Target: avoid statins.

Oh no, without realising, in February I seemed to have reached ‘that’ age and/or health state when a blood test flagged up my cholesterol as “high” and my GP suggested statins. To compound this I’m given statistics of the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke being 1 in 15 in the next ten years. I am offered the chance to discuss this with a clinical pharmacist… so I book in.

I talk to my physiotherapist who mentions the muscle pain experienced by some on statins and is of the opinion that the first statins offered are dirt cheap and not always the best for every patient. Other options are available.

I talk to friends, colleagues and some of my patients (I’m an acupuncturist) and find success stories of those following other routes. I research. I understand the figure for ‘high’ cholesterol varies across the country and is creeping lower. I hear comments; ‘GPs are under pressure to get us all on these meds’, ‘once started you never cone off them’. I stop short of a Google rabbit hole on the negatives…

How much is genetic? I come from a family with high blood pressure and heart problems. Historically they weren’t very active and loved sweet treats, although few drank alcohol and no one smoked.

My attitude to health has been very different as I strive to be active, haven’t eaten meat for decades, never smoked and try to grow vegetables and cook from scratch when I can. I make kimchi and kombucha and follow the work of Tim Spector and Michael Mosely.

Is there anything I can change?

My call with the pharmacist concluded it’s probably genetic. Dietary changes can make only a small difference. I am given resources to help and told if I want to try these I can have eight weeks!

I already cycle most days and go to the gym four times a week. I resolve to stick to this, increase if possible and get up from the sofa in the TV ad breaks!

I try to manage my stress better. What can I change; go for a walk, put some music on, journal to unload? I try to prioritise good sleep, get to bed earlier and not have my phone close. I have Epsom salt baths and a book on the go.

I record my eating and drinking. I can see a few tweaks. I start every day with porridge made with half water and milk, fruit, a teaspoon of psyllium husks (fibre) and chia seeds (protein). I sweeten it with cinnamon. I’d been having no food until mid morning then having bread, eggs, mushrooms and coffee. I switch to skimmed milk rather than semi skimmed. I cut out crisps, chips, peanuts, and baked goods such as croissants, cake, biscuits, chocolate. Damn: soon it’s Mother’s Day, Easter and family birthdays.

I have no wine. I embrace beetroot juice in a whisky tumbler with ice as a pre dinner aperitif.

I read food labels, I compare and have the better alternative. I buy 85% cocoa chocolate and have one square, maybe two

I buy more veg and tinned beans, dried apricots, nuts and seeds. I buy 0% fat Greek yoghurt. I buy less bread and take a pitta bread pocket with cottage cheese and salad for work lunch. No spread needed.

Its tough and if I cave in I really enjoy it! One quarter of a biscuit anyone? The sniff of spirit in my soda…

I order a supplement I’ve never heard of before made from Chinese herbs. Red Rice Yeast extract. My colleague swears it reduced her cholesterol, let’s hope it works for me too!

I add a EFA fish oil supplement after a couple of weeks, take my vitamin D and sometimes B vitamin complex.

Am I a bit obsessed?

I give in and move my blood test forward to just over 7 weeks and booked an early slot, on a day when I could eat healthy the day before and fast from 8pm. The GP didn’t t suggest a fasting test but my search shoes it makes a 2% difference. Its worth a try!

The phlebotomist asked if I had familial high cholesterol? She said she knew more ‘slim’ people with raised cholesterol. After she took my blood she asked if I was off to eat a cheese toastie…?

Result: Later that day I had a text from my surgery. “Your blood tests have shown your cholesterol levels have improved – total cholesterol has gone from 6.8 to 5.0. Congratulations.”

Conclusion: I do think my blood sugar became better balanced. I lost a little weight. I seemed to eat more. Was it the supplement? Was it everything? My NHS app showed my cholesterol has been rising since 2012. It’s now lower than that. I’m so pleased with what I’ve achieved and happy to discuss further.