My Best Man, Harvey Clarke survived a triple by pass heart operation in 2005. Harvey told me on 14th October 2006 that, prior to the operation, he had an average Cholesterol level, low blood pressure and had not smoked for 20 years. But he has furred up arteries & Atrial Fibrulation. He now is treated with Warfarin. This reduces the risk, from 4% to 1%, of blood clots causing a stroke.
I booked a test at Boots in Ringwood on 9th October 2006. My result was 5.2 millimoles total cholesterol per litre of blood. I am a non smoker & 50 years young. My systolic blood pressure is 130mm Hg - the UK average is 135mm Hg. According to the European Society of Cardiology SCORE system (see table below) I have a 2% chance of a fatal cardiovascular event in the next ten years. If i had had a higher risk of 5% then the SCORE recommendation is to see a doctor who may well recommend statins - if you cannot reduce the risk below 5% by changes in lifestyle.
I dont have associated heart risk factors viz. neither my parents or brother or sisters have had a heart attack. I dont have diabetes (although my father at 70 has got diabates).
But I am overweight (BMI 28 kg /m2 at 13st 3lbs, height 5'7.5"). My BMI should be less than 25.
I do 30 mins exercise at least 3-4 times a week - thanks to Jazzie our Cocker Spaniel! This is the minimum recommended level of exercise.
The average total cholesterol in UK population is 6 millimoles / litre total cholersterol - the target is currently 5.2. This target is likely to be reduced in future years. But the lower the cholesterol level the better. You cannot get to zero because some cholesterol is needed by cell membranes. LDL Cholesterol (bad cholersterol) delivers cholesterol to the tissues. HDL Cholesterol (good cholesterol) has a beneficial effect. The ratio of Total Cholesterol to good cholesterol is important.
Statins lower cholesterol. Could i benefit by lowering cholesterol by 30% - eg 5.2 to 3.6? If you take Statins for 8 weeks I can reduce by Cholesterol levels by 20%. But I need to take Statins for life to maintain a reduction.
In my case with a 2% chance of a heart attack might reduce to a 1.6% chance (20% reduction) or 1.4% (30% reduction) if i took statins . Is a 0.4-0.6% reduction in the risk of a heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years worth taking? What are the side effects of taking statins?
For now, my conclusion is NOT to take statins. As a result of this decision I increase my chances of a heart attack or stroke by 0.5% in the next 10 years.
I booked a test at Boots in Ringwood on 9th October 2006. My result was 5.2 millimoles total cholesterol per litre of blood. I am a non smoker & 50 years young. My systolic blood pressure is 130mm Hg - the UK average is 135mm Hg. According to the European Society of Cardiology SCORE system (see table below) I have a 2% chance of a fatal cardiovascular event in the next ten years. If i had had a higher risk of 5% then the SCORE recommendation is to see a doctor who may well recommend statins - if you cannot reduce the risk below 5% by changes in lifestyle.
I dont have associated heart risk factors viz. neither my parents or brother or sisters have had a heart attack. I dont have diabetes (although my father at 70 has got diabates).
But I am overweight (BMI 28 kg /m2 at 13st 3lbs, height 5'7.5"). My BMI should be less than 25.
I do 30 mins exercise at least 3-4 times a week - thanks to Jazzie our Cocker Spaniel! This is the minimum recommended level of exercise.
The average total cholesterol in UK population is 6 millimoles / litre total cholersterol - the target is currently 5.2. This target is likely to be reduced in future years. But the lower the cholesterol level the better. You cannot get to zero because some cholesterol is needed by cell membranes. LDL Cholesterol (bad cholersterol) delivers cholesterol to the tissues. HDL Cholesterol (good cholesterol) has a beneficial effect. The ratio of Total Cholesterol to good cholesterol is important.
Statins lower cholesterol. Could i benefit by lowering cholesterol by 30% - eg 5.2 to 3.6? If you take Statins for 8 weeks I can reduce by Cholesterol levels by 20%. But I need to take Statins for life to maintain a reduction.
In my case with a 2% chance of a heart attack might reduce to a 1.6% chance (20% reduction) or 1.4% (30% reduction) if i took statins . Is a 0.4-0.6% reduction in the risk of a heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years worth taking? What are the side effects of taking statins?
For now, my conclusion is NOT to take statins. As a result of this decision I increase my chances of a heart attack or stroke by 0.5% in the next 10 years.
