Suggest Treatment For High Cholesterol Levels In Blood

Posted on Thu, 21 Jan 2016

Question: My Dr is slightly perplexed as am I. Nevertheless, I have been prescribed Atorvastatin as my recent cholesterol level is 8.7 with LDL at 6.2. It has been rising over the last 2 years. My diet & exercise habits are generally good. e.g. I have very little dairy (except around Christmas or birthdays) or other saturated fatty foods; eat lean red meat once or twice per week, eat fresh salmon 3 times per week & generally have 2-3 fruits/day & 4-5 vegetables. I have very little processed food. I walk at least 30-40 mins 3- 4 times per week & go to gym twice per week for mainly strength/weight exercises. I have just read possible side effects of Atorvastin & I am concerned about taking it. I realise that there is an increased risk of stroke or heart attack if Cholesterol levels are high. I am 63, never smoked & there is no cardiac disease in my family. Both parents had high blood pressure (mine is normal/slightly low) & did not have cholesterol test-not invented- when they were alive so don't know if they had it or not. My query is: what is the latest research outcome regarding cholesterol or is some research still in progress? What should I do now?

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (40 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
A healthy lifestyle is all you need. Continue atorvastatin alongside.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

The first thing I would suggest is not to panic. Panicking will only make things worse. High cholesterol levels usually runs in families, especially in associated family history of high blood pressure. You have already passed a significant part of your lifespan and I do not think that would not be too critical unless you are having definite symptoms like chest pain.

I would insist you to go through:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cholesterol-test/basics/results/prc-0000

You should relax. Continue with a healthy lifestyle that you already have. Take atorvastatin as directed. For the rest, you need not worry. Atorvastatin will help in lowering the lipid levels. Get a lipid profile as well as liver function test done (repeated) in 3-6 months and follow up with your doctor.

The present research outcomes is that higher lipid levels predispose you to cardiovascular disease like high blood pressure or chest pain. But since you do not have those at the moment, you need not grow apprehensive.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar