should I take cholesterol medicine?

My family doctor has prescribed 10mg per day of lipitor for me based on a recent blood test. I am not sure if it is right for me yet. I am 49 years old; normal height and weight. No high risk factors. I run 5-6 times a week. My total cholesterol was 224; ldl-145; hdl-55; triglycerides-120. While the ldl is in the borderline high range I just wonder if I should try to lower it using diet and exercise first. I actually gave the blood after eating eggs for breakfast and told the doctor this. Don't you usually fast before you give blood for this test? If I take meds now doesn't this mean I must take them the rest of my life? Please give me your advice.

[finetilthree]

Hi there.  My dad also had elevated cholesterol and elected not to try the Lipitor.  He does not like to take prescription medications and the doc agreed to let him try diet and exercise for a month first.  My aunt recently went on Crestor and immediately started having heart palpitations.  Then she had some other strange side effects and the doc immediately took her off of the Crestor.  I would go with your gut instinct on this one.  If your instinct is telling you to try diet and exercise first, then go for it.  One more thing, my uncle had high cholesterol and ate a bowl of Quaker Oats (oatmeal) once a day, every single day, for thirty days, and his numbers went down significantly.  Both my dad and uncle swear by Quaker Oats to lower cholesterol.  Good luck to you.

[finetilthree]

If you read on the forum under PVC's and PAC's the FIRST thing you will read is that smoking causes ectopic beats.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop smoking.  Please do it for your children.  The greatest influence in a child's life is what they see their parents do.  I would bet you money that if you quit smoking you would notice that your heartbeats probably will go back to normal right away.  I'm sure you know that smoking hardens your arteries.  My cousin was a smoker and died at 40 years old while waiting with her daughter at the bus stop.  The autopsy report indicated hardened arteries secondary to cigarette smoke. I seriously doubt that your combination of cold medications 10 years ago is still the culprit... probably more than likely the nicotine.  I wish you luck!

[finetilthree]

Please disregard the previous post.  It was an answer to a different forum member.

[LukeL]

Usually an overnight fast is part of a cholesterol test. There is a ton of conflicting info out there concerning cholesterol and cholesterol lowering drugs. I would talk this over with your doctor in detail as no one wants to take medication for life unless they are sure it is for a very good reason.

[Al Dente]

If your body can handle it, I think there are benifits of a statin regimen.

Some people can alter their lifestyles and have an impact, some are genetically programmed.

I started Lipitor at 18 and had 3 vessel CAD diagnosed at 28.  WIthout the Lipitor, I'd be toast....Lipitor however is not strong enough.

I take Crestor and Zetia and they are keeping me alive.

[Sweetwaterguy]

I have taking 20mg of lipitor for years and it has dramatically lowered my cholesterol, particulary ldl.  But don't take my advice.  Take the doctor's advice!  And have a healthy regimin of diet and exercise.  
A small percentage don't tolerate lipitor or other statins, but it is a small percentage.  If you take it for life, hopefully you will take it for a very long time.  That's why your doctor recommended it.

[Flycaster305]

Your ratio between HDL and LDL is good, you can probably thank your exercise for that.  
I tried for ten years to lower my cholesterol with whole grains like Quaker Oats, I cut out most high cholesterol foods, exercised daily, etc.  I got my total cholesterol down to about 200 from about 265. I thought that was good enough.  However, at age 60 I had my first heart attack and stents, this year at age 65 I had two more heart attacks and more stents.  The cholesterol medication for most people create no side effects, and looking backwards, I wish I had taken them when they first became available.  I was determined to do things the 'natural' way, and made a very large mistake. Just something to think about from someone who was in your shoes.

[robbiecriss]

Thanks for the input. I actually decided to take the test again tomorrow while fasting to see if there would be a change. They say it will not change it so I guess if it comes back high again I'll just try the meds in the lowest dose possible to see if it helps. I just can't stand the thought of taking medication the rest of my life. It kind of marks you don't you think?

[kitcurious]

Yes, I  know exactly what you mean. "Gotta have my pills" is a phrase one pictures coming from a dottering old person LOL It's almost like officially saying goodbye to ones youth.
But remember this, there are people who are born with genetics that predispose them to high cholesterol so their age is not an issue. It won't make you old to take the Lipitor.  Don't worry. You sound like you are in great shape. People will probably be surprised to hear that you take it. our good habits there have probably kept it lower than it would otherwise have been.

[kitcurious]

I'm not sure fasting cholesterol would make that large a difference, but you can tell the doc you'd like one before you start a med. If it's still high after that, I'd try the statin. Diet and exercise do make a difference, but you already exercise and unless you are like a friend of mine who ate a half gallon of ice cream a day... now, my  mother's cholestrol improved vastly, and she was taken off of Lipitor, after I started trailing her in the grocery store and switching items etc.
If you can't tolerate Liptor (liptor) then they can try another.

[anacyde]

While you should definitely modify your cholesterol with diet and exercise, take the medication in the mean time.  You don't have to be on it forever, though most people are because often diet and exercise aren't enough.  Your cholesterol is high.  Former standards said 200 and up was a risk factor.  New research says the numbers begin posing a risk above 180.  Though your numbers aren't terrible, they do put you at risk and you should take every possible measure to protect your cardiovascular health.  This means medication, exercise, healthful diet and avoiding cigarette smoke.

If your numbers drop enough, you may be able to stop taking the medication.  It occasionally happens.

[Sweetwaterguy]

There is no stigma in doing whatever is necessary to protect your health.  Many doctors are prescribing lipitor to people with average to marginally high cholesterol.  The purpose of this is to help you avoid heart disease, and there are good data to suggest this is an effective tool.  Quit being so macho and just follow your doctors advice.

[tackie]

The numbers look good except your total cholesterol should be below 200.  You may want to add some fish oils (1000-2000mg) and add in some oatmeal and those numbers should be spot on.  Worked for me.

Running sometimes does nothing.  I know a man who runs 3 marathons a year and his total cholesterol is near 300.  He eats healthier than most Tour De France cyclists.

Genetics my friend