Get Informed: High Cholesterol
High Cholesterol: Overview
High cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia, is a condition caused by high levels of cholesterol in the blood. High cholesterol has been linked to an increased risk of atherosclerosis (cholesterol deposition on major blood vessels), which can lead to heart disease, strokes, aneurysms and kidney problems.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-13 10:03 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Jan-26 12:25 AM
1 in 9 people have High Cholesterol
iGuard is currently monitoring more than 203,150 patients with High Cholesterol from around the United States as shown on the heat map below. These figures suggest that roughly 30.6 million Americans have High Cholesterol with men and women both being affected in similar numbers.
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
iGuard is currently monitoring more than 203,150 patients with High Cholesterol.
Medications used for High Cholesterol
Drugs commonly taken by iGuard users for High Cholesterol are listed below, together with the percentage of patients that take each drug.
|
Commonly Used Medication Name* (Hover mouse over name to see medication class) |
% of Patients | Average Risk Rating | Has Generic Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lipitor | 26% |
|
No |
| Zocor | 20% |
|
Yes |
| Crestor | 12% |
|
No |
| Omega 3 | 10% |
|
Yes |
| Vytorin | 6% |
|
No |
| Mevacor | 5% |
|
Yes |
| Pravachol | 5% |
|
Yes |
Less than 5%: Zetia, Niaspan, Fenofibrate, Flaxseed Oil, Lopid, Caduet
*This list is NOT EXHAUSTIVE - Only drugs used by a sufficiently large number of iGuard users are listed.
**Medications are sometimes known by different brand/generic names, depending upon how they are packaged or used.
Global Patient Feedback for High Cholesterol ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I heard on the radio that there is a new drug to lower cholestral and I think that it was Ernitrol - apparently has been tested in the States. I was on Lipex for a little while for high cholestral but suffered severe headaches - needless to say stopped taking them- could you help me on this one thanks
Female 74
75 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-10-13 23:29:21
iGuard Answer/Reply:
One of the most recently FDA approved cholesterol medication is called Livalo. It is a "statin" medication containing the active ingredient pitavastatin. Some of the other newer medications that have been approved by the FDA are: Vytorin, which a combination product. It contains ezetimibe and simvastatin. Simvastatin is a "statin" medication, and ezetimibe, sold under the brand name Zetia, inhibits the absorption of cholesterol. Another newer medication is Advicor. Advicor is also a combination product containing niacin and lovastatin. Lovastatin is also a "statin" medication. Niacin is a b-vitamin that lowers LDL and triglycerides. Discuss the different options with your physician who can help you get on the right medication or medication-combination for you with your medical history and current medication list.
Posted: 2009-11-06 10:49:57
Question/Comment:
64 year old male:
First understand that cholestrol is needed by the body, period. What causes the problem with cholesterol clogging arteries, is not necessarily your total chol., but the degree of inflamation in your arterial system. Yes, inflamation, causes damage to the arterial system, plattlets gather to heal the would cholestrol covers it and the process begins. Key eat healthy and try to eat those foods that are natural anti-inflamatory. GREAT NATURAL FOOD, PURE HONEY, even works on burns and cuts, a natual antibiotic and anti-inflamatory. I reccommend indepth conversation with your dr., pharmacist and research on any drug prescribed, it is your body and life. All nay sayers say not enough studies on stantins, over 450 done on Lipitor, how many do you need. Have his liver tested, not just blood tests, cholesterol comes from the liver. If you are really worried have his arterial system sonigramed for problems. He may be fine regardless of cholesterol levels.
66 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-26 16:31:48
Question/Comment:
I am a senior woman with no evidence of cardiac problem, am lean 104 lbs, 5'2" fit, engage in aerobic exercise regularly and maintain a heart healthy diet (fruits, veggies, no meat apart from turkey or chicken breast and wild salmon and halibut about 2x per week.
The high cholesterol levels listed below, drew my doctor to prescibe 5mg simvastin every other day which I had taken for a few years without side effect, but research findings made me stop for several months.
My recent test suggested a return to the simvastin, starting with 5mg every other day and build up to every day for 2 weeks and then to 10mg daily. I developed occasional cramping in my calf muscle soon after the first week and also occasional spasms in my fingers or toes. I became alarmed, notified my doc who advised me to continue the regimen until my body got used to the drug and the spasms would stop. Are my doubts about that justified?
He also said red yeast has the s ame properties as the chol lowering drugs and could cause the same side effects. I've heard that taking a fish oil supplement could lower LDL. Please advise. Thanks very much
Total chol=258
tri glycerides 115
HDL 73
LDL 162
78 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-20 18:23:30
Answer/Reply:
I think you are wise and justified to be weary of ANY DRUG that you are prescribed. Ask you Dr. all about the drug. Then talk to your PHARMACIST and research the drug. All drugs have side effects even ASPRIN (WHICH CAN AND HAS STOPPED HEART ATTACKS). It looks like you tri glycerides are find, your LDLs are way to high. HDL and not sure for females if yours are to high, for males they would be great (mine are 68). The total number is not the thing to worry about, the make up of that number is. Everyone bitches and pisses and moans about statins. Yes they can have very bad side affects, for some people. If you are on them do not take niacin for example, eat red rice, or pictin (lot of apples) as these are natural statins and they can make you totix with the medication. One must be wise to themselves, research. Even ACAI Berry the craze now, has some serious side affects in certain individuals, that are prone to depression, anxiety, heart problems. I mention this only to back up your wisdom in erring on the side of caution. I have been on LIPITOR since 1996 when it came out. Only treatment that took my chol. from over 300 and keeps it at 155 to 165. Get off and guess where I go again. See my liver is very efficient at producing high levels of good old chol. which we all need for cell production and health. Fish Oil must be both Omega 3 & Omega 9 rich to be of value and the actual dose is not really known that will truly help individuals. That is the key meds are made for the average person 22 to 55, everyone reacts differentlly. I know this is long but I want to make sure you get information.
66 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-26 16:19:29
Question/Comment:
Iam a 43yr old female taking simvastatin 80mg i also take niacin over the counter once a week i sometimes get very fatiged
44 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-07 11:46:59
Answer/Reply:
Tell your Dr. to take you off the Satin drug. take something Natural for it. These Drug companys are killing us. All thry want to do is make money. They don't do enough testing on any of these drugs.Go to this site it has alot of good info on it. http://naturalhealthsciencenews.org/387/. You really need to search the web. You won't believe all the horrible stuff that is going on with these drug company's
60 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-21 22:58:40
Answer/Reply:
YOU ARE SO CORRECT!!!! There is NO money in healthy people. The big pharma's actually put addicting ingredients in some medicines to keep you buying it! It's so sick! Food is the real medicine here people! And the Flu Shot.....just gross.....take vitamin D3!!!! I like www.mercola.com and www.naturalnews.com
57 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-27 16:14:50
Answer/Reply:
Dear friend you need to take natural products take * Acaiplus * or * Clear Heart * and you will be very healthy for life find it at www.acaiplus.com/mcz or www.tristrips.com/mcz any questions email me at zapata61@live.com
to your health
Modesto Z.
49 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-22 20:08:16
Answer/Reply:
I am a 57 year old female and have been prescribed lipitor for 5 years now. My dr kept upping the dosage. Two years ago my daughter and her kids were all tested for Celiac disease and her gastro suggested I get tested for the gene, there are two, I carry one. Didn't stop eating gluten because I didn't have the obvious symptom. In March I ended up in the ER with a severe migraine. Since then I have found out more about gluten intolerance. I stopped eating it and within one day my rashes (in my creases, that I was told were from sweat) went away. After 3 months my cholesterol dropped by 30 points, and the dr halved my dosage. The migraines are also diminishing. Gluten intolerance inhibits your body from absorbing necessary nutrients. Since I have stopped eating gluten I also am not so tired. One percent of the population of the US has celiac disease. It is becoming more recognized. Many restaurants even have gluten free menus.
High cholesterol may be a symptom of another problem. Unfortunately drs usually only treat the symptoms and not the cause.
The last time I was at the dr. I noticed a sign in sheet for drug pushers. In two days 20 had signed it.
58 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-24 17:54:05
Question/Comment:
I have tried but to no avail it seems, to warn you all of the terrible side effects of statins. They can cripple you for life and cause you to age prematurely. If you do nothing else Google, "Statin Side Effects", before you pop another of these poisonous tablets, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE FEMALE AND OVER 60 !!. And for heaven's sake get the current lowdown on the 'cholesterol myth'. Once your mitochondria are damaged by statin drugs, you may not be able to recover your health; EVER!. It is INFLAMMATION; not cholesterol, that is the root cause of CVD. USE THE INTERNET AND EDUCATE YOURSELF!! That's it. My last caution. You're on your own.
68 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-07 09:35:11
Answer/Reply:
You don't hear anything about statins causing autoimmune hepatitis, less you do some intensive research, but it does! Now that I face the rest of my life on antirejection drugs to control the autoimmune disease, I've never go near statins again - no matter what my HDL's are.
67 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-15 19:16:01
Answer/Reply:
Totally agree with you. My daughter (a RN) agrees with my throwing out those statins, adding excersice, diet control and taking Niacin, 500 mg twice per day. I enjoy the blush, feel strong, run 6 miles per day and enjoy the cost difference. I`m a 62 year old male.
62 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-17 10:47:19
Answer/Reply:
Any statin, can damage you severely. They only added the warnings on Lipitor years after things started happening to people, I think they even coined the word rhabdomyeolisis (sp). I was unable to walk for quite a few years, had to use a walker and wheelchair. And had pain and pins and needles. In the past year I can walk unaided, sometimes still tipping to one side.Some damage that is done won't repair itself. You are only born with so many muscle cells, and they repair while you sleep, but if they are killed, you don't get more, you can only build up what you have. So a shorter life being able to do things is better than a longer life not being able to walk and being constantly fatigued.
56 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-17 21:12:01
Answer/Reply:
I was on a statin and A few other pills for my HEALTH. All of a sudden I swelled up like a balloon. My legs feet and hands, Had to buy shoes 2 sizes too big. could not bend down to pick things up, kept dropping things, hard to walk and looked like and did gain 30 pounds. I stopped them and now I feel like a new person Not jumping any fenses but able to walk in comfort. Lostg 40 pounds since and Can see my toes now .. Get rid of them
62 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-26 10:35:47
Answer/Reply:
I have been taking simvastatin for nine years now. The past couple of years I noticed I was becoming weaker and having a lot more pain in my legs and arms with tingling, especially at night. Being diabetic with neuropathy, I assumed that that was the cause, although I keep my blood glucose pretty well under control with insulin. I now have developed restless leg syndrome and have to take yet another medication for that. I am so fatigued I can barely stand up to do anything. And getting up from a seated position sometimes takes twelve of fifteen tries if I don't have my walker handy to pull myself up with. When I took the test at RealAge.com I was shocked to find that, although chronologically I'm 65, my "real age" is 87 (and I feel like 87 too). Reading what you and others have had to say here has made me realize that it is probably the simvastatin that is the source of all my trouble. So I'm dropping it immediately from my medications. I have an appointment with my doctor next month, and depending on what my cholesterol is and how I feel, we'll decide then what to do. And I totally agree with you that a short life being happy and able to function is much better that a long life of pain and misery.
66 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-27 20:08:25
Answer/Reply:
You are so right about the statins. I was prescribed Lovastatin for my cholesterol. It beat me up soo bad. I was so tired and achey and all my muscles would hurt so bad it took all I had to get myself out of bed. I went away over Christmas and forgot to grab my meds. By the time I came back home almost a week later all my problems were gone. I could easily get out of bed in the morning, the aches and muscle pain all went away. I didnt take anymore of the meds since I had a recheck in 2 weeks. My Dr said it was definatly the statin and I did the right thing by stopping them. I just changed my diet and tried to be more active and so far my levels have been good. I was really scared when I had the first test done after being off the meds but was happily surprised with good numbers. I drink alot of soy milk (Silk with omega 3 is the best tasting), alot of green tea, fresh fruits and veggies but you have to be careful with grapes and watermelon. I was eating tons of both thinking I was snacking better...boy was I wrong! Lots of sugar!! Now I treat myself to them occassionally. If you are taking any statins and notice any side effects...stop the meds!!
52 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-19 18:34:19
Answer/Reply:
I like to thank everyone for the comments about the statins. l am a 50yr old black women and I have been suffering with chronic pains in my legs for the past 5 months. I have been taking Zocor for 7 years. I just could figure out why my legs were hurting me more than usual. Although I do suffer with some knee problems but my legs swell from the top of my knees to my toes. Should I let my doctor know that I will be stopping the use of zocor?
51 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-18 13:44:14
iGuard Answer/Reply:
The pain and swelling could be from the Zocor but could also be from an entirely different issue. It is important to discuss any changes or symptoms you are having or would like to make with your physician before you make them.
Posted: 2009-09-20 23:30:53
Answer/Reply:
From an extremely comprehensive article:
"There’s an awkward silence when you ask Mike Hope his age. He doesn’t change the subject or stammer, or make a silly joke about how he stopped counting at 21. He simply doesn’t remember. Ten seconds pass. Then 20. Finally an answer comes to him. ‘I’m 56,’ he says. Close, but not quite. ‘I will be 56 this year.’ Later, if you happen to ask him about the book he’s reading, you’ll hit another roadblock. He can’t recall the title, the author or the plot." Statin use since 1998 has caused his speech and memory to fade. He was forced to close his business and went on Social Security 10 years early. Things improved when he discontinued Lipitor in 2002, but he is far from complete recovery--he still cannot sustain a conversation. What Lipitor did was turn Mike Hope into an old man when he was in the prime of life.
See the entire article here: http://www.westonaprice.org/moderndiseases/statin.html
60 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-21 15:38:55
Answer/Reply:
I just checked out the side effects of statins and there is a very serious side effect that can damage your muscles. It happens in some people and not in others. They also said that once you stop them, your body can go back to normal (whatever that is, I believe normal is between permantpress and delicate on the washer) and there are some that have permanent damage like you said. Thank you so much for your infor that helps me more and more with my health.
58 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-22 11:28:32
Answer/Reply:
Okay - I'm sold! Can I just stop the Lipitor or do I have to wean myself off? I am taking 40mg everyday.
lulubele
51 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-27 15:26:05
Answer/Reply:
I was on a statin drug in 2001. After taking it about 30 days, all of a sudden I have severe pains in my shoulders. I got off the statin because I had run out and wanted a second opinion ( I was out of state when it was prescribed).. I was put back on it and within 3 wks I was so weak in my arms I could barely pull up my slacks, and my legs were getting so weak I could not walk well. My friend and I were watching TV and saw the notice about muscle pain and weakness. She got out a PDR she had and we looked up the drug I was taking.. it was a statin and had all the side affects listed. I have permanent rotator cuff damage in both shoulders, the PT's think possibly from the statins. I have not taken them since and they now have my med chart marked as "allergic to statins".. so NO one will prescribe them again. I eat lots of fruits and veggies and take B-complex, and take Red Rice Yeast, and my cholesterole is going down.
62 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-24 23:56:34
Answer/Reply:
What is a Statin?
39 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-26 07:23:05
Answer/Reply:
well what is the solution to the inflamation? I really don't want to take statins but no matter what I do my I can't improve my numbers
thanks
55 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-27 08:59:09
Answer/Reply:
I was on a statin and will never do that again! I got to where I could hardly walk I was in so much pain...I finally googled 'side effects of crestor' and after reading all of the crestor websites I found 'ask a patient . com' and that's when I threw the bottle of crestor away!!! go to that website and type in any medication you take and you can read from hundreds of people what their reactions are....very informative. Fish oil is a good healthy alternative. Also cut way back on sugar/ white flour, will help with inflamation.
52 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-27 19:32:21
Answer/Reply:
I was on a statin and will never do that again! I got to where I could hardly walk I was in so much pain...I finally googled 'side effects of crestor' and after reading all of the crestor websites I found 'ask a patient . com' and that's when I threw the bottle of crestor away!!! go to that website and type in any medication you take and you can read from hundreds of people what their reactions are....very informative. Fish oil is a good healthy alternative. Also cut way back on sugar/ white flour, will help with inflamation. 51 yr. old female
52 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-27 19:33:12
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Patient Comments about
High Cholesterol