Drop In Cholesterol Level

[fruitsalad]

Is it possible for my cholesterol level to drop from 7 to 4 in a few months without changing my diet, but upping my daily exercise, because although I am pleased it seems to good to be true.

[nailit]

From everything that Ive researched (and Ive researched it extensively) There seems to be no correlation between dietry cholesterol and blood cholesterol. Although medics first response is to try and get you to take statins without exploring other ways to reduce it.
Its great that you have reduced it through exercise.

[Sqad]

If that is the reduction.......then so be it.
I would doubt it was anything to do with exercise.

[nailit]

Sqad, we've talked before on here about cholesterol, Im curious, why would you doubt it was anything to do with exercise?

[nailit]

I also seem to remember you yourself saying that you have doubts about the relation between dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol.

[237SJ]

I thought it was a given that there is no relation between dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol. That has been known for many years. It's saturated fat that causes your body to produce cholesterol. Eating eggs or prawns or whatever that contain their own cholesterol won't make any difference to your cholesterol levels.

[nailit]

237, last time that I saw my GP (after blood tests when my cholesterol levels came back as 'high') I was given dietary advice to avoid eggs etc. She was a very young GP but obviously still been taught that certain foods (like eggs) cause high cholesterol.

[nailit]

//It's saturated fat that causes your body to produce cholesterol.//
My sister eats NO saturated fat and yet her cholesterol is very high.
Im not convinced at all about the correlation between foods and high cholesterol. Ive also know several people who have extremely high cholesterol and yet continue to live healthy active lives into old age.
It sounds a bit crass but I think that this thing about cholesterol is a bit of a scam to sell more drugs (statins)

[237SJ]

High cholesterol can be hereditary.

[Sqad]

Nailit

Just finished watching the match....now I can concentrate.
I agree with 237SJ......the direct association between dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol is tenuous at best.
Exercise is a poor method of lowering your blood cholesterol, certainly from 7-4 in a few months.

The BIG question IS........is there any relationship between a raised blood cholesterol and heart attacks and strokes?

[nailit]

//High cholesterol can be hereditary.//
I agree 237, most members of my immediate family have high cholesterol. And none take drugs for it. Just don't get this obsession with taking statins.

[nailit]

//The BIG question IS........is there any relationship between a raised blood cholesterol and heart attacks and strokes?//
As a medic I would be interested in hearing what YOU have to say Sqad.

[Sqad]

Familial high cholesterol; ( Familial hypercholesterolaemia) is something quite different.......don't confuse this issue.

[Sqad]

Nailit.....LOL..I am still excited over the reult of the England match....but: I am not convinced that a high or raised blood cholesterol level has anything to do with heart attacks or stroke.
Note: I am in the minority.

[nailit]

//Familial hypercholesterolaemia//
//don't confuse this issue//

Eh?
Im not the one talking in Latin?
Im well read I think, but when it comes to Latin (or maybe Greek) then you lost me.

[237SJ]

But doesn't cholesterol form plaques on artery walls which can break off in the same way that blood clots can and travel to the heart or brain causing heart attacks or strokes? I would imagine it can

[nailit]

//I am not convinced that a high or raised blood cholesterol level has anything to do with heart attacks or stroke.
Note: I am in the minority//

That'll do for me Sqad, thanks ;-)

[237SJ]

Familial - hereditary

[nailit]

//But doesn't cholesterol form plaques on artery walls which can break off in the same way that blood clots can and travel to the heart or brain causing heart attacks or strokes?//

237, Ive read some really interesting stuff about all of this in the past. However overall have to agree with Sqad that cholesterol has little to do with heart attacks or stroke.

[237SJ]

Well as said, plaque deposits on the artery walls do contain cholesterol. Not only can the deposits break off but blood can stick to them and those clots can also break away and cause heart attack/stroke. The cholesterol must come from somewhere

[Sqad]

LOL...237......90% of the med.profession would agree with you..BUT...to support your hypothesis, there must be a correlation between the cholesterol in the blood (LDL in particular) but at post mortem, this is not always the case. Many Drs including myself question whether there is ANY correlation between LDL ( cholesterol) and i am one of them.

Now in a study in L.A emergency room ( not got a link)in 74% of cases of heart attack, the blood cholesterol was normal.......odd?

Bottom line 237, your theory is the mainline thought amongst doctors.