should I take a statin? what are alternatives?

Yes. As long as you don’t have side effects, its good to have. When I was diagnosed pre-diabetic 10 yrs ago, was prescribed on statins. Its preventative meds.

Those numbers aren't terrible. Have you tried a low fat diet? Weight loss? Exercise? Are you diabetic? Have you had any cardo "events"?

About your only alternative, and just as a trial with frequent monitoring to see if the numbers are improving: going on a plant-base diet might help. Might.....mebbe........perhaps. Worth a trial for six months? I would say so.

Other suggestions posted by soggybone are also worth a trial for at least four months followed by blood assay.

@soggybones thanks for the reply, I agree with the thought that the numbers are not that bad. I am not a diabetic and I am working hard to lose weight and eat better. I did a CT scan and do have 5% plaque in my arteries.

Eat more fish, add fruits and veggies and unrefined carbs. Its a winner! very very simple yet effective.

@loriesco excellent, I will, thanks

@mpetermax You are correct, your numbers are not "terrible." But in addition to LDL and total cholesterol, there are other factors the doc uses when recommending steroids - your overall health picture and all your risk factors - age, weight, blood pressure, health history, any evidence of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), family history of heart disease.

There is actually a tool many use in deciding on the recommendation - a questionnaire that once completed gives your 5-10 year risk of a cardiac event, with and without statins. Did your doctor share this with you?

In my family, there is a big history of statin-intolerance, so when my numbers looked like yours, I avoided the recommended statins for about 10 years, controlling my weight, diet and exercising, and the numbers stayed steady. Then age stiffened my arteries, and illness and pain reduced my exercise, the numbers started to rise and my primary pushed harder for me to use statins. I gave them a good try (3 different ones, over a couple of years) and had terrible side effects to all of them. I thought that was the end of it - until I had an episode that sent me to the ER, where testing revealed a moderate coronary blockage. Now I use 3 drugs to lower my cholesterol, keep my blood "slippery" and manage chest pain - perhaps if I had not been so stubborn, I would not need all them.

What is this all about - YES, by all means try diet and exercise, and if it works for you great. But if it doesn't work (and it does not for many people), or if it works for a while and then things change, please stay open to the idea of medication to help.

Sue,
Thank you for the thorough warning. I will be diligent to get a second opinion and go back to my main doctor to make a decision. I appreciate your response.

Mike

@soggybones
Those items are essentially a necessity if you expect any benefit from a chosterol lowering med. The med won't do it all by itself.