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cholesterol levels are they high?????
i am 21 yearl old female and was told i have high cholesterol but 2 months ago it was perfect and now its bad i dont know how but i am worried about it and dont want to start another med if its not all that high so i wanted to know what other people thought and if they could help so i can see other peoples numbers but i dont want to have a heart attack thats my main worry well these are my numbers
total-234
try-212
ldl-148
total-234
try-212
ldl-148
I've NO side effects. I started out taking Zocor "every other" night and still do, and it did/does the job for me. Don't know if I'd take it every night if I'd have side effects.
I know other people who take Zocor and never experienced side effects.
Aspirin can give some people serious side effects, vitamins can give serious side effects, artificial sweeteners can have serious side effects in "some" people.
For example if I only take one "coated" aspirin my stomach lining will burn until I take Mylanta, an antacid tablet wont even take the burning away.
Yet I take Zocor and don't feel a thing/side effect in my stomach or anywhere else in my body.
It depends on the person. Any meds, any over the counter meds, and even natural products can have side effects.
We eat our biggest meal (supper) in the evening. I take the Zocor on a full stomach, maybe that too prevents me from having any side effects I don't know..
The serious statin side effects are usually severe muscle pain and feeling like the worst case of flu you ever had. That is what a pharmacist told me to watch out for. I trust pharmacists more when it comes to asking about side effects because I think they know more about side effects than the doctors do. This is my opinion.
You will be given a blood test every 3 months to check liver enzymes to make sure they are not elevated due to the Zocor.
I even wait 6 months to have it checked. I feel great and don't worry about it.
I know other people who take Zocor and never experienced side effects.
Aspirin can give some people serious side effects, vitamins can give serious side effects, artificial sweeteners can have serious side effects in "some" people.
For example if I only take one "coated" aspirin my stomach lining will burn until I take Mylanta, an antacid tablet wont even take the burning away.
Yet I take Zocor and don't feel a thing/side effect in my stomach or anywhere else in my body.
It depends on the person. Any meds, any over the counter meds, and even natural products can have side effects.
We eat our biggest meal (supper) in the evening. I take the Zocor on a full stomach, maybe that too prevents me from having any side effects I don't know..
The serious statin side effects are usually severe muscle pain and feeling like the worst case of flu you ever had. That is what a pharmacist told me to watch out for. I trust pharmacists more when it comes to asking about side effects because I think they know more about side effects than the doctors do. This is my opinion.
You will be given a blood test every 3 months to check liver enzymes to make sure they are not elevated due to the Zocor.
I even wait 6 months to have it checked. I feel great and don't worry about it.
hey so you said you have had no side effect right i have somone telling me that zoxor has horrible side effects so now im worried about it but i took it last night and felt fine just wanted to ask again thanks
hey thank you so much you calmed mynerves i finally took the zocor last night im on 40 mg im not overweight i just dont eat good but i have started walking every night but thank you for all of your help
Cinnamon to get your numbers down is a joke.
Are you overweighed? Do you eat a lot of junk food? Do you eat a lot of fast food? Do you exercise?
Educate yourself about cholesterol. Maybe a change in lifestyle will bring your numbers down.
If you do and eat all the right things and your cholesterol STILL wont come down then you need to go on meds.
Zocor is not as strong as Lipitodor for example. I'm on 20mg of Zocor for the last 4 yrs with absolutely no side effects.
FYI when I was your age my cholesterol was around your numbers, DESPITE that I DID eat very healthy and exercised every day.
My numbers kept slowly creeping up, not that much. The doctors back then (I'm much older than you) were not worried because back then a normal total cholesterol was up to 300.
In the meantime the guidelines were lowered to a total cholesterol of 200 (now its even lower) and the doctors were on my case to go on meds. I like you was reading and listening to all the hype and side effects and I was scared stiff to take statins. I did the "natural" route for one year. The cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, oatmeal, policasonol, fish oil, cholest off and more, guess what?? My cholesterol kept going up despite the natural stuff I took every day. When it reached 306 my doctor told me I was a walking time bomb, its obvious the natural products don't help me, I live a healthy life style, and if I don't have a problem getting a heart attack or stroke, and if its o.k. with my family then go ahead and ignore your cholesterol numbers.
Long story short I took the Zocor "every other day" because I was scared stiff, and now I ask myself "why did I wait that long". In only 6 weeks my cholesterol dropped from 306 to 209, and within three months to 180 where it stays give and take a little.
I need to mention that my doctor was not against trying the "natural" route at first, he gave me one year, but also told me right away the natural route works if your cholesterol is slightly elevated, but if you have numbers way over 200 you can forget it.
Are you overweighed? Do you eat a lot of junk food? Do you eat a lot of fast food? Do you exercise?
Educate yourself about cholesterol. Maybe a change in lifestyle will bring your numbers down.
If you do and eat all the right things and your cholesterol STILL wont come down then you need to go on meds.
Zocor is not as strong as Lipitodor for example. I'm on 20mg of Zocor for the last 4 yrs with absolutely no side effects.
FYI when I was your age my cholesterol was around your numbers, DESPITE that I DID eat very healthy and exercised every day.
My numbers kept slowly creeping up, not that much. The doctors back then (I'm much older than you) were not worried because back then a normal total cholesterol was up to 300.
In the meantime the guidelines were lowered to a total cholesterol of 200 (now its even lower) and the doctors were on my case to go on meds. I like you was reading and listening to all the hype and side effects and I was scared stiff to take statins. I did the "natural" route for one year. The cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, oatmeal, policasonol, fish oil, cholest off and more, guess what?? My cholesterol kept going up despite the natural stuff I took every day. When it reached 306 my doctor told me I was a walking time bomb, its obvious the natural products don't help me, I live a healthy life style, and if I don't have a problem getting a heart attack or stroke, and if its o.k. with my family then go ahead and ignore your cholesterol numbers.
Long story short I took the Zocor "every other day" because I was scared stiff, and now I ask myself "why did I wait that long". In only 6 weeks my cholesterol dropped from 306 to 209, and within three months to 180 where it stays give and take a little.
I need to mention that my doctor was not against trying the "natural" route at first, he gave me one year, but also told me right away the natural route works if your cholesterol is slightly elevated, but if you have numbers way over 200 you can forget it.
We don't wanna take meds because we're too young. Now there's a good valid reason if I ever heard one.
I'm thinking if you have a mi and die at 24, you'll be just as dead as if you were 64.................
Don't drink the kool-aid !!
I'm thinking if you have a mi and die at 24, you'll be just as dead as if you were 64.................
Don't drink the kool-aid !!
thanks they wanna put me on zocor but for people who dont wanna take meds they say take cinnamon pilols and drink pomogranite juice thanks
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Hi, Im 26f and my Cholesterol level is 230. I refuse to go on medication at my age, and am trying to work on lowering the number with diet and exercise. It is tough though becuase I have never watched in the past. I'm a healthy height and weight 5'6 125 but now my unhealthy eating and poor exercise is cathcing up with me. Does high cholesterol run in your family? It does in mine and my moms started at my age. She is still fighting. You should do what you feel is best for your situation. I hope that I can lower it on my own, but, becuase of the family history I know one day I might have to take meds, I just feel right now I'm too young. Good Luck!
You mentioned that two months ago your cholesterol levels were perfect. If you can figure out why there was such a marked increase in such a short period (diet or exercise regimen change perhaps?) and reverse the behavior (assuming it's within your control), that would definitely be the way to go. A total score of 234 and an LDL of 148 is defintely bad and would cause trouble twenty or thirty years down the road.. As Anacyde mentioned, diet and exercise are the first thing to try (also mintaining an ideal weight is important). If that doesn't work, then it may be necessary to take a statin.
Statins do work. My doc had been advising that I go on one for the last ten years but I was reluctant to take a statin until recently, when a high calcium score on a CT-A study made it strongly advisable. I was given 20 mg lipitor samples by my cardiologist and after a month my total cholesterol dropped from 212 to 131. I haven't experienced any obvious side effects. Seeing the imporvement in the numbers, I don't know why I resisted so long. Seems like an easy insurance policy to take the med.
I'm now actually on Zokor as my insurance company (Aetna) balked at my use of the (much) higher cost lipitor. Ill be taking another cholesterol test in two weeks and I'll post what the results are. My doc seemed to think that while Zokor is not as effective as lipitor, the numbers will be just slightly higher. If need be, the dosage can be upped slightly to achieve the same effect.
My advice: If your cardiologist recommends a statin, take it.
Statins do work. My doc had been advising that I go on one for the last ten years but I was reluctant to take a statin until recently, when a high calcium score on a CT-A study made it strongly advisable. I was given 20 mg lipitor samples by my cardiologist and after a month my total cholesterol dropped from 212 to 131. I haven't experienced any obvious side effects. Seeing the imporvement in the numbers, I don't know why I resisted so long. Seems like an easy insurance policy to take the med.
I'm now actually on Zokor as my insurance company (Aetna) balked at my use of the (much) higher cost lipitor. Ill be taking another cholesterol test in two weeks and I'll post what the results are. My doc seemed to think that while Zokor is not as effective as lipitor, the numbers will be just slightly higher. If need be, the dosage can be upped slightly to achieve the same effect.
My advice: If your cardiologist recommends a statin, take it.
Niacin is NOT a substitute for statins. Niacin works to raise HDL, the good cholesterol. Statins are for the purpose of lowering the LDL, bad cholesterol. It's not an alternative. Often, these are used in combination, when people have the high LDL/low HDL double whammy.
The statin-niacin connection basically is that, in people with low HDL, statins can reduce it even more...which is why Niacin comes in. If low HDL is the primary problem and all the other numbers are great (like in my husband's case) then Niacin is great for using alone.
Ideally, diet and exercise at your age (or any, really) would be first line. If that fails to get the numbers in check, a statin.
The statin-niacin connection basically is that, in people with low HDL, statins can reduce it even more...which is why Niacin comes in. If low HDL is the primary problem and all the other numbers are great (like in my husband's case) then Niacin is great for using alone.
Ideally, diet and exercise at your age (or any, really) would be first line. If that fails to get the numbers in check, a statin.
At your age, it is great that you know your cholesterol numbers and are interested in managing you health. Too few people your age are willing to take charge of their own wellness.
Certainly consult your doctor about cholesterol lowering medications. Don't be surprised if he/she does not recommend it due to your age. Ask about niacin. If it works, it is an inexpensive alternative to statins. And please realize there are things you can do to manage your cholesterol like healthy eating, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercise. The genes you inherited are also a factor, and because of that there are some aspects you cannot control.
Just be in charge, don't worry, and it is likely you will be contributing to this forum for many, many more years.
Go for it!
Certainly consult your doctor about cholesterol lowering medications. Don't be surprised if he/she does not recommend it due to your age. Ask about niacin. If it works, it is an inexpensive alternative to statins. And please realize there are things you can do to manage your cholesterol like healthy eating, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercise. The genes you inherited are also a factor, and because of that there are some aspects you cannot control.
Just be in charge, don't worry, and it is likely you will be contributing to this forum for many, many more years.
Go for it!
Those are high. Especially considering that you're a 21 year old female. You need to take aggressive steps to reduce these levels, soon. Triglycerides are a direct reflection of what we eat, so watch for trans fat and saturated fat. Eat a heart healthy diet and exercise, both will reduce cholesterol. Work with your doctor to come up with an effective management strategy for those numbers.
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