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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Cholesterol § Statins
Answered by
Cleveland - OH
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Cholesterol § Statins
by A.M., Oct 16, 2003 12:00AM
I am a 48 year old male with 252 Cholesterol total (HDL = 44, LDL = 182) Triglyceride = 128. I've just had a Heart scan and have a total score of "0" (no identifiable plaque). My
cardio CRP is 2.4 (Average Cardiovascular risk). Homocysteine is 9.6 (normal results).
My physician wants to put me on a statin mediaction. My question is: If my heart scan shows no plaque at 48 years old, if my Cardio CRP is average, and my homocysteine is
normal - do I need a statin? I'd prefer to have a heart scan every 2 years to monitor plaque and take the statin if there is any evidence of plaque. FYI, I exercise vigorously 4 days/week for 30 minutes or more & carefully monitor saturated fat, carbohydrate & cholesterol intake.
Thank you,
Anthony
cardio CRP is 2.4 (Average Cardiovascular risk). Homocysteine is 9.6 (normal results).
My physician wants to put me on a statin mediaction. My question is: If my heart scan shows no plaque at 48 years old, if my Cardio CRP is average, and my homocysteine is
normal - do I need a statin? I'd prefer to have a heart scan every 2 years to monitor plaque and take the statin if there is any evidence of plaque. FYI, I exercise vigorously 4 days/week for 30 minutes or more & carefully monitor saturated fat, carbohydrate & cholesterol intake.
Thank you,
Anthony
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Oct 16, 2003 12:00AM
, Oct 16, 2003 12:00AM
anthony,
thanks for the post.
There are specific guidelines generated to institute statin therapy. I'm not sure of some of your other risk factors such as smoking status and family history but the guidlines are located on the web at:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/
It is important to remember these guidlines do not take into account other factors such as CRP. Personally I would feel better if your CRP were also in the first quartile of risk (low risk <1.0)
While you are doing alot of correct things, the facts are you have a high LDL cholesterol and a level of CRP that is above the lowest risk group. I would be very aggressive in treating this to lower your cardiovascular risk as much as possible. Remember, these are risk markers and by the basic information you provide, your risk is above average.
Heart scans show calcium that is a sign of organized plaque. It is feasible and probable that you have noncalcified plaque that is not seen on the CT scan and I would not assume that you have 'clean' coronaries just based on the CT scan.
Statin drugs have alot of effects other then just lowering your cholesterol, (ie..they may be antiinflammatory and lower CRP and may have some effect on the prevention of senile dementia), I would strongly consider instituting statin therapy based on the information you provide, even though it may not strictly fall in the guidelines.
good luck and keep up your active lifestyle!
thanks for the post.
There are specific guidelines generated to institute statin therapy. I'm not sure of some of your other risk factors such as smoking status and family history but the guidlines are located on the web at:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/
It is important to remember these guidlines do not take into account other factors such as CRP. Personally I would feel better if your CRP were also in the first quartile of risk (low risk <1.0)
While you are doing alot of correct things, the facts are you have a high LDL cholesterol and a level of CRP that is above the lowest risk group. I would be very aggressive in treating this to lower your cardiovascular risk as much as possible. Remember, these are risk markers and by the basic information you provide, your risk is above average.
Heart scans show calcium that is a sign of organized plaque. It is feasible and probable that you have noncalcified plaque that is not seen on the CT scan and I would not assume that you have 'clean' coronaries just based on the CT scan.
Statin drugs have alot of effects other then just lowering your cholesterol, (ie..they may be antiinflammatory and lower CRP and may have some effect on the prevention of senile dementia), I would strongly consider instituting statin therapy based on the information you provide, even though it may not strictly fall in the guidelines.
good luck and keep up your active lifestyle!
Anthony,
Is this your first High reading?
If so maybe your physician would allow you 3 or maybe 6 months to attempt to get it under control on your own, before having to take meds. Sounds like your in pretty good health,already.
However,this would aleast buy you a little more time to consider your options. Also you might possible get some names of medication your physician is considering putting you on and do a little reseach,lots of great sites over the internet about cholesterol and statins.
Have a great day
:)K
What kind of scan gives such an accurate account of Coronary Artery Disease?
Total cholesterol above 200 is considered a risk factor for heart disease.
The latest and greatest studies (funded by the statin Mfrs, no doubt), indicate there is a statistically significant benefit from taking a statin.
Hello everyone,
Before you know it,everyone will be taking cholesterol lower drugs. At least that's what it seems like anyway.
What are the guidelines for prescribing Statins.
Can someone tell me?
Thanks