High Cholesterol
Last edited Thu Sep 14, 2017, 10:16 AM - Edit history (1)
It's been creeping up on me and I need to do something.
I'm almost 61, male, 6'3", 190 pounds, I stay physically active (not very much cardio however), and I buy organic groceries, avoid refined processed foods, and eat pretty healthy.
Has anyone here gotten their high cholesterol under control without medications?
How did you do it and how long does it take?
On edit. Here are some numbers:
Cholesterol 244
Triglycerides 206
HDL 54
LDL 149
VLDL 41
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Phoenix61
(17,573 posts)If you decide to take a statin, CoQ10 is especially good to take. I get my supplements from iherb.com. I've used them for years. They have great prices and free shipping on orders over $40.
Why is it good to take with statin?
onecaliberal
(35,696 posts)Especially since it sounds like you are moderately active and eat well. The CoQ10 replaces what statin could deplete.
Phoenix61
(17,573 posts)is they lower the level of naturally occurring CoQ10.
cbreezen
(694 posts)The only way, that I know of, to avoid medication is to increase your level of good cholesterol. My good cholesterol level is really high (82). The good cholesterol level was high enough to ameliorate the damage that could be caused by the bad cholesterol. I was not prescribed medication.
About 20 years ago, my good levels were about 56. My weight is about the same now as it was then. The difference, I believe, is that I no longer have a car and walk, walk, walk, everywhere.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)I am thinking I really need to do cardio type exercise a lot more than I do now.
cbreezen
(694 posts)and grocery bags I carry give me some cardio. Hope so, cause I hate jogging and hanging out in a gym isn't my thing, at all! 
unc70
(6,322 posts)I am roughly your size, a bit older. Diet and exercise eventually lost out to genetics. Last year, I was finally put on a low dosage statin. It did what things like fish oil could not.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)Cholesterol 244
Triglycerides 206
HDL 54
LDL 149
VLDL 41
womanofthehills
(9,215 posts)i can't take regular niacin because of the flush, but I take time release niacin before I go to bed. Many cholesterol meds have niacin.
Good article from Scientific American: Cholesterol and Controversy: Past, present and Future
and towards the end of the article..........
All statins have been reported to be associated with adverse side effects, especially when administered at high doses2. These side effects include memory problems, sleeping issues, and, most commonly, that which is associated with muscle. For some, these muscle issues might just be minor. For others, however, statin use may come with more serious muscle problems, and this is catching some attention (see this post by Laura Newman). Based on this, as well as results published in November of 2010 in the Lancet, which reported a significant increase in the number of patients experiencing a muscle condition called myopathy as a result of high-dose statins (80mg per day), the FDA has issued the following safety announcement:
[06-08-2011] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending limiting the use of the highest approved dose of the cholesterol-lowering medication, simvastatin (80 mg) because of increased risk of muscle damage. Simvastatin 80 mg should be used only in patients who have been taking this dose for 12 months or more without evidence of muscle injury (myopathy). Simvastatin 80 mg should not be started in new patients, including patients already taking lower doses of the drug. In addition to these new limitations, FDA is requiring changes to the simvastatin label to add new contraindications (should not be used with certain medications) and dose limitations for using simvastatin with certain medicines.
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/cholesterol-confusion-and-why-we-should-rethink-our-approach-to-statin-therapy/
SHRED
(28,136 posts)womanofthehills
(9,215 posts)I take one every night before I go to bed.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)I pretty much stayed with my regime I outlined.
Especially the oatmeal.
Just got tested again and numbers appear heading in the right direction!
Cholesterol 208
Triglycerides. 156
HDL. 55
LDL. 122
VLDL 31
SHRED
(28,136 posts)Every other day.
I take one pill each and 2 tsp fish oil.
safeinOhio
(34,007 posts)Stopped taking my statin drugs a year ago. Doctor gave me the dirty look.
Cholesterol now down to 199Triglycerides now 91
HDL up to 43 from 36
This after starting 3 grams of Niacin/day (B3) for a month and a half. Took me 3 weeks to get up to that amount because of flushing. Non-flush Niacin does not work.
Lots more energy and lost 4 lbs too.
Please google Niacin for health.
Other number were better too. RBC is now normal, Testosterone was up and BP is down.
safeinOhio
(34,007 posts)6' 3' 204lbs and 68 years old.