Statins and cholesterol

Hello everyone! This is my first post in D & S. I know you guys aren't doctors, but I just wanted some general opinions.

So I've been trying to do my own research online on statins and how to lower cholesterol. I keep coming across contradictions, even is sources that should be reputable can't seem to agree on all the details. I got my cholesterol taken when I was 18. I was around 180lbs (I'm almost 6'1) at the time and my cholesterol was in the 320s. I didn't do anything about it, didn't give it much thought (which was stupid). I ended up in the hospital a little over a year ago and they took my cholesterol and it was 324. I was aged 24 then and weighed around 215. The doctor convinced me to take a statin and told me there was nothing I could do to lower it. My HDL was like 26. I took the statin for awhile and I'm assuming it worked because when I got blood work done, no one bothered to call me back.

Not long after I was in the hospital my weight ballooned up. I got all the way up to 280lbs. Now I'm losing weight (down to the 240s, my goal is to be back in the 180s). I haven't been taking the statin every day like I should. Have any of you guys lowered your cholesterol naturally? How did you do it? Am I doomed to take this pill the rest of my life? I've also seen some stuff on statins being linked to blood sugar issues if you're at risk (which I have to assume I am right now due to weight).

Anyways sorry if this was a rambling post. Just looking for opinions and experiences.

 

I read stuff about COQ-10, garlic, dark chocolate, blueberries, walking briskly, Vitamin B, ghost blood vessels.

I don't trust doctors motivated by financial incentives.

Especially if you have a family history with bad stuff, you need to make dramatic changes in diet, exercise, food selection.

 

Thanks. That is what I'm trying to do.

 

Back when I was concerned about manipulating my cholesterol numbers I found two things were able to change my cholesterol results. Those were eating fewer carbohydrates and moderate sunbathing. Sun exposure in particular will raise HDL levels over time.

Statins do have side effects. We learned that in my family earlier in the year. Raised blood sugar or increased risk of diabetes is a noted side effect. The FDA has issued a warning on this.

Another side effect is joint and muscles pains. In my family earlier in the year my mom began to experience severe hip pains. She basically wasn't able to walk. She saw her doctor. Tests were done on her hip. The doctor came back and said mom needed an operation to replace her hip. He said bone was rubbing against bone.

I suggest to mom that before the hip operation she do a trial. She should stop taking the statin to see if her hip joint pains went away. Mom agreed. And that was the solution. Within a few days of avoiding the statin mom was walking around. Now she regularly goes on long walks around her neighborhood.

 

^ Seems like another reason to not really trust docs and some meds. Bad side effects so more drugs needed for something else.

The stuff I read about certain foods and garlic supplements is they change the way the blood vessels operate at least temporarily.

 

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2010/1001/p741.html

Statins are often over prescribed. Personally, I would never take a statin even if my cholesterol was high, especially since a lot of research shows that they aren't especially effective. Good way to crash your endocrine system since cholesterol is the backbone of your hormones. But don't take my advice, go get a 2nd or 3rd opinion from a qualified physician.

The only thing I can advise is to get plenty of exercise(both resistance training and cardio), eat a balanced diet without added sugar, and try to reduce your stress levels.

 

Statins are probably underprescribed.

Some of cholesterol is genetic but should try to make lifestyle changes, including dietary improvements, exercising, and losing weight.

 

I work in health insurance I see tons of people on them. And seeing number to treat and side effects they are over prescribed.

 

Just found out my grandmother has cholesterol almost as high as me. Can't take statins because of side effects. She's got a decent diet and healthy BMI. She's 87 lol.

 

Damn, bro. You should write some updated clinician guidelines on managing cholesterol.

 

There is absolutely no reason to be on a Statin drug. Zero. They will make the issue much worse over time. Please stop any use immediately if you have not already.

 

Have you had your liver checked - ultrasound/bloodwork.

 

We get free health checks at work yearly and my bad cholesterol was ok but my good was a little low.

Over the past few years its improved from a bit more exercise and adding some healthy fats like fish, nuts, seeds etc.

 

Statins have very weak evidence to prove any efficacy or even method of action.

They also make you vulnerable to rhabdo if I remember right.

There are much better things you can do to address your cholesterol situation.

 

Not all statins are the same. It isn’t in the guidelines to just take statins and fuck off. There are nothing wrong to use pharmacological and non pharmacological therapies such as lifestyle change together

 

The big thing though, statins or no, you just gotta take care of yourself. Cardiovascular exercise, lower your weight, lots of fiber etc.

Statins have big side effects. From a public health perspective they decrease the rate of CVD very slightly - something like 200 people would have to take them for 5 years each to prevent one heart attack. But they then increase the rate of type 2 diabetes and other shit by about an equal amount (which then can contribute to cvd)

For secondary prevention (your cardiovascular system is already fucked) or really strong family history they make sense. Otherwise its a tradeoff and if I was in the position I'd want to look at my small dense LDL and some other markers rather than just total cholesterol. But no it is not a foregone conclusion that you need the pill for the rest of your life, really depends. I suggest you not take it from me or any other sherbro though and do some research from reputable sources - no youtube chiropractors.

Maybe start with this series -its now 7 years old and we know a few new things but Peter is sharp as a tack for a practicing doctor.
I don't think each part links to the next but you can change the i in the address to ii, iii, iv etc
https://peterattiamd.com/the-straight-dope-on-cholesterol-part-i/

 

Too many doctors use meds to fix any issue... probably because too many patients are unwilling to make the life style/diet changes to fix their bodies.

So they end up on a never ending cycle of meds