How high should cholesterol be before taking statins?

If your risk is very low, you probably won't need a statin, unless your LDL is above 190 mg/dL (4.92 mmol/L). If your risk is very high — for example, you've had a heart attack in the past — a statin may be helpful even if you don't have high cholesterol.

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Is 7.8 a high cholesterol level?

High cholesterol levels are considered: too high: between 5 and 6.4mmol/l. very high: between 6.5 and 7.8mmol/l. extremely high: above 7.8mmol/l.

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At what level is cholesterol medication required?

Your health care team may prescribe medicine if: You have already had a heart attack or stroke or have peripheral arterial disease. Your LDL cholesterol level is 190 mg/dL or higher. You are 40–75 years old and have diabetes and an LDL cholesterol level of 70 mg/dL or higher.

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Is 7.5 high for cholesterol?

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that adults with a total cholesterol level of above 7.5mmol/l before treatment should be assessed for familial hypercholesterolaemia.

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Is 5.7 cholesterol level high?

Total cholesterol of 5.8mmols/l is higher than recommended, but could be reduced with simple diet and lifestyle changes rather than medical treatment. Medical treatment would only be appropriate if the level was much higher.

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Mayo Clinic Minute: Should You Take Statins?

26 related questions found

What cholesterol level to prescribe statin?

Providers prescribe statins for people who: Have high cholesterol (LDL above 190 mg/dL) that exercise and diet changes couldn't reduce. Had a stroke, heart attack or peripheral artery disease. Have diabetes and an LDL of at least 70 mg/dL and are 40 to 75 years old.

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What is considered dangerously high cholesterol?

A person is considered at high risk for developing heart disease if their total cholesterol level is higher than 240 mg/dL, LDL levels are higher than 160 mg/dL (190 mg/dL is even higher risk), and if the HDL level is below 40 mg/dL.

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What reduces cholesterol quickly?

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  • Eat heart-healthy foods. A few changes in your diet can reduce cholesterol and improve your heart health: ...
  • Exercise on most days of the week and increase your physical activity. Exercise can improve cholesterol. ...
  • Quit smoking. ...
  • Lose weight. ...
  • Drink alcohol only in moderation.

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What is the best drink to lower cholesterol?

The best drinks to improve cholesterol
  • Green tea. Green tea has been shown to have cholesterol-improving benefits for healthy people and those with obesity. ...
  • Soy milk. ...
  • Oat drinks. ...
  • Tomato juice. ...
  • Berry smoothies. ...
  • Drinks containing sterols and stanols.

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Can you get off statins once you start?

If you're taking a statin medication to lower your cholesterol, you will need to keep taking your prescription, or your cholesterol will likely go back up. Stopping your statin can put you at risk of having heart disease and other preventable health problems like stroke and heart attack from high cholesterol.

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What if I have high cholesterol but Cannot take statins?

If you need to lower your cholesterol but cannot take a statin because of muscle aches or other side effects, you may want to try an alternative. New research shows that bempedoic acid can lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk for heart attack and stroke without causing muscle pain.

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What can I take instead of statins to lower cholesterol?

7 cholesterol-lowering alternatives to statins
  • Fibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis. ...
  • Plant stanols and sterols. ...
  • Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins. ...
  • Niacin. ...
  • Policosanol. ...
  • Red yeast rice extract (RYRE) ...
  • Natural products.

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Is 3.6 LDL cholesterol high?

Your LDL cholesterol number is: Optimal if it is less than 2.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) Near optimal/above optimal if it is 2.6 3.3 mmol/L (100-129 mg/dL) Borderline high if it is 3.4 4.1 mmol/L (130-159 mg/dL)

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What is a normal cholesterol level in Australia?

A complete cholesterol test will measure your blood's total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglyceride levels. According to the guidelines provided by healthcare experts, normal total cholesterol levels in Australia for individuals at high risk are 4.0 mmol/L and 5.5 mmol/L for the general population.

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Is 5.5 bad cholesterol?

Total cholesterol levels should be lower than 5.5 mmol/L, if you have no other risk factors. If you have cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, pre-existing cardiovascular (heart) disease or diabetes, or you smoke, the aim for LDL cholesterol levels would be less than 2 mmol/L.

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What should a 70 year old cholesterol be?

After having their cholesterol tested, seniors should be given a number between 190 and 260. Healthy seniors should keep their total cholesterol below 200 and their LDL cholesterol around 100. If your elderly loved one's LDL cholesterol level is above 160, he or she must start making sweeping lifestyle changes.

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When should you start a statin?

What does the USPSTF recommend? For adults aged 40 to 75 years who have 1 or more cardiovascular risk factors (ie, dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, or smoking) and an estimated 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk of 10% or greater: Initiate a statin.

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Can you have high cholesterol and still be healthy?

Can you be healthy with high cholesterol? Having high overall cholesterol does not mean a person is unhealthy. However, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or 'bad' cholesterol levels carry an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. The body requires a certain amount of cholesterol to function properly.

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Does borderline high cholesterol require medication?

Making simple changes in your lifestyle is often enough to bring borderline cholesterol levels down to the normal range. Some people may also need to take medicine for it. And keep in mind that other things, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and smoking, also affect your heart health; it's not just about cholesterol.

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Do statins cause weight gain?

Statin use is associated with increased calorie intake and consequent weight gain. It is speculated that statin‐dependent improvements in lipid profile may undermine the perceived need to follow lipid‐lowering and other dietary recommendations leading consequently to increased calorie intake.

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Do cardiologists recommend statins?

The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association developed some prescription guidelines. Typically, if a person's LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) is 190 or higher, they're often advised to start a statin.

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Is 7.6 cholesterol bad?

A total cholesterol level of 7.5 mmol/L (290 mg/dL) is considered high. Although cholesterol has several essential roles in the body, high cholesterol puts you at greater risk for heart disease.

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How bad is a cholesterol level of 7?

A total cholesterol level of 7 mmol/L (271 mg/dL) is considered high. Although cholesterol has several essential roles in the body, high cholesterol puts you at greater risk for heart disease.

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Are statins worth the risk?

And so, in general, although there are some potential side effects long-term for statins, in most cases, if your doctor has identified you as having high cholesterol and needing a statin, the risks greatly outweigh, or sorry, the benefits greatly outweigh the risks.

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Do bananas lower cholesterol?

The fiber and potassium in bananas can reduce the level of cholesterol and blood pressure. Banana is especially known as a good source of soluble fibre which will gives one a healthy body and good immune system.

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