High Cholesterol hereditary? - High Cholesterol Message Board

cowgirl27 · 09-12-2003, 11:34 AM

I have heard that sometimes someone has high cholesterol because its hereditary and therefore diet and excercise isn't going to do a whole lot of good. My total chol. is 279 and my dr. wants to put me on Lipitor. I really would rather try diet and excercise first, but if its not going to help, I'm not sure what I will do. Anyone know if there is any truth to this hereditary theory?

NMc · 09-12-2003, 01:50 PM

Hi cowgirl:
Unfortunately, there is such thing as "familial hypercholesterolemia". However, my understanding is that people with this disorder have cholesterol values much higher than what you report having. My doctor also said I had this "familial" thing (total cholesterol was 350), but I'm convinced otherwise based on the absence of other symptoms (lipid deposits on tendons, for example). Diet and exercise should help reduce your total cholesterol and I would certainly try this option before starting on any statins. You might also try supplements (Omega-3, Niacin) and see if that doesn't help. You will probably get feedback from others on the board who are more knowledgeable about lipid disorders (and treatment approaches) than I am - so hang in there

ARIZONA73 · 09-13-2003, 11:02 AM

Cowgirl27,

By all means, I think that it would be advisable to adopt a more natural approach towards correcting any blood-lipid imbalance, such as diet and exercise, and the use of supplements. You provided only a total cholesterol number. By itself, that single number doesn't tell us very much. Do you know what your HDL, LDL, and triglycerides are? They're important to know. Also, do other family members have numbers similar to yours, and most importantly, does heart disease tend to run in your family?

Moxie75 · 09-13-2003, 06:17 PM

Well let's see I am an athlete and eat the healthiest of anyone I know and am known for me health nut consepts but yet I have high BP and high cholesterol and the latest.. diagnosed with a fatty liver. I guess I would have been dead at the age of 20 if it were not for my good habits. Boy is that enlightening!!! I'm 45 and the best people could say about me is that I look phenomonal and I am the picture of health. What about the insides though????????? Very frustrating... sometimes I wonder if maybe ignorance is bliss...Lisa

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ON THE WAY TO CAPE MAY!!!!!

NMc · 09-14-2003, 06:20 AM

Hi Moxie:
We sound a lot alike (look good on the outside - different story on the inside). I read a previous post of yours about ALT/AST levels and wondered if the increased values might be due to statin meds. What did your doctor attribute the fatty liver to?