Important information about statins that I’m going to ask my doc about

I stopped taking a statin and replaced it with “citrus Bergamot”. That was after a lot of research and Googling. Bought it from Amazon.

Are you taking as a tea or capsules/pills?

I have been on Lovastatin for several years, now my bad chloesterol is low, triglycerides are lower and my good choesterol is good. I talked to my primary last year to find out if I needed to change to something different He did not want me to change. My family history is loaded with heart attacks and strokes. But now I have Vascular Dementia! I am frustrated.,

I’m taking it in capsules, it is also in English Breakfast Tea for taste.

I was prescribed statin when I was 40 years old. I am a small framed woman and have trouble with med side effects. I chose not to take them. I am now 64 and do have high LDL. But no other risk factors for heart disease. If anything were to change, I would revisit taking a statin.

I have high-ish cholesterol and the genetic marker for heart disease and cannot tolerate any statin currently on the market. Buy I have a low calcium score, a good Endopat result, and a recent very good echocardiogram. My point it that, I'm relying on the available test protocols to keep an eye on things. My cardiologist is reassured so I am too.

My PCP told me of a patient he has who has 'extremely high' cholesterol levels that they've been unable to get lowered. He added that she's also 97 and walks several miles a day including doing her own grocery shopping and housework. And gardens, growing enough vegetables to share with several neighbors. And does short-term foster care for lost pets. In other words, she's doing fine and more than a lot of people a third of her age, lol. I think of her frequently and hope to emulate her at my current age, yet alone in future decades...

Thank you for this post. I have never heard of Endopat and have been research it online. My doctor never mentioned this test. I feel it is worth looking into.

The 97 year old woman is my hero!

The Endopat is interesting. It's not painful but it is uncomfortable. It's purpose is to measure how quickly and thoroughly endothelial tissue rebounds after obstruction or obstruction, which is, in a sense, a test for stroke-safety. I went to a superstar cardiologist I could find, about 18 years ago as my relatives all died from heart disease and/or stroke in one form or another. Dr. A. put me through every test that might suggest a threat and the Endopat was the last one so I added it to not leave a stone unturned. The test itself includes wearing something similar to a tight blood pressure cuff for about 15 minutes and the software charts the various parameters as the tissue rebounds. The tests were reassuring as, despite bad genes and high cholesterol, the blood work categorized me as A/optimal risk profile, based primarily cholesterol molecule size. And backed-up by great non-bloodwork test results. So the kind of cholesterol can be more significant than the amount.

Information is power. Without it, impossible to make an informed decision. Thank you.

Another 90+ year old Superwoman with high cholesterol!

The first cardiologist I went to created the calcium score and respects, and treats, high cholesterol if others tests corroborate that there's a problem developing. But he's more concerned with type of cholesterol, including molecule size, stickiness and propensity to clump. And, studies since then have shown that exercise can help a body make more of the non-clumping cholesterol, meaning that its not all genetics as once thought. If your blood work only shows a number for total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and the basics, and not a deeper analysis, consider asking for a more comprehensive assay.