Cholesterol and statins

  • High Cholesterol

    We can measure your cholesterol levels by taking a blood test called a ‘lipid profile’. This shows us the different types of fat in your blood. It will tell us your levels of HDL, LDL and Triglycerides but it will also tell us these things too:
    Total Cholesterol or Serum Cholesterol – this is your overall level of cholesterol and is calculated using an equation involving your HDL, LDL and a percentage of your Triglycerides.
    Total Cholesterol:HDL Ratio – this tells us your HDL levels compared to your overall cholesterol levels.
     
    What should your cholesterol levels be:
    The NHS guidelines state that cholesterol levels should be in line with the following:
    HDL
    1 or above
    Non HDL
    4 or below
    Triglycerides (non fasting)
    2.3 or below
    Total Cholesterol/Serum Cholesterol
    5 or below
    Total Cholesterol : HDL
    6 or below
    What happens if you have high cholesterol?
    Too much bad cholesterol gets deposited in your arteries. This builds up and narrows those arteries, reducing the blood flow through them. We call this process ‘atherosclerosis’. When the arteries are too narrowed, it can cause a heart attack or a stroke. This is why it’s important to maintain a healthy cholesterol, to reduce your risk of having a cardiovascular event.

  • What is Cholesterol?

    Cholesterol is a type of fatty or waxy substance found in the blood. We need cholesterol to help us build cell membranes and some other important things like some hormones. Our liver makes all the cholesterol that we need, but we also get cholesterol from animal based foods like meat or dairy.
    There are two types of cholesterol – High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL) and Low-Density Lipoprotiens (LDL). HDLs are good cholesterol because they help to carry cholesterol back to the liver to be processed, which means that it releases any extra cholesterol from the body. LDL’s however are considered bad cholesterol, as they transport cholesterol to the arteries, where it can build up and cause disease.
    There is also another type of fat in our blood called Triglycerides. These are actually stored in the fat cells around the body. Triglycerides also contribute to the build up of disease in the arteries.

  • Statins

    Statins are tablets that can be taken once a day. They help to lower the amount of bad cholesterol in your blood. They work by inhibiting the enzymes that support the production of bad cholesterol in the liver, therefore slowing it down and reducing the amount. They can also reduce the amount of triglycerides in your blood. As a result, they can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.

    Like all medicines there can be side effects to taking a statin. Most people don’t get any side effects, but some more common ones are headache, nausea, muscle aches or tiredness. If you experience these you can speak to your healthcare professional about alternatives. Some statins can interact with other medicines you may be on, or with grapefruit. Your healthcare professional will check this for you.