutritionfacts.org/video/how-not-to-die/

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PracticableSolution@reddit

A little older than you, but also on statins. My doctor once quipped that men’s once a day vitamins should just come with statins in them. Oddly made me feel better about it

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Hot_Future2914@reddit

I've not been prescribed them yet but it will probably happen soon. They have been creeping up over the last few years and my LDL started going up more. Until my hormones and injury took me out I was a triathlete and I've been vegan for over 20 years. I don't know how long they want to wait on it, as its been over 200 for like 4 years now.

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rainbowtison@reddit

Started in my late 30s. Got it in the green now with prescription (not stein since I had a reaction to it), fish oil , COQ10 and exercise 6xweek and watching saturated fats. I’m not having open heart surgery if I can avoid it. No thank you. I have the heredity kind. Plus didn’t help matters that I spent my 20s smoking and eating as much fried food I could stuff in my mouth haha. Spending my 40s trying to repair that mess!

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RoyDonkeyKong@reddit

I’ve greatly reduced my cheese intake and have become more consistent and deliberate with my cardio at the gym over the past couple years. Also reduced my alcohol and unfiltered coffee consumption. Because of these steps, my doctor’s threat to put me on statins has held off. We’ll be checking again in a couple months. I’m ready to go on statins if my lifestyle choices can’t manage it anymore, but if I can stay off of daily meds then I will. Previous conversations on this subreddit have opened me up to the idea. Good luck, friend.

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I_am_Gmork@reddit

Had high LDL/cholesterol diagnosed at 43, went on statins at a pretty low dose, because I just was not going to change my lifestyle (diet changes and exercise) that much. Took the statin fairly casually - missed days here and there. I didn't follow up with my physician/blood tests.I just figured I was taking my meds, I should be fine. I'm relatively active, not seriously overweight, no mobility issues. I had a heart attack 2 months ago, at 46. Went into cardiac arrest in the emergency room. They removed a blockage in my LCA and put in a stent. Don't ignore your high LDL diagnosis. It's a ticking time bomb. You will never see it coming - you just have to take it at face value and treat it now.

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GirlCiteYourSources@reddit

I’ve been taking a low dose statin for years (I’m 45), but mine is because I have a stenosis in a vein in my brainstem and my dad died from a stroke. My cholesterol has never been high, but it wasn’t low enough for comfort with this.

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oniaddict@reddit

Plenty of people are on them and plenty that change diet and exercise to get off them long term. LDL issues run in my family with plenty of them on/off of them. A pill every day can be a good reminder of the need to change what you're doing. Recommend adding as many beans/lentils as you can to your diet. Add them slowly and don't go all in as they take different gut bacteria to process without having gas issues. 3-4 meals a week has kept my LDL's in check.

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laternerdz@reddit

I was in the same boat. I have a great diet and exercise 3 times a week too. Genetic test showed I was likely to have high cholesterol. LDL was slowly climbing then one year it exploded upward and I just took the statin. Bloodwork a month later showed It worked really well immediately.

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