Hi. Today I got a call from my doctor saying my cholesterol was very high at 312 and he said I should be on medication for it. I got the message on my answering machine and need to call back to find out exactly what the story is. What exactly causes a person to have such high cholesterol? Is it something genetic? While I am overweight, I know people as overweight as me and even more so who don't have these kinds of numbers.

Does a person who has high cholesterol like mine always have to go on medication and if so, it is a lifelong thing?

Stacil320,

High serum cholesterol can be largely determined by the genes you have inherited.

However, before you go on cholesterol meds, you should try lifestyle changes to see if they lower you counts:

a) lose excess weight - it contributes to higher cholesterol than you would otherwise have

b) Limit the amount of cholesterol and saturated fat you consume

c) Avoid trans-fats (anything with 'hydrogenated' in the label)

d) Have a glass of or 2 of wine daily (but limit overall alchohol consumption to this )

e) Cut back on sugars, sweets, processed foods, anything 'white' (white rice, white bread...)

f) Eat more foods with a low glycemic-index. Eat more fruits and veggies.

g) Limit the amount of dairy you consume

h) Take Omega-3 Fish Oil supplements to increase your HDL (good cholesterol)

i) Increase your amount of aerobic exercise (brisk walking, jogging, cycling) to at least 30 minutes every other day.

If the above don't help lower your numbers (your cholesterol is high and needs to come down), then consider a statin or fibrate drug. However, these meds will need to be taken for life, and can have side-effects you need to be aware of (muscle pain, weakness, tingling sensations & nerve damage, mental impairment or forgetfullness).

HubbleRules
:cool:

Thank you HubbleRules for all your advise. Maybe what you suggested will help. I do have a feeling my cholesterol is probably a genetic factor since there are several members in my family that have it. I have one aunt that is thin and in shape, eats all the right things and still had a count of about 400 until finally going on medication. Sometimes it just seems so unfair that no matter what you do your fate is just determined by genetics, but at least I can give your suggestions a fair shot.

Thanks again.

I had 289 Cholesterol two years ago and refused medication (the easy way out). I just recently had a blood test and it's now 208 and HDL, LDL & TRIG and all within the range. I'm also overweight by about 50lbs which I also was two years ago so I don't attribute the drop in Cholesterol to losing weight. I made some major dietary changes which meant low fat diet. Six months ago,I started taking a Policosanol Cholesterol Complex which includes 20 ingredients such as inositol, garlic, tumeric, articoke, green tea, policosanol, hawthorne, gingo biloba, niacin, chromium, guggul gum, etc. I take 3 tablets a day as recommended. I plan to continue both diet and the complex and hopefull next blood test I'll be below 200. I also take multi supplements which includes 9 tablets in a packet that has over 70 vitamins, minerals, trace minerals and antioxidants. I would suggest trying an all natural approach first. These doctors will attempt to keep you on drugs for life which means repeat visits which is good for business.

These doctors will attempt to keep you on drugs for life which means repeat visits which is good for business.

That's very true for the most part. That's why you need to get "good" doctors. My doctor won't even think about meds until all other possibilities have been exhausted.