High Cholesterol :: Cholesterol Vs. CPK Number


Sep 18, 2013

For several years I took Simvastatin lowest dose (cut in HALF) and had good cholesterol numbers that satisfied the internist. That doc retired and new internist did a CPK test last year (my first one ever) and found it elevated to 243 so stopped the statin due to fears of muscle damage.

A year later (last week) the retested CPK, after taking NO statin for a year, was 303 and chol. numbers were back up (see below)!! So, doc says go ahead and take atorvastatin because there is a percentage of people who have high CPK with no other apparent problem. He said atorvastatin is more effective re chol. lowering than simvastatin which I'd had years ago. Is that so?

I am female, 64 years old and at age 55 had a calcium scan of the heart which showed ZERO calcium score. This was because I had similar TC numbers to current numbers and one doc (a cardiologist!) said 'have the scan' -- "find out if you need a statin." When he saw the ZERO calcium score for someone 55 he laughed and said I did not need a statin.

Years later, however, this new internist/gerontologist says that's fine but that is just the hardened cholesterol seen in the zero score, not the 'soft,' which is what travels and causes heart attacks and stroke. Great! Money spent for nothing on the test! Guess I need to educate the cardiologist?

My current chol. numbers before re-starting a statin last week were: Total Chol: 251; HDL: 77; LDL: 157; and Trigs: 87. Ratio is 3.26 -- Doc says he does 'not like' the 157 LDL.

So... a week ago I started on atorvastatin at a super low dose (I cut the 10 mg. pills into quarters so 2.5 per day. I have read in multiple places that it's stronger than simvastatin so wanted to start LOW and research shows that 2.5 is often enough to bring numbers to reasonable levels. I am not aiming to have the world's lowest cholesterol.

Last night and today I developed sharp pains in upper mid section and read the 'side effects' -- sure enough -- it's a possibility. Have also experienced increase in heartburn since taking these pills for a week. Started almost immediately. Is there a connection?

NOTE: Gallbladder removed in '04, before ever starting on any statin at all -- I'm one of the many who still has occasional GB related pains, likely from sphincter of oddi problems (sludge or stones formed by liver). It is called SOD III and it's not uncommon and since it's not a frequent occurrence, there is nothing to do about it per gastro doc. I have not had an episode in three+ years until last night/today, though this was mild.

Any relation to start-up of atorvastatin and these pains? Who knows? I would prefer taking NO statins since they are known to raise glucose a little and can bring on Diabetes type 2. My fasting glucose is high normal already at 98 and type II runs in my family at older ages. Swell.

What do YOU experts think of this? Would you be concerned about taking atorvastatin (or switching to simvastatin, which I took with no obvious problems for a few years?) Or would you just say forget the statins and live your life and don't worry about it? There is NO history of heart attack in anyone on either side of my family before age 80 and no 'strokes' at all.

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Heart Disease Risk :: Cholesterol - Good Vs Bad Cholesterol

I had a general health check at doctors yesterday. Am a 41 year old male and am taking co-codamol painkillers and amitriptyline on regular basis for back/nerve pain. Try to be physically active when I can but have real issues with my back and legs that limits anything too physical or for any length of time, but in general I manage at least 30 mins of some kind of physical activity each day. My diet isn't brilliant but it isn't terrible either (can be improved I'm sure).

6ft tall, waist measured yesterday at 38" and I'm just under 80 kg in weight.

My health check said my blood pressure was good, and that my pulse was nice and steady but also that my good cholesterol was above average (over 1.5) but that my bad cholesterol was not where it needs to be at 7.2.

The bad reading has freaked me out a bit. I've never had a cholesterol test before so cannot compare reading to a historic level but nurse has requested me to have a further blood test and probably a chat with doctor.

So, question is does having an above average level of good cholesterol and good blood pressure help manage the higher levels of bad cholesterol? My overall risk of having some kind of cardiac issue in next ten years came out at 1.49% which seems fairly low, but I forgot to ask how low you can get this % ie a risk of 0.01%?

I can try to up my physical activity a little bit but how dramatic would you change your diet based on above? I have lost two relatives to heart disease on my father's side of family (his sister and his father) but both parents appear to be fine although not aware they have ever had their own cholesterol tested.

I'm going to try and lose a few kg in weight which I'm sure will help but any advice in how to better manage my bad cholesterol appreciated.

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Normal SGPT And ALT With High Cholesterol And High LDL

I am 35 year old unmarried female, i am 5feet 2 inch and my current weight is 63 kg/ 140 lb after one year dieting started when i was 77 kg.I have high cholesterol and high LDL issue in genes (my father had high cholesterol with high bp issue). My Blood pressure is normal, My cholesterol was 207 mg/dl, LDL = 160 mg/dl and HDL= 40mg/dl from 2011 to june 2015 with few up and downs but in reports of  oct 2015 and march 2016 my cholesterol is increased up to 260 mg/dl, LDL = 198 mg/dl, HDL=51mg/dl, triglycerides = 100 mg/dl ,my other results are

Liver function test result are  ALT/SGPT = 16U/L, SGOT = 19U/L, alkaline phosphate = 114 U/L , i am vitamin D deficient. march 2016 current level of vitamin D(25-OH) =26ng/ml . i take 600000 IU two injections in 2013 when my level was 4ng/ml and then i take 200000 IU one capsule  in oct 2015 .
My prolactin level is also high since 2002 means between 75 to 100 ng/ml
My menstrual cycle is also irregular means come with gap of 40 to 70 days.

kindly tell me why my cholesterol and LDL is high if SPGT/ALT is normal. Since august 2015 i limit my whole day oil consumption is olive oil two table spoon in a day and one table spoon purified butter in a day. once in a week i eat one dunkin donut, 250 gram yogurt . i eat one egg daily.

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I searched for 'cholesterol vaccine' on the internet but could only find scientific papers and financial information. I read some but it is really over my head.

Did anyone here use it ? Does your insurance cover it ?

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61 and Yesterday my doctor told me that I have high cholesterol levels. I know how dangerous it can be, I know that it can affect my heart and trust me that is the last thing that I want because I had really good and quality life in these 61 years. He told me that I should not be that worried but he told me that he needs to prescribe some medication for me. He gave me atorvastatin drug. I am wondering how this drug can help me against high cholesterol? 

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what is the recommended dosage on the RYR (Red yeast Rice)?

take 1 600 mg tablet daily

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My diet included Extra Virgin olive oil, and olive oil margarine, and as I was working ( and eating cheese) on a daily business as well as lots of yoghurt and full milk when I was diagnosed with high cholesterol ( 8.9). I tried to bring down my score and virtually stopped eating cheese and ate only alpro yoghurt. I also stopped eating biscuits and made my own as I heard purchased biscuits have a high content of 'bad' fats, but my score still yo-yo'd around 7.9 - 8.9 ( only going down to 6.8 ounce). and was put on pills which was much better. I'm told my high score is probably also due to hereditary reasons as my mother is also very high. Recently docs have taken me off the pills due to press articles and I'm trying to find out what I can do to bring my score down naturally. As cutting out so much cheese which didn't make any diff to my score, can you help as to what else I can try?

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High Cholesterol - Runs In Family And Genes

Last few months have been very painful for me for many other reason. My brother (28) went for his routine blood test and was found to have 10.4 cholesterol. he was advised to go to specialist lipid clinic. Initially was advised dietary change... nothing happen... was put on Simvastatin... had some minor side effects and was changed to some other medication..

His specialist advised all my family to have blood test. We all had that... it was all ok but I was found to have 10.6 !!!.....I (24) went through the same process.. lipid clinic... dietary change... another test....the result was 9.4 this time, which is still to high the consultant said it was "PFH" ... I dont f**king know whats that ... but he told me that the P stands for "Possible" and something to do with "gene" rather than my diet and I am advised to take Simvastatin.....

(Both me and my brother are non smoker, non drinker and have ok lifestyle and similar diet and have around 25 BMI)

My Concern.... If that is genetic.... it is with us for all these 24 years... and with that high level of cholesterol me and/or my brother should have had 3/4 stroke or angina over the years..... we both feel fine... IS OUR BODY ADOPTED TO THAT LEVEL OF CHOLESTEROL? I am trying to search answer for this ..... can this not happen ...

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Wow, I've just been slapped in the face with high cholesterol. I had no idea. I am a very healthy daily eater. My problem has been lacking of exercise because of sprained ankle, then bronchitis...over the last 5 months I am up 12 pounds.

Then I had my blood tests, Cholesterol 275...HDL 65, Trig 207, LDL 169. Wow... I know that much is hereditary and stress.

Now I'm on a special diet and will lose these pounds. Off of fats and red meat...but this scares me...

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Have been on L-Tyroxine probably 30 years. When I weighed 120, cholesterol was 190, now that I am 68 and 30 lbs more, 150 at 5'4", my cholesterol is 416 (LDL in 300 range). I eat clean, no breads, cereals, carbs, etc (except only once in a while) eat wild game, game hen, fish, chicken, loads of fruits, veggies, etc., every thing super lean, fresh. take loads of supplements. I lift weights, do yoga, stretches, heavy gardening. Therefore, I find it absurd that my LDL is that high! I have absolutely no health issues except high cholesterol. Would Armour be better?

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High Cholesterol :: Rosuvastatin And Familial Hyperlipidemia

I am interested in finding other people who have inherited high cholesterol. I was diagnosed when my late mum had several strokes and me & my 5 older
sisters were screened.

It was just my eldest sister & me (the youngest) who had inherited it. 2 of my sisters 3 daughters had it, and both my daughters. Does anyone else have such a strong family history of inherited cholesterol?

I live in UK & am currently on Ruvastatin 10mg.

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High Cholesterol, Triglycerides And Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver

I had high ALT, high cholesterol, Triglycerides and Non-alcoholic fatty liver for last 1 year (as i know). I was trying to control these for last 6 Months.

I had my liver function blood test results back today as follows:

Serum Albumin: 43 g/L

Serum Alkaline Phosphatase : 77 iu/L

Serum ALT level 34 iu/L (it went upto 110 last year same time and slowly decreasing since then, in December 2014  it was 65 iu/L i am glad that it is back to this level )

Serum Bilirubin level 9 umol/L

Serum Lipids

Serum Cholesterol 5.3 mmol/L (In December 2014 it was 5.8)

Serum Triglycerides 1.95 mmol/L (In December 2014 it was 3.96)

HDL Cholesterol level 1 mmol/L

LDL cholesterol levels 3.4 mmol/L

Total cholesterol:HDL ratio = 5.3

It is clear that i have improved my ALT and Triglycerides with diet control and sports/exercise. However, still my cholestrol is high and recent Ultrasound scan suggested NAFLD, i.e fatty liver. 

I would appreciate expert's suggestions regarding my cholesterol and reducing NAFLD. I am worried as i did not have these issues just about 1 year ago. I am playing sports 2-3 times a week, controlling my diet (no cheese/butter etc), what else i can do to lower my cholesterol and Fatty Liver.

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