High cholesterol levels frustrating to control

May 5, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am so confused! I am a 47-year-old female, 5’5” tall, 128 pounds, pre-menopausal. My hypothyroidism is managed by Synthroid 25 mcg per day. Also, I have a vitamin D deficiency managed by 50000 units per week. I do not eat any red meat, exercise at least 30 minutes per day (breaking a light sweat through using a stationary bike at 15-16 mph).

I eat a balanced diet consisting of beans and legumes for protein and I cook with olive oil and other “good” fats. I consume two to three ounces of red wine with dinner nightly. Despite all this, my cholesterol is 221 and my triglycerides are 195. My HDL is 59 (I worked hard to raise it from 50) and my LDL is 123. I am dumbfounded! How can I lower my cholesterol and triglycerides further? Also, the lab collected blood after a 5 hour fast only and they did not instruct me to abstain from alcohol [Read more...]

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Is red rice yeast good for lowering cholesterol?

November 18, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Does red yeast rice actually help to lower cholesterol and what can the adverse side effects be?

DEAR READER: Let me take a moment to explain to readers just what the product is before I attempt to answer your question. Red yeast rice is actually rice fermented with Monascus purpureus. It contains several compounds that together are known as monacolins, known to inhibit the formation of cholesterol and which may lower cholesterol levels. Red yeast has a similar chemical make-up to that of lovastatin (Mevacor) and certain other statin drugs and therefore may carry similar side effects.
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Side effects linked with cholesterol medications

August 7, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I read your article about statin drugs and their side effects. I have been on cholesterol medication for the last couple of years. The side effects are killing me — pain in both of my forearm muscles, calf muscles, and numbness in my fingers. The medicines I was on causing the same side effects were pravastatin 20 mg and simvastatin 20 mg.

My doctor suggested I reduce the dosage to 10 mg and then to 5, which hasn’t stopped my pain. He currently has me on Lipitor/atorvastatin 5 mg, but the problem persists. My recent lipid panel showed the following: cholesterol 172 HDL 33; LDL 105, triglycerides 177 and A1C 6.7.

These drugs are not cheap. I can’t keep trying this and trying that, so what should I do?
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Understanding cholesterol numbers

July 24, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 59-year-old female, about 145 pounds (I should be 135). For about 10 years, I have eaten no mammal meat, have excluded milk and dairy from my diet, and have avoided shellfish. I start each day with a bowl of cooked oat bran with soy milk. I average more than 30 grams of soluble and insoluble fiber per day. I eat salmon, tuna and a little poultry. I exercise vigorously at least three times a week and wear a heart monitor so I get at least 25 minutes in the 75- to 90-percent maximum zone. My blood pressure averages 102/58.

My first cholesterol test when I was in my 20s was over 250. All subsequent tests have been between 230 and 260. My HDL is always over 80, often over 100. My LDL varies from low to borderline, and my triglycerides are usually low.
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Not all cholesterol lowering drugs are statins

June 24, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I read your column every day and thank you for your advice.

I would like to know if Welchol is a statin drug. Some doctors say yes, some say no. I would also like to know the warnings and more about this product.

DEAR READER: Welchol is not a statin drug. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration several years ago as a new drug for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and it was found to lower LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol as an adjunct to diet and exercise. It is not appropriate for Type 1 diabetics.

Side effects can include weakness, constipation, dyspepsia, muscle aches and pains, nausea, stomach pain, headache and indigestion.
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Cinnamon bark may lower cholesterol

June 9, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Back in 2006, you ran a column in which a gentleman said he had good results taking two 1,200-milligram capsules of cinnamon bark every morning. You said you were going to experiment on yourself and report back to your readers. Well, I never saw the follow-up article and was wondering how your experiment went. Can you share your results with me? I’m currently on 80 milligrams of Lipitor every day and would like to try to eliminate that, if possible. Thanks.

DEAR READER: I’m sorry to say it didn’t work for me, but I must commend you on remembering a column from five years ago.
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Cholesterol lowering medications may be excessive

June 5, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: What results can I expect when taking 80 milligrams of Crestor and 1,200 milligrams of gemfibrozil on a daily basis?

DEAR READER: Crestor is a cholesterol-lowering statin drug that reduces low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and triglycerides, the “bad” cholesterol, while increasing high-density lipoproteins (HDL), the “good” cholesterol. The drug is used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack and to slow the process of atherosclerosis, which is narrowing of the arteries in patients with elevated cholesterol levels.

Side effects can include headache, nausea, constipation, abdominal and joint pain, yellowing of the skin and eyes, hives and more.
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Is hypothyroidism linked to high cholesterol?

March 26, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My cholesterol is very high. I cannot tolerate any of the statins. I’ve been on many and have problems with pain and weakness in my legs.

I also have an underactive thyroid, for which I take Synthroid. I have read in different medical books that hypothyroid disease is a cause of high cholesterol. I am trying to eat right (fruits and vegetables, no red meat, low salt and no cheese). I exercise. Is there anything else I can do to help this serious problem? Please help me!

DEAR READER: Hypothroidism causes decreased metabolic activity and has been linked with elevated blood levels of cholesterol, and particularly in those people [Read more...]

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Statin side effects cause reader unrest

February 5, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have been taking statins to control my cholesterol. I’ve taken Crestor, Lipitor and simvastatin. Unfortunately, they all seem to cause excessive urinating through the night. I’m tired all the time, and I have muscle cramps.

Is there something else apart from a statin that I could take or suggest to my doctor? When I do complain, he just goes to another statin, and none have helped so far. I’m 75 and male.

DEAR READER: Statin drugs have been a subject of controversy of late. Depending on a patient’s medical condition, physicians prefer total cholesterol levels to be 200 or lower. Unfortunately, using a statin or any other drug to accomplish this could lead to unpleasant consequences, as you have experienced. [Read more...]

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Get answers about statins

December 24, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 71-year-old female in good health. I take 40 milligrams of diltiazem, and my blood pressure is under good control. A recent blood test revealed my cholesterol to be 286, my HDL 82, LDL 188 and triglycerides 81. My doctor prescribed 40 milligrams lovastatin, but I would prefer not to take this medication. My total cholesterol has been 200 or higher since I was 40, and my HDL has been over 80. May I have your opinion?

DEAR READER: High-cholesterol levels in the blood are considered to be a major risk factor in the development of coronary-artery disease, heart attack and stroke. When cholesterol accumulates in the walls of the arteries and combines with cellular debris, plaque forms, impairing the flow of blood. Eventually, clots may form, the arteries become blocked, and problems occur.
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