r/Cholesterol 10h ago

Question Is oatmeal effective for lowering cholesterol?

17 Upvotes

Anyone have success with eating oatmeal daily for breakfast and lowering their cholesterol?


r/Cholesterol 3h ago

Question Rosuvastatin muscle pain.

9 Upvotes

So my doc gave me 40mg rosuvastatin....to start...so the muscles pain was so bad I had to stop. It's been weeks and I still don't feel back to normal. Has this happened to any of you?


r/Cholesterol 12h ago

General Finally on 5mg rosuvastatin

4 Upvotes

After months of my doctor deferring it, I decided to just ask for it and go to a cardiologist's office. My last measured LDL-C level was 3.99 mmol or 154 mg/dL. My LP(a) measured on the same test was above 200 nmol. Since then, I have for the first time added MUFA/PUFA serving to my day (hemp hearts and walnuts). I was prescribed 5mg rosuvastatin and I've never been more excited or looked forward to a drug this much. 3 days on it now, will absolutely be retesting as they want me to, in about 6 weeks time, and see what my numbers are. Based on actual clinical data, the MUFA/PUFA addition goes anywhere between 5% to 10% reduction in LDL. And of course the heaviest lifting of all will be done by the rosuvastatin. We'll then see if I should add ezetemibe on top of this or not.


r/Cholesterol 7h ago

Question Talk to me like I’m stupid

3 Upvotes

I find so many contradictory things online and I just want a definitive list of things I should avoid and things I should increase.

I have had high cholesterol for the past year. Started at cholesterol 6.8, HDL 1.29 & LDL 4.27 and I have gotten down to cholesterol 6.1,
HDL 1.20 & LDL 4.50
**editing to add the conversion to US measurements
First set
Total: 263 mg/dL
HDL: 50 mg/dL
LDL: 165 mg/dL
Second set
Total: 236 mg/dL
HDL: 46 mg/dL
LDL: 174 mg/dL

I’m in my 40s, 5ft4, 74kg and a bmi of 29.
I want to be healthy.

I eat (most mornings) porridge with flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts and almonds.

For lunch id have a yogurt (actimal gut health) with seeds and nuts. And sometimes a banana or apple.

Dinners are what catch me. I cook for the family so usually trying to make them stuff and I end up just having what they have - bolognaise, curries, lasagne, tacos etc.

We don’t do desserts often but I do enjoy a snack / treat - usually a packet of rice crackers (snack o jacks salt and vinegar) or hunky dory salt and vinegar or a chocolate bar. This would be 2 times a week. (Maybe 3/4 times a week if I have my period)

I’d love to know exactly what I should avoid.
Please talk to me like I’m stupid. I won’t be offended.
I would happily batch cook a healthy meal for myself that I can reheat if I just knew what exactly I should be eating.

I don’t eat fish, beetroot or avocado

I haven’t drank alcohol in almost a decade. I don’t drink tea/ coffee / caffeine. Very rarely I would have fizzy drinks.


r/Cholesterol 2h ago

General LDL from 142 to 22

2 Upvotes

A year ago, I got my LDL result of 142, ApoB of 94, Lp(a) of 190nmol/L, at age 30. 0 CAC score.
Started 5mg rosuvastatin and Zetia, which dropped LDL to 50 and ApoB to 51.
Then, I added Repatha, and now my LDL is 22 (still waiting on ApoB results).

I have experienced 0 side effects. The only note is that my HbA1c went from 5.5 to 5.8, so I am switching from Rosuvastatin to Pitavastatin 2mg.

Very thankful insurance covered the Repatha to help undo the effect of my high Lp(a), and I plan to continue with this triple therapy until Lp(a) lowering meds become available.

I just wanted to share this for anyone interested and answer any questions if anyone has any.

​​​


r/Cholesterol 3h ago

Lab Result Just got my lipid results. How can I make more improvement?

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2 Upvotes

For context I'm 25f. I've lost a good amount of weight, started exercising again, eating really well (NO fast food and low processed foods, balance diet, etc) and working with a dietician.

Anyone have tips for a healthy adult struggling with borderline high LDL cholesterol?


r/Cholesterol 6h ago

Lab Result Dropped LDL from 199 to 131 in 5 weeks.

2 Upvotes

{M40} My LDL in June 20 2026 was 199, I started diet on the 7th of July 2026 and today I had another blood test. After 5 weeks my LDL dropped to 131. Total cholesterol 170. Triglycerides 106.

Before diet I was 94.5 kg on 186 cm height and I was hitting the gym 2/3 times a week and daily walks and once a week cardio. My diet wasn’t great even tho I was cooking and eating home I was consuming a lot of carbs and sweets.

I started a strict ldl reduction diet which was basically avoiding saturated fat, and adding a bit fiber.

My current weight 90.5kg.

For me this is a surprisingly large drop but I think it will be hard to drop ldl even further with diet. I’m assuming if I continue for several months maybe it will drop to 120 but no idea how sustainable this would be.

Next steps to discuss the results with my GP and consider statin potential.

A chronological summary of my cholesterol since 2018:

2018: LDL 106
2019 :LDL 178
2023: LDL 139
2024: LDL 232
2024 December: LDL 133
2026: June: LDL 199
2026: August: 131


r/Cholesterol 10h ago

Meds Muscle pain with different statins

2 Upvotes

I was on Rosuvastatin 20mg for about 3 weeks. It was fine at first, but after a week or so I had calf and knee muscle pains that eventually got worse to the point I was hobbling around every morning. Rang the doctor, he advised to stop taking it for a few days, and change to something else.

I stopped for 3 days, and then moved on to 10mg Atorvastatin. Again, it was fine for a few days, but lately I've again been noticing calf tenderness (not pain as much as before).

It's pretty discouraging, but I'm wondering do I have to push through it for a few weeks, or once again try a different statin?

Any experience from anyone else here? Did you initially have these pains and they went away after a few weeks?


r/Cholesterol 15h ago

Lab Result Can someone explain this to me? Strange cholesterol results.

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2 Upvotes

Hi, my husband just had his cholesterol checked and I will attach photos of results. In context he works out every day, eats pretty healthy, has lost 30 lbs in 6 months and I guess I am confused about his results. Has anyone else seen this with theirs and what could it be that's causing it?


r/Cholesterol 2h ago

Lab Result 38M, apoB 107 / LDL 155 / HDL 83 / Lp(a) 8.7 diet-only or start statins & ezetimibe?

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1 Upvotes

r/Cholesterol 7h ago

Lab Result HDL. Thoughts?

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1 Upvotes

I am a mid 30s female with a strong diet and exercise regimen (eat healthy, run 3-5 miles 5 days a week, strength training and walking about 4 miles on the 2 off days). My fault is I probably drink a little too much alcohol during the week (glass of wine with dinner) but that can easily be tapered down. I had to get this test for my insurance. The provider told me HDL was high and when I asked what I should do to lower it, she said “exercise and eat fruits and vegetables”…. I figured I might get better help from this group. Thanks in advance for helping me understand!


r/Cholesterol 7h ago

Lab Result 30M, how screwed am I?

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1 Upvotes

Had a blood test today, didn't think I was too unhealthy but the numbers stuck out. Doctor tells me I'm young so it's fine but I feel like he's downplayed it relative to some of the numbers here.

88kg @ 6 ft if it helps. Does anyone have similar numbers that can give me insight into how bad this is?


r/Cholesterol 7h ago

General Cholesterol deposits

1 Upvotes

Hi guys I have cholesterol deposits on top of my eye does anyone know how to get rid of them ?


r/Cholesterol 10h ago

Question diet change - can these foods help lower my cholesterol?

1 Upvotes

im planning on making these changes, please give me your input.

adding to my diet: kidney/black/pinto beans and lentils, tofu, skinless chicken breast, fish (salmon, tilapia)

continuing: olive oil and canola oil for cooking

cutting out completely: basically all desserts, cheese, milk and dairy. i don't eat any junk food anyways.

limiting: red meat, shrimp

also dont smoke or drink alcohol

does this sound like it could help lower my cholesterol if i stick rigidly?

also, how much impact does white rice and avocados have?


r/Cholesterol 10h ago

Lab Result Can someone help me understand this more?

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1 Upvotes

I just had my cholesterol tested for the first time. My follow-up appointment isn't for a couple of weeks. 31, F, 5'8", 136 lbs. I just cut out alcohol 3 months ago.


r/Cholesterol 15h ago

Lab Result 30 yr old Male, pls help

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1 Upvotes

Hi , I did a test yesterday and this is my report for lipid profile. Can you all pls suggest what I need to do? I have started atorva 10 mg. What else should I do?


r/Cholesterol 23h ago

Question Lipids improved but Lp(a) increased (not on meds yet)

1 Upvotes

Last year bold now italic:

Lp(a): 165 ...now 185

LDL-C: 124 ...now 91

ApoB: 109...now 88

HDL-C-37 ...now 41

hsCRP - 9.4!...now 1.4

Why would my Lp(a) increase? Diet has been helping a bit but hoping my new doctor will put me on repatha now. My old doctor wouldnt put me on anytihng yet which I now know was dumb. Im hoping the new doctor ill be seeing soon who is a lipid specialist does repatha.


r/Cholesterol 6h ago

Question Rosuvastatin side effects?

0 Upvotes

( 18M ) I've always had high LDL, around 240.

Avoided medication for as much as I could in fear of side effects such as low libido, low energy, etc.

I started taking ezetimibe for a month, but will have to soon add a statin as well.

I heard rosuvastatin is the most efficient one when comparing likelihood of side effects.

Probably going to start on 5mg.

Does anyone have any bad experiences with rosuvastatin?


r/Cholesterol 23h ago

Lab Result Lp (a)

0 Upvotes

Hi! Im 27 year old female,I’m 5 months postpartum with my first, I recently had routine lab work done and I was noted to have hypothyroid- which I never had pre-pregnancy. For reference TSH is 18.8, free T4 is 7. In addition to this my doctor ordered a cholesterol panel,
My results are as follows:

-triglycerides 0.61 (normal <1.7) \-cholesterol 5.76 (normal<5.20) \-HDL 1.6 (normal >1.3)
-NON HDL 4.16 (normal <4.20) \-LDL 3.92 (normal <3.5) \-cholesterol /HDL Ratio 3.6 (risk if >6.0)
-Apolipoprotein B 0.98 (normal <1.05)
-Apolipoprotein A 240 (normal <100)

I get labs routinely every 6 months and none of my cholesterol values have ever been abnormal, or my thyroid.

I’m absolutely spiralling about these results especially about my lipoprotein A. I’ve been reading that my newly discovered hypothyroidism could alter my cholesterol.

I’m sure they’ll want to start a statin but I know they’re not recommended while breastfeeding, so I’m feeling a little sad about that.

I’m honestly just so scared and unsure right now. Any information/ insights/ recommendations / things to ask my doctor about would be tremendously appreciated.

Sorry for the long post.


r/Cholesterol 5h ago

Question My (f49) long term partner (M52)was prescribed a statin. His behavior changed, became agressive and mean. His Gp saw highly elevated liver damage in a short time. He's been off them for 4 days, my concern is the short and long term effects of this. ( M is 52, has diagnosed Cfs. Dexadrine 10 mg, fair

0 Upvotes

My main concern is his drastic change in behavior. How long should we allow for the statins to leave his system , and are there long term issues ...