My LDL Cholesterol Dropped to the 100s After Taking Statins

I started taking statins after my LDL cholesterol rose to around 160.
Now that it has dropped to 108, I want to write about how I feel regarding managing cholesterol.

LDL Cholesterol Levels
My LDL cholesterol levels in blood tests have been rising.
They had been around 140 for a long time, but before I knew it, they were around 160.
The only thing I can think of is that I started eating more eggs to get protein efficiently.
I rarely eat beef, focusing mainly on fish and chicken, and I don't eat out very often.
I also exercise, walking over 10,000 steps every day during my commute.
Of course, it's not that I never eat out, but it's probably only two or three times a week.
Even when I do eat out, I mostly choose fish or chicken dishes.
Since it still goes up, I believe it's due to my constitution as well as the influence of the eggs.

Taking Statins
As I wrote in a previous article, I started taking statins.
As a result, my LDL dropped to 108 in about a month.
Looking only at the numbers, some might think, "Isn't that too low?"
Certainly, I would have felt it was too low in the past.
But now, I feel reassured by this value of 108.

Should I not worry about high cholesterol?
There are many health books out there that say, "You don't need to worry about cholesterol."
They argue that having slightly higher cholesterol as you get older leads to a healthier, longer life.
I have read several of these books myself, and honestly, there are parts I agree with.
It is true that for elderly and frail individuals, low cholesterol can sometimes be a bad sign.
This is a case of reverse causality, where illness or malnutrition is the "result" of lowering cholesterol.
As a warning against the trend of uniformly demanding that elderly people lower their weight or cholesterol, these arguments are worth listening to.
However, I don't think it's right to interpret this as "no one needs to worry about it."
The fact that LDL cholesterol causes arteriosclerosis is an unshakable medical fact.
People with familial hypercholesterolemia, who are born with extremely high LDL, have a high probability of developing arteriosclerosis at a young age.
Conversely, it is known that people who have naturally low LDL throughout their lives have very few heart attacks.
Furthermore, it has been repeatedly confirmed that the lower the LDL, the fewer cardiovascular diseases occur, supporting the idea that "lower is better."
These are not matters of constitution or luck; they are properly backed by data.
In other words, for someone like me, whose LDL has been gradually rising in my 40s and 50s and who has a family history of high cholesterol, "don't worry about it" could be dangerous advice.

The Natural LDL Cholesterol Level for Humans
And the value of 108 that I reached is by no means too low.
It is believed that human LDL levels are closer to their natural state when they are lower than generally thought.
A newborn baby's LDL is only about 30 to 40.
Even by international standards, an LDL of less than 100 has been considered "optimal" (the most desirable state).
Some people worry that because cholesterol is a building block for hormones and cell membranes, having low levels might be bad for the body.
However, the liver can produce those materials itself, and blood test values only reflect the amount of stock currently being transported.
Even if it drops to 108, the body will continue to properly produce hormones and cells.
Rather, I feel that with the help of medication, I have been brought closer to my natural state.

Participating in a Study Group
Actually, I recently participated in a study group on familial hypercholesterolemia.
There, I heard that "an LDL of around 100 mg/dL is a natural level for adults."
Because I had heard this, I did not suggest to my doctor during my checkup that I switch to a weaker medication.
I almost panicked at the lower number and diluted the hard-won effects myself.
I am very glad I had the opportunity to learn.
What is truly important in the discussion surrounding cholesterol is not whether to "worry or not worry."
I think it is about "thinking according to your own risks."
The answer is completely different for an elderly, frail person compared to someone in their prime who has seen their numbers rise.
Also, telling everyone not to worry is just as careless as telling everyone to be afraid.
I properly faced my own numbers and took the necessary steps.
I am taking the resulting 108 positively.
If you have any numbers in your test results that concern you, please do not leave them alone based on your own judgment; consult with your regular doctor thoroughly.

Summary
・LDL cholesterol is influenced not only by lifestyle habits but also by constitution.
・It is known that lowering LDL reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
・An LDL level of around 100 mg/dL is considered a desirable level.
・It is important to make judgments about cholesterol based on age and risk.
・It is important not to judge blood data values on your own, but to decide on a treatment policy while consulting with your regular doctor.